HomeMy WebLinkAboutGFR Public Comments 12.17.24 PB MeetingFrom:Seneca Lake Guardian <senecalakeguardian@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday,December 13,2024 3:26 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Letter re:Synthetic Turf Proposal
Attachments:SLG Letter to Ithaca Planning Board re synthetic turf 12.1 3.24.pdf
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Dear Members of the Town Board,
Please share this letter with alt members of the Board and enter it into your 12.17.24 meeting minutes.
Thank you,
Yvonne Taylor
Vice President,
Seneca Lake Guardian
1
PC Box 333
Watkins Glen,NY 14891
senecalakeguardian@gmail.com
senecalakeguardian.org
Town of Ithaca Planning Board
Re:Proposed Synthetic Turf field on Game Farm Road
Via email:planning@townithacany.gov
12.13.24
Dear Members of the Ithaca Planning Board,
Seneca Lake Guardian (SLG)is a New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation 50l(c)(3)and is dedicated
to preserving and protecting the health of the Finger Lakes,its residents and visitors,its rural community
character,and its agricultural and tourist related businesses through public education,citizen
participation,engagement with decision makers,and networking with like-minded organizations.We all
have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect the region’s clean air,water,soil and health for
generations to come.Seneca Lake Guardian has hundreds of residents,property owners and business
owners within the Town of Ithaca and Tompkins County.
We have many concerns about the recent proposal to use synthetic turf on your athletic field located on
Game Field Road.As an organization fighting for communities living in the shadow of mountainous
landfills,we strongly urge you to reject the proposal for synthetic turf and utilize a safer healthier option
for your athletes,your community,and those who will ultimately be burdened with the waste from the
turf once it ages out.The bottom line is,no matter how you attempt to greenwash the proposal,you are
talking about plastic fields that are going to cover the natural ground,and that is an extremely
irresponsible notion to entertain.
We wish to remind you of the myriad of issues with this option:
•Environmental Impacts:
o Water Usage:“Infill-free”“water-based”field hockey synthetic turf fields require
watering at every game,contradicting claims of reduced water usage.Ask Cornell
how much water will be required for this field for each play.
o Microplastic Pollution:Even without infill,these fields use toxic chemicals in
blades,backing,shock pads,and adhesives,all of which contribute to microplastic
pollution.
•Athletics vs.Sustainability:
o The reliance on fossil fuels to maintain year-round athletics,especially in February,
is unreasonable for the climate we live in.
•PC Box 333
Ig /J Watkins Glen,NY 14891
If senecalakeguardian@gmail.com
/senecalakeguardian.org
o Colleges should prioritize students’health and community’s environment and lead
•the way in organic,natural grass field management.
o Point out well-documented ties of the university with fossil fuel influences
Health Risks:
o Synthetic turf poses significant health risks to athletes,including exposure to
harmful chemicals.Why is Cornell prioritizing this recruitment tool over student
safety?
o Even the slightest doubt about the safety of young athletes should pause the
university from pursuing this project.College recruitment over students’safety and
environmental justice?Question the false “anti-sports”nalTative they churn out in
the age of the warming planet.
For all of the reasons stated above,we urge you to choose another option for your athletic fields.
Respectfully,
Joseph Campbell
Yvonne Taylor
Principals,Seneca Lake Guardian
From:Garry Bordonaro <gjbordonaro@verizon.net>
Sent:Sunday,December 15,2024 8:25 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Artificial Turf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
Board,
I found it disturbing when the City of Ithaca recently approved Cornell University’s plan to install
“artificial turf’on several athletic fields without having a professional Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)done.I write to urge the Town of Ithaca Planning board to request an unbiased entity to do a
proper analysis and write a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement of the proposal before
plans proceed further.
In a brief investigation I have found two comprehensive reports by highly reputable organizations with
no connection to the industry reviewing long-term risks of using synthetic turf.One is from
Environment and Human Health,Inc.,titled “Synthetic Turf:Industry’s Claims Versus the Science”
(https://www.ehhi.orci/turf.rhp).Problems range from heat of artificial turf being 50-60 degrees
Fahrenheit hotter than grass temperatures to the presence of benzene and “forever”substances like
PEAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals).
The other resource is from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Institute for Climate Change,
Environmental Health,and Exposomics (“Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces”,
July 5,2024).The article can be found on its website which
is https://mountsinaiexposomics.orq/position-statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf-surfaces/.The
findings speak for themselves.
Please read and heed the warnings before more athletes,referees,employees and children on
playgrounds are exposed to significant health hazards that may not surface until later (such as former
soccer goalkeepers’high incidence of cancer being compiled by an assistant soccer coach at the
University of Washington).
Thank you in advance for taking time to seriously review the long-term hazards to health as well as to
the environment.
Garry Bordonaro
gjbordonaro@verizon.net
1
From:Don Barber <sunnybrk@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,December 15,2024 6:52 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Cornell’s Application to Install Artificial Turf on Game Farm Road Property
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Dear Town of Ithaca Planning Board members,
I was the Caroline Town Supervisor for 22 years and currently serve on the Town’s Review Board
which has responsibility to render options for subdivision,site plan,zoning,and special use permit
applications.I was disturbed that the City of Ithaca recently approved Cornell University’s plan to
install “artificial turf’on several athletic fields.I write to urge the Town of Ithaca Planning board to
request an unbiased entity to do a proper analysis and write a comprehensive Environmental Impact
Statement of the proposal before plans proceed further.
I have been made aware of two comprehensive reports by highly reputable organizations with no
connection to the industry reviewing long-term risks of using synthetic turf.One is from Environment
and Human Health,Inc.,titled “Synthetic Turf:Industry’s Claims Versus the Science”
(https://www.ehhi.org/turf.php).This paper describes problems of temperature from heat of artificial
turf being 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than grass temperatures which causes outgassing of
benzene and PFAS “forever”substances.
