Peconic Baykeeper Inc. Files Lawsuit Against Suffolk County For Violating NYS Environmental Law

DECEMBER 14, 2015 (12/14/2015)(readMedia)-- On Friday, the Peconic Baykeeper Inc., a Suffolk County-based not-for-profit environmental group dedicated to the protection and improvement of the aquatic ecosystems of the Peconic and South Shore estuaries of Long Island, filed an Article 78 lawsuit State Supreme Court against Suffolk County, the Suffolk County Legislature, the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, the Suffolk County Division of Planning and Environment, the Suffolk County Planning Commission and the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality. The petition seeks to annul, void and vacate the County's adoption of the "Suffolk County Comprehensive Master Plan 2035" because it is in violation of state environmental law, and has resulted in an adverse impact on the local environment.

The development of the County's Comprehensive Plan spanned several years and administrations within the County. As noted in the legal filing, the Comprehensive Plan was approved in violation of SEQRA.

The County's Comprehensive Plan allows for increased residential and commercial development, transit development and wastewater management activities. These actions have and will continue to cumulatively impact the environment in Suffolk County, specifically, but not limited to, ground and surface water resources.

The Peconic Baykeeper is seeking a judgment from the Court requiring Suffolk County to evaluate the cumulative impacts of all of its actions in violation of SEQRA, when reviewing the environmental impacts associated with the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan.

About the Peconic Baykeeper:

The Peconic Baykeeper is the only independent, not-for-profit advocate solely dedicated to the protection and improvement of the aquatic ecosystems of the Peconic and South Shore estuaries of Long Island. Peconic Baykeeper furthers this purpose through conservation and management initiatives, public education, research and monitoring, participation in the public environmental review of projects that may adversely impact the ecological health of the estuarine waters. Peconic Baykeeper's members use the waters of Peconic Bay and the South Shore estuaries of Long Island Sound for a variety of purposes, including commercial and recreational fishing, boating and swimming.