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NEW YORK---In a settlement reached with the state, Yonkers Racing Corporation has agreed to undertake a series of steps to prevent wastewater pollution of the Bronx River after an investigation by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and state Attorney General's office revealed that human and animal waste from the track had been flushed into the river for many years.
"Improving water quality in the Bronx River has been an environmental priority for the state," Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said. "I'm pleased that the owners of the track cooperated in resolving this matter by agreeing to make major investments that will improve water quality and increase recreational opportunities."
Investigators determined that toilets in the track's executive suite, grooms' quarters, veterinarian building and blacksmith shops connect directly to a storm sewer instead of to the city's municipal sanitary sewer, discharging harmful E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria into the river. In addition, horse manure has been routinely flushed into storm sewers daily as horses and their stalls are cleaned. Water from the storm sewer flows directly into the Bronx River without being treated at a wastewater treatment plant.
Under terms of the settlement, the Yonkers Racing Corporation will:
-- Stop all discharges of human waste into the river;
--Come into full compliance with the terms of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) General Permit by no later than March 31, 2007;
--Pay for $6 million in projects to reduce stormwater pollution of the river;
--Pay $1 million to the Beczak Environmental Education Center; and
--Pay a $2 million civil penalty to the state.
The total value of the agreement is $9 million, one of the largest settlements of its kind.
The agreement is part of the Attorney General's comprehensive Bronx River Watershed Initiative to clean up the Bronx River. Previous pollution settlements have been reached with the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens, which have fully implemented measures to cut off their pollution of the Bronx River. In addition, in 2004 the Attorney General, on behalf of the state and DEC, obtained a court order requiring the City of Yonkers to stop polluting the Bronx River with raw sewage. Investigations of other Bronx River polluters continue. 10-12-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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