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“The reuse agreement is significant for the economic and environmental benefits it would bring,” said Suzanne Malec-McKenna, the city’s environment commissioner.
“I think a city that prides itself on being green would be making a mistake to be creating more brownfields,” countered Richard Trzupek, a chemist hired as a consultant by the National Solid Wastes Management Association.
Some aldermen had questions about safety–or at least about taking the fall for any lapses in it. “I don’t want contaminated soil coming into my ward, because if it comes down the pipeline, we, the aldermen, will be blamed for it,” said the Ninth Ward’s Anthony Beale. Others, led by council dean Ed Burke, demanded that the ordinance require they be notified of any project in their ward reusing dirt or rubble. Malec-McKenna promised that only materials that met state standards would be used and agreed to Burke’s revisions.
“And were you paid to come here today and testify?”
