'It’s poisoning us all.' Residents voice concerns about Brookhaven landfill
The town of Brookhaven and the DEC have been monitoring the plume for years.
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Brookhaven residents are frustrated after a town meeting to discuss corrective measures for the Brookhaven Landfill and the contamination plume spreading underground.
The town of Brookhaven and the DEC have been monitoring the plume for years.
They completed an investigation in 2024, looking into the chemicals seeping into the ground. On Friday, the board presented ways to address the issue.
“The plumes have to be cleaned up and the landfill closed because it’s poisoning us all,” said Laura Lesch, of South Setauket.
During the meeting, the Brookhaven town board presented five alternatives to address the plume: immediate landfill closure, landfill reclamation, groundwater extraction and treatment, enhanced long-term monitoring and additional residential municipal water connections.
Town board members say closing the landfill immediately or completing a waste removal or water treatment project would be time consuming, costly and could add even more toxins and chemicals to the environment. The town ultimately recommended a long-term monitoring system and the eventual closure of the landfill in 2029. They also want all homeowners near the plume to get connected to public water instead of using wells.
“The most important thing is to stop this toxic plume before it enters into Beaver Creek and eventually Bellport Bay,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
The board held a listening session after the presentation. Residents came eager to have their voices heard, but left angry and unhappy with the options.
“The reason why it’s a historic plume is because you haven’t done anything about it,” said Monique Fitzgerald, co-founder of Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group.
While the options presented may stop future contamination, residents say it doesn’t do anything to clean up the current mess.
Public comments will be open through April 7.