The other resource is from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Institute for Climate Change,
Environmental Health,and Exposomics (“Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces”,
July 5,2024).The article can be found on its website which
is https ://mountsinaiexposomics.org/position-statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf-surfaces/.The
findings speak for themselves.
Please do your due diligence and read these papers.It is important to consider impacts to athletes,
referees,employees and children on playgrounds who are exposed to significant health hazards;some
of which may not surface until later.
Thank you in advance for taking time to seriously review the long-term hazards to health as well as to
the environment.
Sincerely,
Don Barber
Former Caroline Town Supervisor
Current Caroline Review Board member
1
From:Barbara Lewis <lewis.barbara13@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,December 15,2024 2:17 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning;Susan Multer
Subject:Oppose artificial turf
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Dear Planning Board
Town of Ithaca
As a resident of Ithaca,I support the position Susan Mutter is taking in opposing artificial turf,both
because of its environmental hazards to the community and the health risks to the athletes.
I agree that an Environmental Impact Study should be done before the planning board makes a decision
on this issue.
Ms.Mutter has thoroughly researched and energetically advocated this position for months now,and I
agree with her opposition to the use of artificial turf at Cornell.
Barbara Lewis
215 N Cayuga St
Ithaca NY 14850
ForwardedMessage
Subject:artificial turf
Date:Fri,13 Dec 2024 21:01:22 -0500
From:Susan Mutter <smulter(twc.com>
To:planning@townithacany.gov
CC:Multer <smulterctwc.com>
Dear Town of Ithaca Planning Board members,
As a retired social worker I have been living in the Town of Ithaca for eleven years.It was disturbing when
the City of Ithaca recently approved Cornell University’s plan to install “artificial turf”on several athletic
fields without having a professional Environmental Impact Statement (ElS)done.I write to urge the Town
of Ithaca Planning board to request an unbiased entity to do a proper analysis and write a comprehensive
Environmental Impact Statement of the proposal before plans proceed further.
1
In my brief investigation I have found two comprehensive reports by highly reputable organizations with
no connection to the industry reviewing long-term risks of using synthetic turf.One is from Environment
and Human Health,Inc.,titled “Synthetic Turf:Industry’s Claims Versus the Science”
(https://www.ehhi.org/turf.php).Problems range from heat of artificial turf being 50-60 degrees
fahrenheit hotter than grass temperatures to the presense of benzene and “forever”substances like
PEAS (per-and pol.yfluoroalkyl chemicals).
The other resource is from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Institute for Climate Change,
Environmental Health,and Exposomics (“Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces”,July
5,2024).The article can be found on its website which is https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/position
statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf-surfaces!.The findings speak for themselves.
Please read and heed the warnings before more athletes,referees,employees and children on
playgrounds are exposed to significant health hazards that may not surface until later (such as former
soccer goalkeepers’high incidence of cancer being compiled by an assistant soccer coach at the
University of Washington).
Thank you in advance for taking time to seriously review the long-term hazards to health as well as to the
environment.
Sincerely,
Susan Multer,M.S.W.,M.S.
15 Penny Lane
Ithaca,NY 14850
smulter(ätwc.com
2
From:Royal Donald Colle <rdc4@cornell.edu>
Sent:Sunday,December 15,2024 2:01 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Artificial surf
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Dear Board,
I support the suggestion that more expert opinion be sought concerning the use of artificial turf on public grounds.
Roy Co lIe
Pine Tree Road
1
From:Pamela S.Tolbert <pam.tolbert@cornell.edu>
Sent:Sunday,December 15,2024 7:44 AM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Cornell’s proposal for artificial turf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
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questions please contact the IT department
Dear Town of Ithaca Planning Board members,
I am writing to express my concerns about Cornell University’s plan to install “artificial turf”on several athletic fields.I
understand that a professional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)has not been made.I write to urge the Town of
Ithaca Planning board to request an unbiased entity to do a proper analysis and write a comprehensive Environmental
Impact Statement of the proposal before plans proceed further.
There are a number of reports from reputable organizations with no connection to the industry that list serious dangers
from the use of artificial turf,including one from Environment and Human Health,Inc.,titled “Synthetic Turf:Industry’s
Claims Versus the Science”(https://www.ehhi.org/turf.php),and another from the lcahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai Institute for Climate Change (https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/position-statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf
surfaces!.)
Please read and heed the warnings before more athletes,referees,employees and children on playgrounds are exposed
to significant health hazards.
Thank you in advance for taking time to seriously review the long-term hazards to health as well as to the environment.
Pamela S.Tolbert
Lois S.Gray Professor of Industrial Relations and Social Sciences
Department of Organizational Behavior
1
From:Jennifer Gemmell <jennifersroad@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday,December 15,2024 5:54 AM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Fwd:artificial turf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
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I very much agree with my neighbor’s concerns.Please give this issue a proper and unbiased hearing.
Thank you.
Jennifer Gemmell
26 Penny Ln,Ithaca,NY 14850
Forwarded message
From:Susan MuLter <smulter(ötwc.com>
Date:Sat,14 Dec 2024 at 9:00 pm
Subject:artificial turf
To:Multer <smulter(ëötwc.com>
Dear friends,
It’s awkward writing on something like this in the midst of various religious observances in the coming
days,but Ijust [earned that on Tuesday,Dec 17,there will be a hearing on Cornell’s additional plan to
use artificial turf on Game Farm Road in the Town of Ithaca as well as the 4 locations in the City of Ithaca
that have already been approved.(I have read but not confirmed that that decision without having had an
Environmental Impact Statement prepared is now under litigation).If you can make time to send one or
two points about the proposal to all members of the town planning board all at once,they would need to
be emailed to that board tomorrow (Sunday).See email address in letter below.
In hopes helpful,I’m forwarding what I sent to that board last night.If you choose to check out one of the
two resources mentioned,you can easily find something to say to the Town of Ithaca Planning Board
about dangers to human health as well as the environment.
