Neighbors irked at herbicide in lake

Posted 8/21/12

GLEN SPEY, NY — “It’s outrageous that they can put poison in the lake and not notify the neighbors.” That was Mercedes Schneider’s reaction upon learning that a company called Solitude Lake …

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Neighbors irked at herbicide in lake

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GLEN SPEY, NY — “It’s outrageous that they can put poison in the lake and not notify the neighbors.” That was Mercedes Schneider’s reaction upon learning that a company called Solitude Lake Management working for Camp Simcha put a load of Sonar SRP into Lake Diana, which is about 75 feet from her water wells.

The application came on August 2, and prompted a call to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which responded with a visit to Schneider’s home. The DEC representative informed her that there is no requirement that the neighbors be informed of the application.

In 2015, the camp notified neighbors that it was going to apply a slightly different form of the herbicide that comes with a restriction on swimming and fishing for 24 hours after application. The only restriction on this version was that it could not be used for irrigation for seven days after application.

It’s not supposed to be harmful to human health; still, Schneider considers it “poison” because it is used to kill living plants.

In another development that has caused tension between the camp and neighbors for 10 years, the camp has installed a new sewer system, but it doesn’t seem to be working the way it should.

At Schneider’s home on August 5, there was the smell of sewage in the air, though not as strong as it has been in the past. There was also a constant buzzing sound coming from the new facility. Schneider said constable Bob Maas has been out to talk to the camp about the sound, but that has so far not produced the desired results.

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