New Suffolk Initiative Tackles Polluters, Illegal Dumping At Parks

YAPHANK, NY — Suffolk's law enforcement will be taking aim at people and corporations who pollute and dump at the county’s parks, beaches, and forests with increased rewards for information and increased penalties for offenders, including vehicle impounds, District Attorney Ray Tierney said Friday.

Dubbed the "Evergreen Initiative," the program will raise awareness about the rewards available to people who report pollution and dumping under current Suffolk law, and reward signage will also be posted encouraging more reporting of environmental crimes, with rewards for tips to 33 percent of the fines collected through the criminal justice process, according to a news release.

The program increases the fine schedule for dumping and polluting on county land to $15,000 for people and $25,000 for corporations, and municipalities will be encouraged to mirror the county's fine schedule, Tierney's office said.

An additional $10,000 will be invested into environmentally friendly covert surveillance equipment, such as cameras, drones, and license plate readers, according to Tierney's office. A trip-alert system will also be used throughout parklands, Tierney's office said, adding that there will be coordination with the police department's Crime Stoppers and the Parks Watch reporting systems for easier reporting.

Offenders stand to lose the vehicles they use for dumping and they will be put to work cleaning parks and beaches as part of their sentences, according to Tierney's office.

Tierney's office will seek maximum financial penalties on all environmental cases and make sure the funds collected are used locally, Tierney's office said.

The combination of increasing fine schedules and reward percentage will mean that a good
Samaritan's report of dumping can receive up to $8,250 from fines and up to $5,000 from Crime
Stoppers, according to Tierney's office.

The initiative will also partner his office’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team or BEAST Unit and Asset Forfeiture Bureau with police to penalize those who are caught in the commission of an environmental crime by having their vehicles impounded and held until all fines are paid off –including the cost of clean-up, his office said.

Tierney said he is "confident that these measures will make an impact."

His office will "continue to seek maximum financial penalties, which will translate to higher rewards for those who report polluters," he said, adding, "All local municipal leaders are encouraged to adopt similar local legislation at the town and village level so that our incentives do not redirect the illegal dumping to your parks."

"We all must work together so that Suffolk’s natural beauty is universally protected," he said.

County Executive-elect Ed Romaine said that over the past year, Brookhaven has conducted more than 750 roadside cleanups and 32 other cleanups requiring heavy equipment for illegal dumping, which has included everything from residential waste to boats, campers, and even floating docks.

"The new Evergreen Initiative will be an important tool in curbing illegal dumping and protecting our environment," he said. “I want to thank District Attorney Tierney for his leadership on
this issue to protect our open space, our groundwater and our residents from the impacts of illegal
dumping.”

Sheriff Errol Toulon said his deputies have been involved in the patrol of the Central Pine Barrens
region for the past three decades, witnessing numerous cases of illegal dumping.

"We’ve discovered garbage of all sorts, from paperwork and yard debris to larger items like furniture, mattresses, and even boats,” he said. “Illegal dumping is lazy, illegal, and harmful to our environment and our island’s resources. Make no mistake, if you are dumping illegally in Suffolk County, especially in our pine barrens, we will find you and you will be held accountable.”

Chief of the county's parks rangers Steve Laton said the initiative provides a new dimension of deterrent to tackling illegal dumping in Suffolk County parklands and the Pine Barrens region.

“Suffolk County Park Rangers remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to thwart illegal dumping in Suffolk County," he said.

Jimmy Winters, who owns Winter Bros. in Yaphank, the largest solid waste management and recycling firm on Long Island, applauded Tierney "for leading the fight against illegal dumping."

“The actions announced by him today will help disincentivize the dumping of harmful materials in our ecosystem and hold criminal actors accountable," he said.

Crime Stoppers President Patrick Fazio said the organization "takes all criminal activity seriously, particularly crimes against our environment."

Crime Stoppers tips can generate up to $5,000

State Police Troop L Long Island Commander Major Stephen Udice described illegal dumping as "selfish and irresponsible" and negatively impacting "the environment and
our communities."

“The New York State Police will continue to work with our law enforcement and prosecutor partners to hold those accountable that choose to irresponsibly and illegally engage in the act of illegal dumping," he said.

Resources To Report Pollution And Dumping:

• Suffolk County Parks Watch: RID@SuffolkCountyNY.gov or 631-854-1423
• The Suffolk County Pine Barrens Complaint Line 877-BARRENS
• Crime Stoppers: 1-800-220-TIPS or www.p3tips.com or download app at P3Tips
• Suffolk County DA: suffolkcountyny.gov/da/contact-us (Report Pollution tab)
• In an emergency, always dial 911.