Landfill upkeep money running out

By DAVID HULSE

MINISINK FORD, NY — After explaining earlier that the agency was too understaffed to keep a more regular watch on leachate spillage at the former Barnes Landfill, a state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) spokesman last week warned that escrow money to fund maintenance of the landfill closure will expire in two years.

Where more money will come from is unknown, because the state currently does not know who the owner of record is, DEC Natural Resources Supervisor Bill Rudge told the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) last week.

Before the state shut the landfill down in late 1980s, a sale by then owner, the late Emmett “Steve” Barnes, to then principal client, Robert Liguori, was rumored. But no deed was ever filed by the Westchester waste carter.

If no new deed is found, Rudge said the DEC would begin legal action against Barnes estate to continue funding the closure costs.

Overflowing leachate collection tanks have been the chief problem and Rudge said the steep access road leading to the two 5,000 gallon tanks has several times caused the pumping/collection truck to get stuck at the site. Those tanks need to be emptied every two weeks.

In addition to that cost, test wells have to be maintained and regularly sampled. Rudge said recent testing of samples showed no change in historic levels and no presence of any accumulated explosive gases.

UDC members had concerns, mostly related to more frequent monitoring of the site.

Rudge said the DEC has no money for additional monitoring staff, and while an automatic spill alarm could be installed, that would require new telephone and installation costs.

The former landfill is immediately upgrade from the large Kittatinny Campground site in Minisink Ford and the proximity of the two led to complaints about the landfill in 1986, after the landfill began accepting trash from Rockland and Westchester carters.

Liguori, who had taken over management of the landfill, was eventually arrested by DEC officers on felony water pollution charges and the landfill closed down shortly thereafter.