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March 18, 2008

A burning issue plagues Beekmantown

Beekmantown residents, hot over trash fires, want action

By LUCAS BLAISE

BEEKMANTOWN -- Fires 20 years strong burn in Beekmantown.

Burke Road and Route 22 are among the most emblazoned in the town.

"That's the burning-barrel-issue area," said Route 22 resident Cheryl Goldfarb.

But open and illegal burning has been sneaking up everywhere.

"We have had a number of complaints from all parts of the town, more so this year than in the years past," said Town Supervisor Dennis Relation. "I think that it's burning near the property line. The houses are closer together."

In a town with no other burning laws or enforcement beyond what New York state provides, a number of residents have been battling against smoke in their living rooms.

Smoked Out

For Goldfarb and her husband, Scott, it's been an almost constant issue with at least one neighbor.

"The smoke will come across the street, and I have to close my windows," she said. "And, yes, obviously, it stinks."

The contents of that smoke worries her.

"Especially with what they put in products now. This causes cancer, that causes cancer. You've got to be careful. We want to breath that air."

On nearby Burke Road lives James Matthews. He's a resident of Plattsburgh, but one of his neighbors is in Beekmantown.

"She burns every day, and I know she is burning garbage. People have seen her dump diapers in there."

Matthews has asked the woman to stop.

"Her attitude is tough,'" he said.

He took it one step farther.

"I've gone to the EPA. They sent me to the Sheriff's Department, who sent me to the DEC, who sent me back to the Sheriff's Department, who sent me to the State Police," he ticked off what he feels is a run-around.

"They just keep pushing me off to the side."

Current Regulations

"The burning of garbage or refuse is illegal," said David Winchell, spokesman for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 5. "If that does happen, we can issue a ticket or a violation."

A ticket can run up to $250.

Part 211 of the law goes beyond that, considering some burning as a "public nuisance," such as smoke or paint fumes.

"We'll respond as quickly as possible," Winchell said. "It depends on the availability of the officer and the workload (they have)."

But only three DEC officers are assigned to Clinton County and six to a larger zone that includes Clinton County.

"As soon as they get there, the fire is out, and there is no evidence," Relation said.

"It's like barking up a tree and not being able to climb it," said Matthews.

Proposed solutions

On the state level, DEC is hoping to have something to the Governor's Office shortly.

"We are looking at proposing regulations that will ban all outdoor burning," said Winchell.

Only campfires, barbecues and agricultural-plant-waste burning would be allowed, if the new rule is accepted.

"If local municipalities want to set up their own regulations, we're not against that," Winchell said. "We're neutral, and it's part of protecting the environment, which is our (endeavor). The only thing is that they can't be less strict than the state laws and have to enforce it themselves."

At its meeting Monday night, the Beekmantown Town Board decided to table the matter until the state comes out with it's new regulations.

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