New York AG Filed Lawsuit against Dump Operators Over Repeated Environmental Violations

JUNE 25, 2020

In June 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the operators of three solid waste disposal sites in Saugerties, New York, over repeated violations of the state’s solid waste and water pollution regulations. In the complaint, AG James noted that the operators of the dump sites ignored warnings issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation, and that the violations—which include conducting unpermitted construction activities and accepting certain kinds of solid waste without state authorization—“are ongoing and continue unabated, despite the State’s efforts to resolve them through an administrative consent order.” The lawsuit was filed “to protect public health, welfare, and the environment,” and to secure statutory penalties for violations of the state’s Environmental Conservation Law.

In May 2024, AG James, along with Governor Kathy Hochul, announced an $8 million judgment after the owners and operators of these sites admitted to illegally accepting construction and demolition material from New York City, and doing so without the required permits. The AG’s office noted that construction and demolition waste from New York City poses a unique hazard since it is “more likely to be contaminated with petroleum or hazardous substances,” and can endanger surrounding communities and the environment when it is not properly disposed of. In addition to paying the $8 million penalty, the owners must also clean up the illegal waste at the sites.