Wells Near Brookhaven Landfill Subject of Concern for Assemblyman Alessi

In response to a petitioner from Suffolk County, who had expressed concerns that underground leachate from the Town of Brookhaven Landfill has contaminated groundwater and may have contaminated private and non-community wells near the landfill, Assemblyman Marc Alessi (1st District) drafted a letter to Steven Bates at the Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigations at the New York State Department of Health.

"This raises concern that consumption of the groundwater in this area could be causing adverse health effects within our community." according to the January 10, 2010 letter by Alessi.

In the letter Alessi refers to a Suffolk County Department of Health Services study that found that at least ten properties considered to be in the contaminated perchlorate plume, were found to have perchlorate levels greater than levels the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) current Interim Drinking Water Health Advisory find acceptable.

According to a September 30, 2009 letter health consultation by the NYSDOH, regarding the landfill, the Suffolk County Health Department reported several of these properties are still using these wells.

Referring to a recent telephone conversation he had with Bates, Assemblyman Alessi requested a progress report regarding the homes where levels of 15 mcg/L (micrograms per litre) raise health concerns for people using these wells for potable water.

Alessi also requested a list of any residents in this area who have been hooked up to public water.

Jeffrey Hammond, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health responding to a call for information said "We're in the process of preparing our response." Hammond agreed to forward a copy of the response letter to Freelance Investigations as soon as it is available.