Neighbors angry over crematory's ashes

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - A suburban funeral home is drawing heat from neighbors who claim ashes from its crematorium are landing in their backyards.

Angry neighbors say enough is enough. They have been putting up with Amigone Funeral Home's crematory, next door on Sheridan Drive, for more than 20 years and they want the State Attorney General to shut it down.

Ron Gniazdowski said, "Who knows what we are inhaling on a regular basis? Who knows what kind of toxins are in the air? The fact that you can see it and smell it is enough for me to be extremely concerned."

Clean air activists are calling on New York Attorney Eric Schneiderman to file a nuisance lawsuit against Amigone and shut down the crematory.

Erin Heaney of the Clean Air Coalition of WNY said, "Neighbors have sat down with the company multiple times. They told us they will not shut it down, so that is why we are escalating this campaign. We are asking the Attorney General to file the lawsuit."

Amigone bought a new state-of-the-art crematory three years ago, but neighbors complained about the fumes and smoke. So at the direction of state environmental officials, Amigone raised the smokestack by 15 feet.

But now the State DEC and the University at Buffalo have found particulates from the incinerator's processor and neighbors are insisting on additional action or closure of the crematory. Amigone CEO Vincent Amingone, Sr. told News 4 the crematory has met all applicable air quality standards. So if they are in trouble, so is the manufacturer.

"But the manufacturer has stack tests, and different items like that, that show they are not in violation; they are not a health hazard. And that is what we are going from, from them," Amigone explained.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman acknowledged his office has been in contact with Amigone's neighbors and Schneiderman will taking the appropriate steps to address their concerns. The State DEC referred our questions to Schneiderman's office.