For Release: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
DEC Announces Orange County Agreement to Correct Solid Waste Violations
Violations at two Transfer Stations result in $160,000 penalty
The state and Orange County have reached an agreement to settle violations and improve operations at the Newburgh and New Hampton waste transfer stations, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.
A Consent Order, signed by DEC Region 3 Director Willie Janeway on Sept. 20, order establishes a $160,000 penalty-- $60,000 of which was due immediately and has been paid. The balance has been suspended pending completion of improvements that address longstanding environmental problems and bring the two county facilities into compliance with environmental safeguards.
"Orange County officials have been cooperative and have already made progress on plans to make the necessary improvements to the two facilities covered under the consent order," said Director Janeway. "At the Newburgh Transfer Station, plans include a new leachate collection system that collects any leachate (liquid that results from contact with or passage thru solid waste) generated at the facility. DEC will have oversight and final approval on any plans developed by the county."
The County was in violation of a 2004 Consent Order that required the construction of a new leachate collection system at the Newburgh facility. Although the plan was approved by DEC in February, 2005, the leachate collection system was never built. Part of the fine currently imposed upon the county includes the $10,000 penalty that had been suspended by DEC when the 2004 order was executed.
The New Hampton Transfer Station was operating under the terms of a registration which limited the receipt of solid waste to 12,500 tons annually. However, annual reports disclose that the facility significantly exceeded that number every year between 2004 and 2006.
In addition to the $60,000 fine paid, the agreement stipulates that the county will need to pay the balance of the penalty ($100,000) plus further penalties if they do not comply with the order.
