Lawsuits Likely
NYC Enviornmental Law Firm Coming To Emporium Thursday To Consult 'Affect Parties'

While the public, and particularly those people who have been directly affected by the affects of a toxic spill here that destroyed seven miles of one of the county's most treasured mountain streams, has been waiting for answers as to what price the railroad company will pay for causing Cameron County's worst-ever environmental disaster, two key environmental firms have been working on the case.

Now, the firms, one a civil law firm from New York City, and the other an environmental watchdog, are planning to meet with area residents and business owners in a public forum to hear their concerns and present them information regarding their legal options.

Stan Alpert of the Alpert Firm (www.alpertfirm.com) contacted the Endeavor earlier this week to spread the word that his firm would be in Emporium Thursday to attend the meeting of the Bucktail Watershed Association at 7 p.m. in the Cameron County Courthouse. Alpert himself will be here three hours early to provide legal counsel to anyone who believes they were negatively affected by the chemical spill. to talk to residents about their legal rights relative to the sodium hydroxide spill that wiped out nearly all life in the Portage Branch of the Sinnehmaoning River and did a great deal of damage to the Driftwood Branch.

A former federal prosecutor, Alpert said "the (affected) residents and businesses there need to clearly understand their options and how similar cases to this one have been handled and how this one might be handled."

In a related development, representatives of the Upper Susquehanna Riverkeepers have also contacted the Endeavor in an effort to organize a public meeting here. Paul Otruba, an environmental scientist with the non-profit organization, was here last week to take water samples from the Portage and Driftwood Branches.

Otruba also spoke with local business owners and residents and has been sharing what he learns with the Alpert Firm.

"As I read about this and when I came to Cameron County, I got a bad feeling that the residents and businesses weren't going to be wellrepresented in this," Otruba explained. "This disaster has put the economy in jeopardy and that affects a lot of people."

"I get the feeling that the people who have been affected don't think there's anything they can do," he continued. "But, there's a whole lot they can do about it. Everyone who has been affected in any way can be compensated."

And while Otruba wants to see that restitution is made for what has happened, he is equally concerned about the future.

"There's the very real potential for something like this to happen again," he said. "What has to be examined is whether or not sodium hydroxide ought to be shipped in liquid form at all and if the proper protocol was followed in shipping it this time."

Both Alpert and Otruba ask that residents interested in arranging a meeting contact them at the following numbers: Alpert: (212) 420-9434; Otruba: (570) 662-3624.