Conflict of Interest?

The Audubon Society in Erie did make a statement against ERE's proposed Tire Incinerator in October 2008. It took 20 months for that to happen after it was first announced. Greg Rubino had Matt Wolford, an attorney, working for ERE. He is involved with many environmental groups in Erie. We always questioned how he could work on both sides of the issue without it being a conflict of interest.

The main environmental attorney for ERE was Matt Wolford. He had worked for the DEP and helped write up the Air Emission Application. He was also on the Presque Isle advisory committee, Lake Erie Region Conservatory, and was the attorney for Earth Force. He also was appointed to the city council group that was to put together the Air Monitoring Ordinance. Pat Lupo, who is the head of Earth Force, did not come out against the tire incinerator until Matt Wolford left Earth Force. Why was Matt appointed to the committee for the city council which never passed an Air Monitoring Ordinance? Could he also have been the reason the Audubon society took so long to come out against the tire burning? This was one of the main problems that we had in Erie--fighting the insider connections....

http://lerc.mercyhurst.edu/about/board-of-directors
http://www.wolfordlawfirm.com/community.htm
http://www.discoverpi.com/about-pip/pip-board-members

I also have given information to the Sons of Lake Erie, a fishing group. This same information should go out to many other sports, hunting, fishing, wildlife, and nature groups. Right now, so much current news is tied to our water supply because of the drilling for natural gas. How much will this incinerator affect the water quality and fishing? This should be added to the overall state clean water issue now in the news.

Dennis Stratton