Noise and odor make bad neighbors

By SANDY LONG

GLEN SPEY, NY — Twelve-year-old Ronald Schneider Jr. has been sick lately with gastrointestinal troubles that have left him listless and dehydrated. His parents, Mercedes and Ron Schneider, believe his illness is being caused by a neighbor’s sewage treatment facility.

The neighbor, Camp Simcha, is a year-round camping facility serving seriously ill Jewish children. Founded in 1986 by Rabbi Simcha Scholar, the 125-acre facility is owned by Chai Lifeline, an international non-profit organization with four regional branches in the United States and associate branches in Israel and Europe.

Camp Simcha describes itself as “an organization of caring, compassionate individuals” on its website. And although relations were once friendly between these neighbors, lately they have become strained by complaints of odor and noise.

The Schneiders bought their Glen Spey home across the street from Lake Diana in 1993. The property adjoined Camp Diana, which was eventually sold and became Camp Simcha. Until five years ago, the Schneiders said they never noticed an odor problem coming from the camp’s sewage treatment system, which lies just across the property line from their backyard.

That’s when something began to change, and a stench now drifts through their yard and the windows. They’ve been advised to stay inside and close the windows when the stench rises. But they don’t feel it’s fair, and with climbing summer temperatures, it’s not a workable solution.

Too many, too close, too old?

The Schneiders said the problem might be related to the number of people now attending the camp and the sewage system’s capacity to handle the waste being generated. According to camp director Rabbi Abe Kunstlinger, there are approximately 375 people at the facility, including campers and staff members. The Schneiders allege that this number is surpassed at times.

The New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) regulates septic treatment systems and any discharges associated with them. According to Wendy Rosenbach, NYS DEC Regional Citizen Participation Specialist, the camp’s current system has a capacity of 17,500 gallons per day. Built in the ‘40s and repaired several times, the system is designed to handle a daily usage of 50 gallons per person, for a maximum of 350 people.

Even so, Rosenbach said the system is functioning properly based on an inspection conducted by Bernie Lohman, DEC Environmental Engineering Technician 3, on July 14.

Camp Simcha also possesses a DEC State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit, which regulates discharges to waterways. Lumberland’s code enforcement officer, Richard Hotzler, said the camp’s system discharges treated effluent into Fish Cabin Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River.

The DEC filed an Order of Consent against the camp for violation of its SPDES permit after inspections in August and November 2004 determined that “sewage was being bypassed around the wastewater treatment system.” The camp avoided a civil penalty of $5,000 by completing the terms of a compliance schedule, which included replacement of various system components.

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) inspected the camp’s system last week and reported that the agency is working with the camp operator and its engineering consultant to minimize any odors. Kunstlinger said that the camp recently began adding an industrial deodorizer to the system and has constructed a “15-foot temporary wall” to help deter the airflow away from the Schneider’s property.

The Schneiders said that the wall appears to consist of blue plastic tarps that have begun to fall down. And they haven’t noticed a reduction in odor from the industrial deodorizer.

Another potential factor is the proximity of the camp’s open-air sand filtration area, which lies just 75 yards from the Schneider property line—too close to be in compliance with the town’s current codes. But Hotzler said that the system’s location is protected by a grandfathered clause that pre-dates today’s code requirements.

The Schneiders also expressed concern about how the camp is handling disposal of its medical waste. But according to DOH spokeswoman Claire Pospisil, “No medical procedures are conducted at the camp that would produce any toxic or contagious waste.” Pospisil said the camp has a “sharps program,” handled by a licensed hauler, which addresses the disposal of syringes and needles.

Noise matters

The Schneiders said the camp is growing increasingly un-neighborly in other matters, and have recently filed complaints with the township relating to noise emanating from the property. A hearing will be held at the town court on September 12 at 7:00 p.m. regarding those complaints.

The complaints specifically cite the camp’s use of a public address system, but the Schneiders separately mentioned the camp’s use of a helicopter, which flies in a circle that includes the Schneider property, and a series of permitted fireworks displays that occur on Sunday evenings from early July through mid-August.

Kunstlinger said that he cancelled fireworks scheduled for August 6, because they were running behind schedule. He added that despite having to pay for the aborted show, he made the decision out of consideration for the Schneiders. But the following week, the Schneiders said the camp played loud music at 1:00 a.m., prompting a call to the Sheriff’s office.

The Schneiders said their son’s friends no longer want to play at their home, due to the odor. And while the camp strives to improve the quality of life for sick Jewish children, the Schneiders question whether they care about the quality of their neighbors’ lives. The family has invited any interested parties to join them for a picnic to experience the odors and noise, but so far, no one has taken them up on the offer.