[tceblog] Neil Fischbein: TCE contamination impacts tax agreement negotiations in Norwich (NY)

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Posted by Neil Fischbein:
TCE contamination impacts tax agreement negotiations in Norwich (NY)
http://www.tceblog.com/posts/1205895086.shtml


   In late February, the Evening Sun (Norwich, NY) [1]reported:

     The Chenango County Industrial Development Agency agreed last week
     to postpone taking steps that would alter a 1982 tax agreement held
     with the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad.
     Consulting attorney James Downey said if the agency wanted to
     change or terminate the payment-in-lieu of taxes agreement this
     year, it would have to do so by March 1. âDo it today or donât do
     it,â he said during the meeting Feb. 20.
     The IDAâs economic development activities have been thwarted ever
     since the 2006 flood shut down rail transportation through most of
     the county. And, because of its inactive status, officials have
     been revisiting the agreement which exempts the railroad from
     taxation.
     Downey has advised only a partial termination of the agreement,
     however. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
     funds are currently being used to clean up an old, trichloroethene
     spill on a portion of the railroad bed in the City of Norwichâs
     Fourth Ward. Without the IDAâs ownership of the right-of-way, it is
     prohibited from tapping into remediation funds.

References

   1. http://www.evesun.com/news/stories/2008-02-26/3770/Fourth-Wards-TCE-contamination-thwarts-efforts-to-terminate-railroads-PILOT/