Thanks for considering.Call if you want more information.Susan (607)738-4504
Forwarded Message
Subject:artificial turf
1
Date:Fri,13 Dec 2024 21:01:22 -0500
From:Susan Mutter <smulterctwc.com>
To:planningtownithacany.gov
CC:Multer <smulter(twc.com>
Dear Town of Ithaca Planning Board members,
As a retired social worker I have been living in the Town of Ithaca for eleven years.It was disturbing when
the City of Ithaca recently approved Cornell University’s plan to install “artificial turf”on several athletic
fields without having a professional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)done.I write to urge the Town
of Ithaca Planning board to request an unbiased entity to do a proper analysis and write a comprehensive
Environmental Impact Statement of the proposal before plans proceed further.
In my brief investigation I have found two comprehensive reports by highly reputable organizations with
no connection to the industry reviewing long-term risks of using synthetic turf.One is from Environment
and Human Health,Inc.,titled “Synthetic Turf:Industry’s Claims Versus the Science”
(https://www.ehhi.org/turf.php).Problems range from heat of artificial turf being 50-60 degrees
fahrenheit hotter than grass temperatures to the presense of benzene and “forever”substances like
PFAS (per-and potyfluoroalkyl chemicals).
The other resource is from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Institute for Climate Change,
Environmental Health,and Exposomics (“Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces”,July
5,2024).The article can be found on its website which is https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/position
statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf-surfaces!.The findings speak for themselves.
Please read and heed the warnings before more athletes,referees,employees and children on
playgrounds are exposed to significant health hazards that may not surface until later (such as former
soccer goalkeepers’high incidence of cancer being compiled by an assistant soccer coach at the
University of Washington).
Thank you in advance for taking time to seriously review the long-term hazards to health as welt as to the
environment.
Sincerely,
Susan Mutter,M.S.W.,M.S.
15 Penny Lane
Ithaca,NY 14850
smultertwc.com
2
From:Susan Multer <smulter@twc.com>
Sent:Friday,December 13,2024 9:01 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Cc:Multer
Subject:artificial turf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
DearTown of Ithaca Planning Board members,
As a retired social worker I have been living in the Town of Ithaca for eleven years.It was disturbing when
the City of Ithaca recently approved Cornell University’s plan to install “artificial turf”on several athletic
fields without having a professional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)done.I write to urge the Town
of Ithaca Planning board to request an unbiased entity to do a proper analysis and write a comprehensive
Environmental Impact Statement of the proposal before plans proceed further.
In my brief investigation I have found two comprehensive reports by highly reputable organizations with
no connection to the industry reviewing long-term risks of using synthetic turf.One is from Environment
and Human Health,Inc.,titled “Synthetic Turf:Industry’s Claims Versus the Science”
(https://www.ehhi.org/turf.php).Problems range from heat of artificial turf being 50-60 degrees
fahrenheit hotter than grass temperatures to the presense of benzene or “forever”substances like PEAS
(per-and polyfluoroalkyt chemicals).
The other resource is from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Institute for Climate Change,
Environmental Health,and Exposomics (“Position Statement on the Use of Artificial Turf Surfaces”,July
5,2024).The article can be found on its website which is https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/position
statement-on-the-use-of-artificial-turf-surfaces!.The findings speak for themselves.
Please read and heed the warnings before more athletes,referees,employees and children on
playgrounds are exposed to significant health hazards that may not surface until later (such as former
soccer goalkeepers’high incidence of cancer being compiled by an assistant soccer coach at the
University of Washington).
Thank you in advance for taking time to seriously review the long-term hazards to health as well as to the
environment.
Sincerely,
Susan Multer,M.S.W.,M.S.
15 Penny Lane
Ithaca,NY 14850
smulter(twc.com
1
From:Wendy Susan Wolfe <ww16@cornell.edu>
Sent:Tuesday,November 26,2024 11:33 AM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:No to synthetic turf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
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Please don’t let Cornell install more synthetic turf -we desperately need to keep plastics out of the environment!
Wendy Wolfe,Town of Ithaca
1
From:ear1421@gmail.com
Sent:Monday,December 16,2024 12:44 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Opposition to Synthetic Turf Installation for Outdoor Field Hockey
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I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed installation of a synthetic turf field on Game
Farm Road,even under the designation of “infill-free,”“PEAS-free,”and “water-based”turf for field
hockey.While these modifications may sound less harmful,they do not resolve the fundamental
environmental and health issues associated with synthetic turf systems.
EnvironmentaL and PubLic HeaLth Concerns
1.Plastic Pollution and Microplastics:
Even without infill or PFAS,synthetic turf is made of plastic materials that degrade
into microplastics over time.These particles infiltrate surrounding soil,waterways,and the air,
contributing to a growing microplastic crisis with long-term consequences for ecosystems
and public health.A study published just this month also shows that PEAS and microptastics
become more toxic when combined.
2.Water Usage:
Water-based synthetic turf for field hockey requires significant irrigation to maintain optimal
performance.Estimates show these fields use hundreds of thousands of gallons ofwatei
annually.This is an irresponsible use of a critical resource.
3.Plastic Lifecycle Impacts:
The production,transportation,and disposal of synthetic turf fields involve high fossil fuel usage
and emissions.These fields also have limited lifespans (typically 8—12 years)and often end up in
Landfills or incinerators,compounding environmental harm.They cannot be effectively or safely
“recycled”or “reused”as claimed by Cornell.
4.Outdoor Heat and Urban Impacts:
Synthetic turf absorbs and radiates heat at Levels far exceeding natural grass,creating unplayable
conditions in warm weather and contributing to urban heat island effects.This poses risks to
athletes’health and increases the need for cooling interventions including watering,further
straining resources.
