'Wind-Driven' Agricultural Dust Clouds Dissipate In Hamptons

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Swirls of agricultural dust clouds have dissipated in Amagansett, according to East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc.

Van Scoyoc said a cooperative effort with the owner and farmer of agricultural land in Amagansett, which was the source of the windblown dust, has addressed the issue by covering the windblown fields with straw, using snow fencing to keep it in place — and helping to solve the problem.

On recent windy days, the supervisor said, the straw has been successful at largely eliminating the swirling dust. Town highway and maintenance crews have removed dust deposits that had built up along Amagansett’s streets and sidewalks, Van Scoyoc said.

“We share residents’ concerns about the recent dust storms in Amagansett. I am gratified that our agreed-upon solution appears to be working and am pleased that the town board was able to work together to achieve this result. We will continue to monitor the field conditions and take necessary actions to insure that this doesn’t happen again,” Van Scoyoc said.

With the permission of landowner Barry Bistrian, soil samples were taken and tested for the presence of pesticides as well as of metals, a number of which are commonly found in Long Island’s agricultural soils — and the town-ordered soil tests found no pesticides. All metals detected were at levels well below state standards, the supervisor said.

To view the test results, click here.

After residents spoke out and said the dust was infiltrating houses and businesses, posing potential damage to equipment and creating health concerns, Van Scoyoc held a meeting last month with 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 Mr. Bistrian’s son and consultants brought in to help develop both short and long-term strategies to address the situation, the town said in a release.

Patch file photo.