New York's attorney general has filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently block Amigone Funeral Home from reopening its crematory on Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda. For years, residential neighbors have complained about excessive noise, soot, and foul odors emanating from the facility.
In July of 2012, Amigone reached an agreement with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office to suspend operations for six months as the company sought approval to relocate. It also required a third party expert be brought in to recommend operational changes if it wished to reopen.
Amigone's relocation effort was denied and Schneiderman says the company has recently signaled its intention to restart operations without providing evidence of such plans.
"The Amigone crematory has cast a shadow over this Tonawanda community for too long,” Schneiderman said, in a statement.
“The crematory's offensive nuisance emissions have long plagued residents, interfering with such basic pleasures as opening windows and enjoying backyards. This lawsuit will reassure this community that the Amigone crematory will never again pollute their air and disrupt their lives. With this action, my office is standing with the residents of Tonawanda to protect their right to enjoy clean, fresh air.”
The lawsuit, filed in Erie County Supreme Court through a cooperative effort with the State Department of Environmental Conservation, also seeks monetary penalties for what the attorney general calls repeated violations of air pollution and other laws.