Sustainability in AthLetics
True sustainabiLity in collegiate and community athletics begins with eliminating synthetic materials in
favor of renewable,natural options like grass.Natural grass fields:
•Sequester carbon,reduce heat buildup,and promote biodiversity.
•Are safer for athletes,avoiding the risks of toxic chemicals and extreme surface temperatures.
•Require far less overall Lifecycle impact compared to synthetic alternatives.
1
Furthermore,the portrayal of this “water-based”turf as environmentally friendly is misleading and serves
as a form of greenwashing.It distracts from the root issue:the unsustainable practice of replacing
natural landscapes with plastic systems.
ConcLusion
I urge Cornell University,as an institution of higher education,to reevaluate its commitment to
sustainabitity and reconsider the role of synthetic turf—a fossil fuel-based product—in its environmental
efforts.I strongly recommend that the university withdraw this project proposal entirely for reappraisal.
(f Cornell chooses not to take this step,I urge the Town of Ithaca Planning Board to issue a positive
declaration for a full environmental impact assessment.Such a decision would align with the
sustainability goals of both Cornell University and the Town of Ithaca,prioritize community health,and
support long-term environmental resilience.
Thank you for considering this important issue.I hope Cornell University and the Town of Ithaca wilt take
a leadership rote in promoting truly sustainable practices in athletics and infrastructure.
Sincerely,
Emily Jernigan
2
From:Kirianne Weaver <kirianne.weaver@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday,December 16,2024 2:12 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Artificial turf
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DearTown of Ithaca Planning Board,
My name is Rev.Kirianne Weaver,and I am a resident of the Town of Ithaca.I thought,in the
conversation about artificial turf,that I would share my own personal experiences as an athlete who was
likely affected.
I was a pretty good soccer player in my youth,playing in High School,college,and for Teams USA (18 and
under)overseas one summer.I won the Pegasus award for best femaLe soccer player in NYC.I was so
excited as an athlete when our High School put in astroturf -it makes the game clean,fast,and
predictable.
However,I am also one of the many soccer players who found themselves years later with
repercussions.In 2004 I discovered a lump in my right knee.The sports medicine doctor said ganglion
cysts were common,so we did nothing for several years while it grew.It wasn’t a cyst,however,but a
tumor.It was a scary experience going through the routine of tests and appointments at age 35.No one
in my family has ever had cancer before.
Fortunately,it was well-differentiated and easily removed.However,at age 49 I started experiencing
arthritis in the same location,and hope to get a knee replacement soon as merely walking is often
painful.
I don’t talk about this experience much,but I thought you might be interested to hear a real person’s
story,and wanted to add it to the information you are receiving about the effects of astroturf.It was fun
to play on,but if I had known where those materials were going when I slid my way across the field after
an errant pass,I wouLd have wished for grass again.
Please make decisions not for our pleasure,but for our good.
With thanks,
Kirianne Weaver.
1
Written comment submitted to the Ithaca Town Planning Board
For the meeting held on December 17,2024
Re:Cornell’s Proposal for Athletic Facilities at Game Farm Road
bethany ojalehto mays,PhD
(Sources hyperlinked,with additional peer-reviewed sources cited in endnotes)
Dear Ithaca Town Planning Board members:
Cornell has returned with another proposal to install yet more artificial turf.I urge you to deliver a
credible,evidence-based review of this Project that asks the relevant questions,pursues them
to their conclusions,and considers independent scientific evidence against the applicant’s own
testimony.
Your thoughtful deliberations on the first phase of this project,the Meinig Fieldhouse,led to a split
decision of environmental significance.The proposal before you now raises all the same health and
environmental concerns calling for a positive declaration,’as well as a serious new concern around
due process.
I.Failure of Due Process:A bad-faith SEQR segmentation must be revisited.
This project cannot be considered a permissible instance of SEQR segmentation,as the applicant
(Cornell)originally argued,2 because it is functionally dependent on the Meinig Fieldhouse Project’s
destruction of the women’s existing field hockey pitch.At your Board meeting in November,Cornell
argued that their new proposed field at Game Farm Road (a)must be artificial turf due to field
hockey regulations;and (b)must be completed before the Fall 2025 field hockey season.3 Both
points are only relevant because the Meinig Fieldhouse will destroy the existing women’s field
hockey pitch on central campus.Thus,the Game Farm Road Project can only be considered the
second phase of this action,where the women’s field hockey pitch is reconstructed at an off-campus
site.4
It is clear that these two projects are different phases of the same action,and must be considered as
such for purposes of environmental review.NY State Law spells this out:“If an action consists of
multiple phases,sets of activities,or if separate agencies are involved,SEQR requires agencies
jointly consider these cumulative impacts during their review.Segmentation of an action into
smaller components for an individual review contradicts the intent of the law and may result in
legal action.”The degree to which Cornell now pressures the Board to greenlight another artificial
turf fieldon their (Cornell’s)own rushed timeline is the same degree to which they violate their
testimony that the two projects are independent.5
From a citizen’s perspective,this move by Cornell reveals an unsettling power imbalance.Not only
was their original SEQR segmentation apparently argued in bad faith,but Cornell seems willing to
gamble their field hockey season on their confidence that they can push through the second phase
of this action with a positive decision for another artificial turffield without environmental review.
They make this gamble in spite of the fact that more than one Town Planning Board member
indicated their support for a positive declaration of environmental significance on the first phase of
this project (Meinig),in spite of an active lawsuit,and in spite of historic levels of concern about
artificial turf expressed by community members and their own scientists.6
The Town Planning Board must revisit the SEQR segmentation to uphold the integrity of
environmental review and consider the full scope of environmental impact for all phases of this
project.It is in the athletes’own interests to conduct an adequate environmental review.Lest the
Board feel pressured by the applicant’s internal requirements around their field hockey season,let
us remember that it is the applicant’s responsibility to plan multiple phases of an action in a
realistic manner so as to not hold the Planning Board hostage to a bad-faith timeline of allegedly
“independent”projects.
