Health Department allowed to study air quality amid concerns about Dunn Landfill

RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. (WRGB) - Rensselaer County is calling on the state to monitor the air near a landfill that's causing headaches for residents.

The county legislature passed a resolution calling on the health department to do a study of the air quality in the city of Rensselaer amid concerns of odors emitting from the Dunn Landfill.

The city of Rensselaer and many residents have been asking for stronger oversight over the Dunn Landfill. Now the county is getting involved.

The county wants the health department to monitor the city's air with monitors for 30 to 60 days.

The county then wants to analyze the findings of the monitors to find out if the particles in the air are dangerous and if they're coming from the Dunn Landfill.

There have been several complaints from residents about foul odors emitting from the landfill. Many residents have been worried about the fact that a school is next to the landfill, and whether the chemicals emitting from the landfill could harm the students if they're inhaled.

The county had asked the state to monitor the air before, but the state said no in July.

The Dunn Landfill did just get fined again by the state after dust clouds built up near the school in April. Along with paying a $35,000 fine, they were ordered to hire an on-site monitor to keep them in compliance with state regulations and to water down their dust piles.

Ultimately what the county wants to know is if the air is safe there, and if the odors are coming from the Dunn Landfill. CBS6 reached out to the health department but have not heard back yet.