IDA named lead agency for environmental review for proposed corporate park in Town of Maine

MAINE (WBNG) -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has officially named the Broome County IDA as the lead agency for environmental review for the development of a 526-acre corporate park to be built in the Town of Maine.

That project has been controversial with many residents speaking out against it. For the past several months, residents have shared concerns with 12 News. Most of them wish to keep the space green and others have worried that it will interfere with their ability to hunt in the area.

Yet, the IDA said Wednesday that the ruling will allow it to begin a multi-step process for developing a generic environmental impact statement, or GEIS. That GEIS will analyze potential impacts to the environment and the surrounding area.

The IDA said this is an important step in preparing a shovel-ready site and will bring good-paying jobs into the area. The site, if built, will be used for the manufacturing of tech products, life sciences and agricultural processing.

“This project is focused on securing a bright economic future for Broome County as technology-related development booms across upstate,” said CEO of the Leadership Alliance Stacey Duncan. “We believe that Broome County not only can lead the state in achieving sustainable development, but we also can create a site that maximizes generational economic opportunities and makes a positive impact on the region. Our focus in the months ahead is on working with the community to hone a shared vision for the site that will meet diverse needs.

The Leadership Alliance is the strategic partnership between the Broome County Industrial Development Agency/Local Development Corporation and the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.

In response to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s decision to have the IDA lead the environmental review, Town of Maine Supervisor Jim Tokos has spoken out.

“With this decision, the state government has teamed up with corporate interests to trample on the rights of the residents of the Town of Maine,” Tokos said. “The state has now decided to place the evaluation of project impacts in the hands of unelected appointed bureaucrats whose sole interest is to build this industrial park. This is truly a case of the fox guarding the henhouse. Local elected town board members are the only appropriate officials to make this decision.”

Tokos said the town board is ready to do what must to protect the rights of the people of Maine. He called it a “David and Goliath fight.”

The IDA said it will seek community guidance while leading the review. It said that there will be opportunities for public comment as it gets ready for the park. The IDA noted that a timeline for the review, as well as the time for public comments, will be announced within the coming weeks.

The process is expected to start immediately and carry into the next year.

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