DEC Lauds Environmental Conservation Officer For Southampton Efforts

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — An environmental conservation officer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was lauded for her efforts in Southampton recently.

On Feb. 21, ECO Katie Jakaub responded to a complaint regarding a possible illegal discharge of stormwater from a mining operation in Southampton, a release said.

She accessed the site from the rear of the property where it borders town-owned land and nature trails and found a dried pool in a wooded area where sediment-laden water had been recently discharged, a release said.

Further investigation showed that the nearby mining operation had pumped excess stormwater up the bank of the mine and off-site onto the adjacent property, the DEC said.

Jakaub interviewed the mine owner, "who admitted he had been pumping the stormwater to accommodate recent heavy rain and snow melt, a direct violation of the site’s mining permit," the release said. "With help from DEC’s Division of Mineral Resources, a remediation plan was set in place and efforts to resolve the issue began immediately."

According to the DEC, in 2016, the 286 ECOs across the state responded to 26,400 calls and issued 22,150 tickets for crimes ranging from deer poaching to corporate toxic dumping and illegal mining, black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.

"From Montauk Point to Mount Marcy, from Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment and our natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers," said Commissioner Basil Seggos. "They work long and arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes. Although they don't receive much public fanfare, the work of our ECOs is critical to achieving DEC's mission to protect and enhance our environment."

The DEC did not respond to a request to identify the mining operation involved.

Patch courtesy photo.