II.Essential clarifications:The Town Planning Board bears a responsibility to seek
conclusive answers to the key questions at stake.
Please ensure that the following concerns are jjjy addressed by the applicant,and f.ujjy considered
in light of independent scientific evidence on their potential for adverse environmental impact:
(1)Product specifications.Ask the applicant to determine which products they will use for their
artificial turf field(s),provide the product specifications,and present independent third-party
testing data on toxins including PFAS and heavy metals.Informed environmental review cannot
proceed in the absence of that data.7
(2)Clarify PFAS-free claims.Ask the applicant to unambiguously answer the question,“Will all
components of your artificial turf product be PFAS-free?”At the November Board meeting,Cornell
stated their product will meet the NY Carpet Law,implying it will not contain PFAS.8 They made the
same argument for the Meinig Fieldhouse Project,but there is ambiguity around (a)a PFAS-free
product,on the one hand,and (b)a product that meets the NY State Carpet Law,on the other hand.
For purposes of environmental review,what matters is the actual level of PFAS (and other chemicals
of concern)present in the field.(It is presumed that all projects will meet relevant laws).Please
focus your discussion on the actual level of PFAS in the product and do not allow the question to be
deflected with references to the Carpet Law.The Board must consider the applicant’s claims against
the available evidence that all artificial turf products tested to date contain PFAS.9
(3)Microplastics and the Drainage System.Provide adequate scrutiny for any proposed drainage
system that is claimed to capture microplastics released from the field.The Meinig Fieldhouse
Project proposed a drainage system to capture particles only down to .212 millimeters.The current
Game Farm Road project proposes a filter practice to capture particulates down to .025 millimeters.
Both are inadequate for capturing microplastics from artificial turf fields,which are measured all
the way down to nanometers —a nanometer is a million times smaller than a millimeter.The Board
must also consider that drainage system will mitigate microplastics inhaled while playing.’°
(4)Climate cost.Ask the applicant to address the embodied carbon of a petrochemical field and
provide evidence that the product will actually be recycled,including a list of facilities that can do
so.The Board must consider the applicant’s claims against the backdrop of all available evidence
that plastic cannot be recycled.
The City of Ithaca (COl)Planning Board discussed,but ultimately failed to address,the concerns
cited above in their review of the Meinig Fieldhouse.Those failures led to a Petition to Rescind the
Negative Declaration and an active lawsuit.As those documents attest,Town Planning Board
members are well justified in issuing a positive declaration of environmental significance for both
the first (Meinig)and second (Game Farm Road)phases of this project.
III.Conclusion:Please protect environmental health,consider scientific evidence,and
recognize the actual context of our lives.
We face a public health crisis of existential proportions due to toxicity,pollution,and climate
change.These converging crises are caused by fossil fuels,petrochemicals,and carbon pollution:the
stuff of artificial turf playing fields.We rely on our Planning Boards to be aware of,and intelligently
responsive to,their role in addressing these crises.Doing things “the way we’ve always done them”
accelerates the crisis.
It should by now be obvious that our previous risk-assessment strategies around environmental
impacts,microplastics,and PFAS contamination have failed to protect public health.Miserably.We
must update our decision making.In recognition of these overlapping crises,local Assemblyperson
Anna Kelles has sponsored Assembly Bill A3296A,Enacts the “PFAS discharge disclosure act.”which
could name artificial turf fields as sources of PFAS.She also supports New York Assembly Bill A7158
calling for a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf and requiring a “site-specific
environmental impact statement”for each installation.’2 Please position your reasoning in the
context of this emerging wave of policy grounded in the best available science,and issue a positive
declaration of environmental significance for this project.
We also rely upon our Planning Board members to be intelligently skeptical of claims for which no
evidence exists.There is no evidence that a PFAS-free turf installation exists;12 there is no evidence
that artificial turf fields can be reliably or safely recycled;and there is no evidence that the two
phases of Cornell’s current athletic construction project are independent.This project requires
unified (not segmented)environmental review,and it requires a positive declaration of
environmental significance.
Three months ago,our City Planning Board failed us.In the same week that California filed a lawsuit
accusing Exxon Mobil of lying about the efficacy of plastic recycling,and new research reported
toxic PFAS chemicals in the human body from the same plastics used in turf,the COl Planning Board
approved Cornell’s proposal to install fake plastic grass fields on the premise that they will be
“recycled”and “will not contain or be treated with PFAS.”As one community member said,“It was
magical thinking.”Ithaca now joins the growing list of municipalities who have been deceived by
false promises of PFAS-free turf.13 Their decision to approve fields made of petrochemicals and
named for a fossil fuel baron arrived as the US death toll rose from climate-change induced
Hurricane Helene.When will we start connecting the dots?
ENDNOTES
1.Bø eta!.(2024).“Environmental Impacts of Artificial Turf:A Scoping Review.”International Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology.(2024).
This review paper notes that artificial turfs represent a large environmental issue in terms of waste,
microplastic pollution and leaching of chemicals.The authors analyze literature on the environmental
impacts of tuf components.They conclude that there are significant environmental impacts and
significant gaps in knowledge,and specifically call for more research on current regulations related to
loss of microplastics.
Murphy,M.,&Warner,G.R.(2022).Health impacts of artificial turf:Toxicity studies,challenges,and future
directions.Environmental Pollution,310,119841.
Reviews the growing literature on health risks associated with artificial turf,noting that “the
financial incentives of manufacturers to promote adoption of their products make this a prime
target for manufactured doubt and scientific obfuscation [citing Goldberg and Vandenberg,
2021]:’The authors review numerous studies identifying chemicals in artificial turf,including
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),phthalates,and PFAS,which are known carcinogens,
neurotoxicants,mutagens,and endocrine disruptors.They note that few studies have looked directly
at health outcomes of exposure to these chemicals in the context of artificial turf,but that
ecotoxicology studies have identified risks to organisms whose habitats have been contaminated by
artificial turf and/or crumb rubber leachate.
