Council Member Joseph Borelli (R – South Shore) penned a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio today, following up on a request he made earlier this year for a study on the long-term and potentially life threatening health effects associated with the operation of the Fresh Kills Landfill for several decades on Staten Island.

In April, Borelli had released an informal health study prepared by his office, coupled with a letter written to the Speaker of the New York City Council requesting that she allocate resources to fund an official CUNY-led health study which would serve as an update on prior attempts to ascertain whether any adverse health effects were associated with the operation of the landfill. The last study was undertaken in the 1990’s, and since that time there have been a number of studies done on other municipal landfills across the globe which have produced concerning results.

“A comprehensive study on the impact of Staten Island’s municipal landfill on the surrounding community is long overdue. I know Mayor de Blasio has indicated that he takes this issue seriously, and I’m hopeful that he will do right by Staten Islanders and make available whatever resources are necessary for the city to begin a study of their own,” said Borelli.