By Scott Brinton
The property lies just west of the Merrick-Freeport border and is part of the Merrick reservoir woodland.
On Thursday, the Herald stopped at the site to check whether the dumping had been removed. At first blush, it appeared that it had been, but it was not. Rather, the piles of waste -- the remains of the DOT's spring cleanup on local roads -- were flattened and spread further into the forest than they previously had been.
In fact, the waste, which is laden with garbage and chunks of asphalt
(one piece measures 2'x6'), was pushed so far back that its southern edge now lies within 20 paces of a streambed that originates in freshwater wetlands to the north. The stream evenutally feeds into the saltwater wetlands surrounding Merrick Bay to the south.
According to New York State Environmental Law, no human activities are permitted within 100 feet of a wetland, except with a special DEC permit, because of their importance to the environment. The wetlands serve as a breeding ground for a variety of fish and birds.
The DEC recently said the property where the dumping is occurring is not a wetland. However, during its inspection of the site last Thursday, the Herald found a pink tag hung in the woods that states "wetland designation." The DEC denies that it is one of its markers, and had no idea whose it might be.
Mark Lowery, a DEC spokesperson, said last Thursday that the agency would send a solid-waste inspector to the dumping site. The DEC had said that once before.
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Reminder: Woodland cleanup is planned
New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick) is organizing a
volunteer cleanup of the Merrick reservoir woodland off Babylon Turnpike on Sunday, July 20, with a July 27 rain date.
Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to sign up by calling Sen.
Fuschillo's Freeport office at (516) 546-4100.
Volunteers are to meet at the west end of the Merrick train station
parking lot at 9 a.m. They will then be shuttled to the cleanup, which will run until noon.
Volunteers are urged to wear long clothing and shoes or preferably boots. The state will provide all tools, including trash picks, gloves and garbage bags, as well as water. The state will also have workers on hand to haul off arge debris.
Anyone who turns out will become an "official volunteer" of the New York State Parks Department and will be placed under the state's insurance umbrella. To be on he state's insurance policy, volunteers must provide their Social Security numbers.
