Town of Saugerties Takes a Strong Stand on New York’s Leachate Regulations

The Town of Saugerties is taking a strong lead in calling for meaningful changes to New York’s proposed leachate management regulations.

Town Supervisor Fred Costello said the Town supports applying the proposed regulations to closed (inactive) landfills and providing state funding for PFAS remediation.

In a letter responding to the proposed DEC rule, Costello writes that, as a community on the Hudson River, “the quality of its water is of paramount importance.” He notes that Saugerties’ closed landfill contains PFAS, as do many closed landfills that deliver leachate to municipal sewage treatment plants along the Hudson.

The Town is generally supportive of efforts to strengthen the rule, but objects to its apparent exemption for closed landfills. Saugerties also recognizes that addressing legacy PFAS contamination is beyond the fiscal capacity of municipalities and will require state funding.

Thank you to Supervisor Costello, the Saugerties Town Board, and CAC members for recognizing the urgency of this issue and taking a strong stand for clean water and communities along the Hudson River and across the state during this critical public comment period, which closes on Wednesday, September 9 at 5:00 p.m.

Get your comments in!

• If you are a municipality and want to comment on the record, visit the NYSDEC website
• If you are an individual and want to take action, visit our ACTION PAGE
• If you are an organization, consider signing our coalition comment letter, now supported by more than 80 organizations. JOIN THE CHORUS.