The Hotline and verification system were developed in coordination of the NYSDEC, and the Town of Perinton and the Town of Macedon. All involved in the development of this system concluded that the dedicated NYSDEC Hotline provides an efficient, actionable, and verifiable way to address, investigate and respond to residents’ complaints. The Hotline alerts WM, the NYSDEC and the Towns of both Perinton and Macedon of a neighborhood concern and provides the opportunity to investigate and report on those concerns through a third party trained investigation service, Towpath. Towpath uses an approved scientific method for odor detection and characterization. The results of those investigations are then communicated via email to the NYSDEC and Towns immediately after the investigation. NYSDEC continues to encourage the use of the hotline as the preferred method of reporting complaints and as the most reliable method for proper identification.
The NYSDEC Hotline program is available 24/7 and provides a convenient, rapid and actionable method of investigating and corroborating reported concerns. Towpath has been trained to use the 8-point butanol odor intensity scale (ASTM E544-10), which is utilized for each investigated hotline call. According to Odor Science and Engineering, Inc. (OS&E) numerous field investigations, as well as laboratory evaluations, have established that odors generally become objectionable when their intensity reaches 3 on the n-butanol scale.
2020 NYSDEC Notification/Verification System Summary
- NYSDEC Hotline # 585.453.2416
- Total calls: 363
- Total individual callers: 74
- Percent of hotline calls with no odor detected: 63%
- Percent of confirmed off-site odors scaled at .5-1.0: 32%
- Percent of confirmed off-site odors scaled at 1.5-2.0: 1%
- Percent of calls received from Magnolia Manor: 55%
- Number of callers that represent 75% of total calls: 20
N-Butanol Scale
0.5-1.0 Very Faint: An odor that would ordinarily not be noticed by the average person but could be detected by the experienced inspector or a hypersensitive individual.
1.0-2.0 Faint: An odor so weak that the average person might detect if their attentions are called to it, but that would not otherwise attract their attention.
3.0 Distinct, Easily Noticeable: An odor of moderate intensity that would be readily detected and might be regarded with disfavor. (A possible nuisance in inhabited areas.)
4.0 and higher Strong, Decided: An odor that would force itself upon the attention and that might make the air very unpleasant (a probable nuisance, if found in inhabited areas.)