Drinking water
Long Island Advance February 21, 2008
A
Newsday
editorial on Jan. 28 entitled “Healing
Waters” praised Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy for
signing a law restricting fertilizer use in winter
months. The article’s opening line read, “We walk on
the water we drink, and anything we can do to keep it
pure is wise.”
Perhaps Mr. Levy could elaborate on the wisdom of
reopening the Suffolk County Trap & Skeet range in
Southaven Park which exists in the core preservation
area of the Pine Barrens and is part of the Carmans
River watershed, which is considered to be one of the
most sensitive ecosystems in the whole of the Pine
Barrens. This shooting range is responsible for dumping
over 250 tons of lead shot and clay target debris into
this delicate environment. Indeed, Suffolk County’s own
documents state that, “This material has been determined
to be hazardous waste and poses a threat to the
groundwater.” Additionally, the primary toxin in clay
targets is a proven carcinogen known as Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s). So Mr. Levy doesn’t see a
problem with the county operating a shooting range which
threatens the drinking water of 1.8 million Long
Islanders, but instead wants to slap the cuffs on anyone
fertilizing their lawn in the winter.
John
Palasek
Yaphank
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