National Pipe & Plastics Meet with Concerned Residents

9/14/2012 (Updated 11:04:14 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

West Endicott residents with environmental, traffic, and home value concerns met with National Pipe and Plastics CEO David Culbertson at the Company's Vestal headquarters.

Cameras weren't allowed in but Culbertson said he wanted to dispel the residents of what he says are misconceptions about the company, whose operations he wants to move to this West Endicott facility.

"Its a building that's 40-feet high with a quarter of a million square feet on 45 acres that's going to have an industrial property there. And I think we are the best neighbor they can hope for because we do try to be good people," said Culbertson.

"Chemicals can be dangerous and there's just no getting around it, OK? Regardless of how perfect you are you're going to have some accidents," said West Endicott resident Julia Hoover.

One of the concerns voiced by residents is that Maple Street, which is home to this playground, would have be the main thoroughfare for trucks and other vehicles servicing a 24/7 manufacturing facility.

"That was quite a shock to us because all along the Town of Union has been telling us they were going to be using Latourette Drive," said West Endicott resident Violet Russell.

"We would like for the Town to come together and say which is their preference. Then we can talk about that. But right now we don't have a single preference we're hearing," said Culbertson.

As for pollution concerns, Culbertson told residents the two main ingredients in PVC pipe is PVC resin - which is a derivative of salt, and sodium bicarbonate. Both ingredients, which make up 95 percent of PVC pipe, according to Culbertson, are edible.

"These chemicals don't get into the air, they don't get into the water. And actually our water effluent has less contamination then some of the city drinking water in the area," said Culbertson.

Culbertson says if the move goes forward, pipe production would begin in the West Endicott facility in the first quarter of 2013. The company still needs to work out some issues with the Town of Union Planning and Zoning Boards.

"I am very interested as a representative of the Town of Union in having businesses come to the Town of Union and create a tax base," said Town of Union Deputy Supervisor Rose Sotak.

If the move is blocked, Culbertson says the company has an option to move to a site in Canada. Some residents thanked Culbertson for today's meeting, but to others his presentation fell flat. 

"He says, 'God first.' Well then we pray to God he changes his mind. He says, 'People first before pipes.' Then we hope he puts the people first before the pipes in West Endicott," said Russell.

****In Vestal, Jason Weinstein, Fox 40 HD News.****