NY Legoland Fined By DEC For Environmental Violations

GOSHEN, NY — The Legoland theme park in Orange County has been fined $238,000 for repeatedly violating environmental law by discharging turbid water into the Otter Kill. The park which is under construction in the Town of Goshen had promised to put proper erosion control measures in place in September.

There were 20 separate discharges between September and April, MidHudson News said.

Matt Besterman, a spokesman for Legoland, said Legoland New York Resort has signed an Order on Consent with the state DEC to resolve outstanding concerns related to stormwater management.

"Our construction team and engineers work on stormwater management continuously to ensure that runoff from our site does not contribute to turbidity in any nearby waterway. Stormwater management is more challenging in a year such as 2018 which saw 74.3 inches of rainfall in Goshen — nearly 30 inches above average," he said in a statement provided to Patch.

"We are moving forward with construction in full compliance with all applicable requirements and remain committed to opening Legoland New York Resort in 2020," Besterman said.

Attorney Michael Sussman, who represents opponents of the project, said the fine was small and something that Legoland will write off.

In a letter dated April 17 to Acting Supreme Court Justice Robert Onofry, a copy of which Patch received, Sussman said the fine is a deductible business expense which Merlin Entertainment, the park's parent company, is prepared to pay.

Sussman has asked the court to stop Legoland from degrading the land until an appropriate erosion control plan has been implemented.

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