DEC: No danger from odors in Attica

ATTICA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Angry Attica residents are demanding that the Village Board of Trustees immediately take action against Hillcrest Industries.

For months, residents have complained that a pile of glass and other refuse on Hillcrest's property is creating a horrendous odor. EPA air test and soil sampling results are expected within days.

On Wednesday, the DEC released their study saying that the odors pose no health risk. However, the agency says that some may still suffer acute health symptoms because of the noxious smell, including headaches, nausea, or coughing.

"Is the DEC not giving us an honest report because they don't know what to do with the problem?" questioned one resident.

When News 4 first reported on the problem months ago, the smell was believed to be coming from rotting food and waste in the giant 60,000-ton pile. But now, smoke is emanating from the mass and the smell has turned chemical. Plastic deep inside the pile is burning.

One woman at the meeting said the odor and resident is impacting her son's health, saying he had just been diagnosed with his third lung infection this year. Another resident called Hillcrest's actions "negligent and pretty close to criminal."

Village Trustee John Perry admitted he doesn't know what to do about the problem, though he did contact the Attorney General's Office and an environmental specialist at the University at Buffalo.

Meanwhile, residents continue to wait to hear what the EPA test results will reveal.