Waterfront property owners in New York State may be eligible for reimbursement from Westchester County for a portion of the cleanup costs associated with the removal of media disks from their property.
Thousands of small white plastic disks were released from the Westchester County Wastewater Treatment Plant in Mamaroneck after heavy rain on March 8, 2011. The disks escaped from an aeration tank that was being upgraded for advanced wastewater treatment. The disks are used to help remove nitrogen from wastewater to prevent hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen) in the Long Island Sound. About the size of a quarter and similar in look to a piece of wagon wheel pasta, the disks are made of high density polyethylene, a non-toxic plastic used in milk jugs. The plastic disks later washed up along the Sound Shore in Westchester, New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Property owners, including municipalities, can seek partial reimbursement for cleanup costs incurred between June 1, 2011 and Oct. 31, 2013. Applicants must provide documentation that demonstrates to the county's satisfaction that there were, on average, at least five disks per 100 feet of property for the entire waterfront property to be eligible for matching funds. This fund has been established as part of the resolution of an enforcement matter brought by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for applicable violations in connection with the disk release.
The Department of Environmental Facilities will reimburse the applicant five percent of the cost related solely to media disk removal, as certified by an authorized representative, provided the documentation is deemed sufficient by the Department of Environmental Facilities. Documentation should include photographs, wherever possible. Applications will be reviewed and either approved or rejected within two weeks of receipt and reimbursement will be issued within 30 days of approval.
For an application or additional information, go to www.westchestergov.com/greenbeaches-cleanbeaches or call (914) 813-5400 to have an application mailed or e-mailed to you.