Action Plan Detailed For Dust Clouds Off Farm Fields

AMAGANSETT, NY — Acting in response to recent dust "storms" blowing off farm fields in Amagansett that sent swirling particles throughout the hamlet, East Hampton Town has taken action.

According to East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, he met last week with Barry Bistrian, the owner of the farm field north of the Amagansett municipal parking lot, and Peter Dankowski, who leases and farms the land, along with Bistrian’s son and consultants brought in to help develop both short and long-term strategies to address the situation — Alex Balsam, a farmer who heads the town’s agricultural advisory committee, and Corey Humphrey, the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District district manager.

An action plan was developed, including immediate steps to cover the field with straw to hold the soil layer in place and also, the installation of snow fencing on the property to help keep the straw in place, Van Scoyoc said.

On Tuesday, the straw was being laid down; fencing was delivered and was to be installed as soon as "practicable," Van Scoyoc said.

The supervisor said Bistrian indicated at the meeting that he had no objection to the town testing the soil in his field in order to provide information to concerned residents.

"He said he is confident that results would not show elevated levels of arsenic, due to the fact that the field was used for dairy pasturage until the 1960s, which was after local farmers had discontinued use of that chemical," Van Scoyoc said.

The East Hampton town board unanimously passed a resolution this week to authorize that testing; the soil testing has taken place, and results are expected in about a week, town officials said.

In addition, the supervisor’s office contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's division of air resources after concerns were raised about air quality during dust events, and town staff has contacted the state health department.

"We have been informed by the DEC that the steps being taken by the town are those that the agency itself would follow," he said.

On a longer-range basis, the town board said it will discuss the possible adoption of policies or regulations that could outline the community’s expectation that farmers plant a winter cover crop, and also, detail the town’s response to airborne dust problems.

According to a release from East Hampton Town, farmers generally plant a winter cover crop after their fall harvest.

"Mr. Dankowski did so in this case, after harvesting potatoes, but due to heavy rains and cold in the fall the crop failed to take," the release from Van Scoyoc said. "Because the harvest of potatoes leaves tilled ground with little to hold the soil in place, and because our changing climate means that the establishment of a winter cover crop is too unpredictable, both Mr. Bistrian and Mr. Dankowski have stated that in the future potatoes will no longer be planted in the fields adjacent to downtown Amagansett."

Van Scoyoc said he will continue to monitor the progress of the actions outlined and respond accordingly.

Patch file photo.