Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger Sends Request for Rulemaking to NYSDEC

On February 18, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger sent a letter to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) urging the state to begin rulemaking for new regulations aimed at improving the management, treatment, and disposal of landfill leachate. This letter is the result of action encouraged by the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers Leachate Collaborative, which has been advocating for the state to address the current practice of allowing raw leachate to be sent from landfills to municipal sewage treatment plants—facilities that are not designed to handle the tens of thousands of toxic chemicals commonly found in leachate.  The county joins the early chorus of municipal letters that include the City of Kingston, Village of New Paltz and a letter poised to go to the state in March from the Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7).

“We appreciate the important work the NYSDEC has done in recent years to identify and characterize potential sources of contamination and gather data to inform future rulemaking. However, recent reports highlight the significant volume of leachate entering the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers—potentially threatening drinking water supplies—which underscores the urgent need for action,” wrote County Executive Metzger.

Ulster County is a supporting member of the Hudson 7, an intermunicipal council consisting of municipalities from the mid-Hudson region that draw their drinking water from the Hudson River. This includes the Town of Esopus, Town of Hyde Park, Town of Lloyd, Town and City of Poughkeepsie, and the Town and Village of Rhinebeck in Ulster and Dutchess counties.

“Although Ulster County does not operate water or wastewater treatment facilities, nor are we directly responsible for managing closed landfills, this issue has a significant impact on our residents and municipalities. Hundreds of thousands of people rely on the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers for drinking water daily. In Ulster County alone, approximately 10,000 residents across two municipalities depend on the Hudson River for their drinking water. As a member of the Hudson 7 intermunicipal council, Ulster County is deeply committed to protecting this vital resource,” added Metzger.

If you would like to take similar action, please feel free to use our draft letter or send an immediate message via our website.