2.Earlier in 2024,Cornell University requested a SEQR segmentation for the Game Farm Road project to be
decoupled from the Meinig Fieldhouse Project.At the time,Cornell argued that these two projects were
independent.
3.In November 2024,Cornell informed the Town Planning Board that the women’s field hockey team had
played “their last game”at the central campus pitch and now must rush the current proposal in time to
construct the new field in time for the women’s field hockey season.They announced the same in an Athletics
press release.
4.Cornell’s Athletics Coverage on October 25,2024 spells out the joint nature of the two projects:“The Big
Red celebrated on the field,taking pictures and enjoying its 85th and final victory on Dodson Field before its
move to Game Farm Road complex next season:’
5.If these are in fact two independent projects,then the pitch at Game Farm Road does not “need”to be
artificial turf to meet Division I field hockey requirements,and it does not “need”to be finished in time for the
fall season —because Cornell has a perfectly functional field hockey field on central campus right now.If the
Board’s review continues on the pretense of SEQR segmentation,then it is inappropriate for the applicant to
raise those specific concerns and it is inappropriate for the Board members to consider them.
6.As both Town and City of Ithaca Planning Board members stressed in earlier deliberations,the Boards have
received historic volumes of credible,evidence-based concerns from community members,including experts,
scientists,and faculty members (and here I cite only a small selection of comments).It is a disservice to the
community’s and scientists’legitimate concerns to rush this project through approvals without an EIS.
7.At the Project Review Committee meeting on August 12,2024,the City of Ithaca Planning Board members
and staff asked the applicant to provide information including the following:(a)“What is the actual material
and can we see some data on the actual material being used?We really need to know what it’s composed of.”
(b)“So can we see specifications on that product and the data to support that then?”[referring to the
applicant’s promise that their product will comply with New York State Law around PFAS.J (c)“Recyclability
does affect SEQR.Can you get a letter from them that says they 100%recycle,because I’m only seeing reuse —
not just there is a facility,but do they actually recycle it and turn it into something else?”Also requested was a
list of facilities.Please contact me (bethanv.o.mavsgmail.com)for a transcription of their queries from the
PRC recording.The applicant ultimately did not provide the requested information,but for unclear reasons,
the City Planning Board went forward with a decision anyway.The Town Planning Board now has an
opportunity to pursue these questions to their conclusion.The Board should clarify with the applicant what
exactly the testing requirements are (e.g.,PFAS to be measured in ppt rather than ppm),and when you expect
the testing results to be provided in relation to a declaration of environmental significance and/or site plan
approval.
8.The Planning Board should be aware that there may be ways for Cornell’s products to “meet”the New York
Carpet Law while still using PFAS in manufacturing,containing PFAS residue in the final product,and relying
on unjustified “recycling”claims.Even while Cornell leveraged the language of the law to strongly imply that
their field would be PFAS free,they still proposed to use recycled tire crumb on the indoor field,which
indisputably contains PFAS.
9.Lauria,M.Z.et al.(2022).Widespread occurrence of non-extractable fluorine in artificial turfs from
Stockholm,Sweden.Environmental Science &Technology Letters,9(8),666-672.
Tests for the presence of PFAS in a representative sample of 51 AT fields in Sweden,and reports PFAS
in all samples tested.Results are consistent with the earlier data published by The Ecology Center.
The authors find that even a cursory review of patents pertaining to PFAS in AT “provide[s]
evidence that PFAS are used intentionally in AT production for a variety of reasons,in addition
to plastic extrusion.”
Ecology Center.Toxic “Forever Chemicals”Infest Artificial Turf.
One of the first reports (not peer reviewed)to test for the presence of PFAS in turf materials,
extending concern from tire crumb infill to other components of artificial turf.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (2023).Technical Memorandum:PFAS in artificial turf.
Briefly reviews the literature on PFAS in artificial turf,confirming its widespread presence and noting
outstanding uncertainty around the migration of those chemicals into the environment.
Lohmann et al.(2020)Are fluoropolyrners really of low concern for human and environmental health and
separate from other PFAS?Environmental Science &Technology,54(20),12820-12828.
Reviews the evidence and concludes that there is no basis for claims that PVDF is “inert”or or should
be considered in a benign separate class from other PFAS compounds (as repeatedly argued,without
evidence,by the applicant and consultant).The same point was made in an expert public comment
from Cornell Professor Emeritus of Soil Chemistry Murray McBride.
10.Zhu et al (2024)“A City-Wide Emissions Inventory of Plastic Pollution:’Environmental Science &
Technology.February 1,2024.
Introducing a comprehensive framework for quantifying plastic emissions in urban environments,
this case study focused on Toronto,Canada identifies artificial turf as the largest contributor to
microplastic pollution in the city emitting 237 tonnes in 2020—surpassing other sources,including
clothing.(The applicant frequently cites microplastic pollution from clothing to inappropriately
distract the Planning Board’s conversation from artificial turf.)(Cited and discussed in ZWI public
comments,among others.)
De Haan et al.(2023)“The Dark Side of Artificial Greening:Plastic Turfs as Widespread Pollutants of Aquatic
Environments:’Environmental Pollution,334 (202 3):122094.
This study found that up to 15%of the larger microplastic pieces in the environment come from
artificial turf in seawaters near Barcelona.This finding contributed to the University of California,
Santa Barbara’s decision to choose natural grass over artificial turf,supported by the California
Coastal Commission,on December 13,2023.(Cited and discussed in ZWI public comments,among
others.)
Hua et al (2024).“Environmental Risks of Breakdown Nanoplastics from Synthetic Football Fields.”
Environmental Pollution.
Note that this research was focused on EPDM granules (which will not be present in the proposed
Game Farm Road field without infill),but also found nanoplastics from the inner materials.
