New York State has approved sand mining permits on the East End of Long Island despite objections from local officials.
Suffolk County government and environmental officials say the sand mines would harm the island’s source of drinking water. The way mines operate can leave sites vulnerable to contamination.
New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele of Long Island has introduced state legislation that would shut down many of the mines that have a history of contamination.
“If you’re contaminating groundwater and you’re exceeding state and federal standards, that’s not an area where mining should be occurring. We don’t reward polluters.”
The Department of Environmental Conservation recently approved permits for the Sand Land mine, operated by Wainscott Sand & Gravel, to expand and continue operation for eight more years.
A spokesperson for the DEC says their permits require extensive water quality testing on a regular basis.
