Village admits to failing to immediately follow EPA’s Clean Water Act

The Village of Northport has agreed to clean up its act when it comes to protecting water quality.

News 12 Staff

Feb 20, 2020, 12:21 AM

Updated 1,696 days ago

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The Village of Northport has agreed to clean up its act when it comes to protecting water quality.
In the early 2000s, the Environmental Protection Agency determined there was raw sewage being dumped into the Northport Harbor.
Northport Village Attorney Stuart Besen says the village is admitting that it didn't follow the Clean Water Act properly.
"Northport admits it did not fully develop or implement a storm water management program as was required to do so by Jan. 8, 2008, as required by the MS4 permit," says Besen.
He assures that the issue has since been resolved and that Northport agreed to upgrade its sewer treatment plant. He says the village has complied since 2011.
While there is no more raw sewage being dumped into the harbor, one resident says she's concerned as to where the boats are dumping their sewage.
"And then the bacteria they do need to get under control too with the rain," says Mary Beckholtz. "I think it is good at times, but then there are other times where it's not good.
Ginny Bolyard, who has lived in Northport for 35 years, says she doesn't recall ever smelling or seeing anything in the water, but says she's glad raw sewage isn't being dumped into the harbor anymore.
The Village of Northport has agreed to pay civil penalties of $125,000 and follow the administrative orders to complete rehabilitation projects, inspection, and sampling.