A Long Island environmental advocacy group filed a lawsuit against state, county and town governments over the lack of approval for dredging of the Carmans River in Yaphank.
Defend H20 is led by Kevin McAllister. He says the Pine Barrens Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County did not obtain the necessary permits to protect against environmental damage.
“Ultimately with the dredging of the 23 acres, they’re looking at 66,000 cubic yards, so that’s a substantial dredging that would deepen this area, make it into a lake if you will, and permanently obliterate any wetland recovery.”
McAllister wants them to drain the area and allow natural recovery of the wetland instead of dredging.
Officials found elevated levels of the toxic chemical PFAS in marine life near the Carmans River. Mcallister says the dredging may further release contaminants into the environment and water supply.