Inhalation.Salthammer (2022).“Microplastics and their Additives in the Indoor Environment.”Angewandte
Chemie International Edition,134:32.
This reviews research on indoor pollution including (among other sources)artificial turf,both
artificial grass and rubber mats.It observes that due to the intensive mechanical stress during sport
activity,very high concentrations of airborne particles are often measured.
The 2022 review by Murphy &Warner cited in Endnote 1 review that too few studies have attempted to
estimate human exposure from inhalation and ingestion of artificial turf particulate matter,noting that human
epidemiology and laboratory toxicity studies are necessary “to bridge the gap between the established
presence and release of hazardous chemicals by artificial turf and the current exposure estimates.”
11.Although this Bill applies to artificial turf with rubber crumb infihl,there is sufficient evidence for
microplastics pollution and PFAS contamination to call for a similar EIS requirement for any artificial turf
installation on the basis of the plastic grass alone.
12.See the peer-reviewed academic articles and government publications cited in Endnote 9.If evidence for a
PFAS-free artificial turf field exists,then why didn’t Cornell’s consultant Mr.Peters cite that evidence in his
“research summary”to the planning boards for the Meinig Fieldhouse Project?Instead,he cites testing from
another municipality (Portsmouth)that also required “PFAS-free”turf—but then discovered the turf they
installed actually contained PFAS.Why didn’t the applicant provide their product specifications and data
demonstrating that their product will in fact be PFAS-free,as Planning Board members and staff stated would
be necessary for their environmental determination?
13.Other municipalities who have requested PFAS-free turf but received a product with PFAS:
•South Philly:Gambacorta,David and Laker,Barbara.“City Officials Believed a New South Philly Turf
Field was PFAS-Free.Not True,Experts Say.”The Philadelphia Inquirer.February 23,2024.
•Portsmouth,NH.“Our community has been deceived:’They commissioned a “PFAS-free”field and
received one that was tested and confirmed to contain multiple PFAS chemicals.This was the testing
cited in jay Peters’Haley &Aldrich “research summary.”
•Harvard Westlake,CA.An expert commentary from PEER on that Board’s decision refutes each of
the negative declarations of environmental significance,including the fact that the turf field was
promised to be “PFAS-free.”
The above examples are also cited in ZWI public comment,with expert commentary and test results.
From:Martha Robertson <martha.o.robertson@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday,December 17,2024 12:37 AM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Cc:Ci Randall;Chris Balestra
Subject:Not just one hockey field:Cornell’s proposed “Athletics Complex”is mostly artificial turf
Attachments:Athletics Master Plan -map detail June 2015.pdf
**WARNING**This emaiL comes from an outside source.PLease verify the from address,any URL
Links,and/or attachments.Any questions pLease contact the IT department
December 17,2024
To the Town of Ithaca Planning Board:
I would like to address you in person but I have a conflict at the time of your meeting tonight.If it is possible for my
statement to be read aloud into the meeting record,I would be very grateful.
As a Tompkins County Legislator for 20 years,I know how difficult it is to juggle competing claims when making
decisions that impact our community,so I deeply appreciate your dedication to “getting it right.”Thank you very much
for your time in hearing the many concerns expressed by our neighbors concerning Cornell’s application to construct an
artificial turf hockey field adjacent to Game Farm Rd.
It is critical that this proposal be considered in the context of Cornell’s long-term plans for the land.How one hockey
field is built will set a precedent that Cornell will use many times over.
The attached diagram is from Cornell’s “Game Farm Road Athletic Complex Facilities Master Plan,”dated June
2015,which was described in a 11/12/24 memo to you by Senior Planner Chris Balestra as “recently discovered on
Cornell’s website.”This map (p.7 of the plan)shows that the current proposal is just one piece of an eventual complex
that will nearly cover the entire field between Game Farm Rd.and the housing to the west.You should be aware that:
•Most of the future fields are identified as “synthetic turf.”
•At least one of the fields identified as natural grass in this diagram is now slated to be replaced if the current
proposal is approved.
•A significant Field House,parking,and interior roads are also planned.
Although there have already been changes to this plan (e.g.,placement of the recently-built baseball field and its field
house is somewhat different),the message is clear.Cornell plans to cover most of these formerly-agricultural acres with
highly controversial artificial plastic materials.This is not just about one hockey field.
You have already separated the current proposal from the Meinig Fieldhouse project,a decision that is being called into
question by many.It would be an even greater mistake to consider the hockey field without examining the full build-out
that Cornell is planning.This “segmentation”would violate the spirit of SEQR -if not also the law.
I won’t take your time to repeat the many deep concerns that the public has already expressed to you.I will,however,
point out that your own Conservation Board raises serious concerns,calls it a “plastic carpet,”and opposes approval of
the sketch plans for this project (letter dated 11/8/24).
Science is just beginning to scratch the surface in understanding the dangers of PFAS’s and microplastics in our water,
air,and bodies.Nobody is opposing construction of this athletics complex;we’re only opposed to using plastic carpet to
do it.
1
.fl
-:.;o ‘7 •,f1.C’2
These fields will be here for decades.Generations of Cornell’s athletes and our neighbors will be affected by your
decision.Please reject this plastic carpet.
Thank you for listening.
Martha Robertson
Retired Tompkins County Legislator
1655 Ellis Hollow Rd.
607-592-3119
---
..-
.-.‘-.?
•.•.I45
2
115kV Transmission Lines —These existing lines consist of a dou
ble row of transmission lines mounted on paired wood poles,and
extend from Pine Tree Road through the site to the southeast to a
point near the intersection of Game Farm Road and Ellis Hollow
Road.These transmission lines essentially bisect the site and limit
uses around and under them.Through a preliminary analysis and
many discussions,it was determined that the plan would recom
mend relocating the lines to the north along the Cascadilla Creek
corridor at a strategic point in the plan development.This will
provide flexibility in the development of the plan and will be a
long-term solution for the project.
