Southold Town Joins New York State’s Lawsuit Against EPA

Southold Town has joined the New York State’s lawsuit to block the dumping of dredge spoils in the Long Island Sound.

Last month, New York State sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over a plan to allow dumping up to 53 million cubic yards of dredge material in eastern LI Sound.

“In the mid-1970s, famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau commented that the LI Sound was ‘dead’. Since then, so much time and public funding has been spent to help bring the Sound back to life. Allowing dumping of potentially contaminated dredge spoils in the Sound just flies in the face of common sense,” said Southold Town Councilman Bob Ghosio.

“The fact that these dump sites are just off the environmentally sensitive shores of Southold Town is especially troubling. The town board’s unanimous support of joining the state’s lawsuit against the EPA will ensure that our interests are represented and hopefully stop this ill-conceived plan.”

The allowed dump sites will include areas off the coast of Southold Town, one just north of Greenport and another just west of Fishers Island, the town said.

To protect the interests of the town, the Southold Town board has decided to join the lawsuit.

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