Pine Tree Road Improvements —It is understood that the Town
of Ithaca,in cooperation with Cornell,will be implementing
improvements to Pine Tree Road,including replacement of the ex
isting bridge that currently serves the East Ithaca Recreation Way,
and a new multi-use path along the west side of Pine Tree Road
that will provide a direct and safe pedestrian/bike connection
from Route 366 to Mitchell Avenue and the Recreation Way trail:
These improvements are vital to providing a strong pedestrian and
bicycle connection from the Main Campus to the new Game Farm
Road Athletics Complex.
Campus Plait
From the existing conditions inventory,analysis,program de
velopment and goals developed in the initial phases of the plan
ning effort,alternative master plan concepts were developed
that addressed various layouts of athletic venues,circulation and
infrastructure improvements.These alternatives are included in
this report as Appendix 1.These alternatives were then vetted and
discussed in a charrette setting with the various campus stakehold
ers.From these discussions,a final concept plan emerged and was
subsequently refined and further developed.
The final ACFMP provides a complete and comprehensive plan for
a logical and organized arrangement of proposed athletics venues,
linked by important circulation and utility infrastructure improve
ments.
Improvements will be made in a way that embraces and strength
ens the existing features and character of the site,including the
natural areas and systems,and the dramatic views to both core
campus and the surrounding setting.The goal of the ACFMP is to
From:Barbara Harrison <bcharrison0921@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday,December 16,2024 7:50 PM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Opposition to Synthetic Turf Installation for Outdoor Field Hockey
j**WARNING**This email comes from an outside source.Please verify the from address,any URL
Links,and/or attachments.Any questions please contact the IT department
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed installation of a synthetic turf field,even
under the designation of “infill-free,”“PEAS-free,”and “water-based”turf for field hockey.While these
modifications may sound Less harmful,they do not resolve the fundamental environmental and health
issues associated with synthetic turf systems.
EnvironmentaL and Public HeaLth Concerns
1.Plastic Pollution and Microptastics:
Even without infitl or PEAS,synthetic turf is made of plastic materials that degrade
into micropl.astics overtime.These particles infiltrate surrounding soil,waterways,and the air,
contributing to a growing microplastic crisis with long-term consequences for ecosystems
and public health.A study published just this month also shows that PFASanrniQropI.estics
become more toxic when combined.
2.Water Usage:
Water-based synthetic turf for field hockey requires significant irrigation to maintain optimal
performance.Etimatessh he fieLds use hundreds of thQusands nf gallons Qfwter
nnvaiiy.This is an irresponsible use of a critical resource.
3.PLastic Lifecycte Impacts:
Thpructinsportation,and clisposalqf synthetic turf fields,involve high fosiltueI
usage.and emissions.,These fields also have limited lifespans (typically 8—12 years)and often
end up in landfills or incinerators,compounding environmental harm.They cannQt.be
effectively or safely “recycled”or “reused”as claimed by Cornell.
4.Outdoor Heat and Urban Impacts:
Synthetic turf absorbs and radiates heat at levels far exceeding natural grass,creating
unplayable conditions in warm weather and contributing to urban heat island effects.This
poses risks to athletes’health and increases the need for cooling interventions,further
straining resources.
SustainabiLity in AthLetics
True sustainability in collegiate and community athletics begins with eliminating synthetic materials in
favor of renewable,natural options like grass.Natural grass fields:
•Sequester carbon,reduce heat buildup,and promote biodiversity.
•Are safer for athletes,avoiding the risks of toxic chemicals and extreme surface temperatures.
•Require less overall lifecycle impact compared to synthetic alternatives.
1
Furthermore,the portrayal of this water-based”turf as environmentally friendly is misleading and serves
as a form of greenwashing.It distracts from the root issue:the unsustainable practice of replacing
natural landscapes with plastic systems.
ConcLusion
I urge Cornell University,as an institution of higher education,to reevaluate its commitment to
sustainability and reconsider the role of synthetic turf—a fossil fuel-based product—in its environmental
efforts.I strongly recommend that the university withdraw this project proposal entirely.
If Cornell chooses not to take this step,I urge the Town of Ithaca Planning Board to issue a positive
decLaration for a full environmental impact assessment.Such a decision would align with the
sustainability goals of both Cornell University and the Town of Ithaca,prioritize community health,and
support long-term environmental resilience.
Thank you for considering this important issue.I hope Cornell University and the Town of Ithaca will take
a leadership role in promoting truly sustainable practices in athletics and infrastructure.
Sincerely,
Barbara Harrison
2
From:Regi Teasley <rltcayuga@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday,December 17,2024 10:22 AM
To:Town Of Ithaca Planning
Subject:Fwd:Artificial Turf fields at Cornell
Corrected
Protect what is left,recover what is lost of the fair earth.
William Morris,“Art and the Beauty of the Earth.”1881
Begin forwarded message:
From:Regi Teasley <rltcayuga@gmait.com>
Date:December 17,2024 at 10:21:09AM EST
To:ptanning@townithacany.gov
Cc:Regi Teasley <rltcayuga@gmail.com>
Subject:ArtificiaL Turf fieLds at CorneLL
Members of the Planning Board,
Others will provide you with plenty of information to Indicate the harms caused by
artificial turf on our water,our lands and our own health.I urge you to reject these
projects.
Since I suspect you plan not to reject them,I wilt ask you this:will you sign the following
statement?
“I am convinced that these artificial fields wilL cause no harm to our waters,lands,
wildlife or our residents.”
If you are not willing to sign this document and make it public,then it is clear that you are
failing to honor your oath and your duty to serve and protect the people of the town of
Ithaca.
If that is the case,you should be held to account.
Sincerely,
Regi Teasley
Ithaca,NY
Protect what is left,recover what is lost of the fair earth.
William Morris,“Art and the Beauty of the Earth.”1881
1