Save Woodstock's aquifer from contamination!

In 2020, a massive quantity of construction and demolition debris was dumped right next to us. Our neighbors hired Joseph Karolys and he brought in what felt like countless truckloads of material to supposedly "level" their lawn. The dumping lasted for 7 months. Hundreds of truckloads. Thousands of tons. When the summer rains came the debris collapsed and flowed across our property. Contaminated leachate began to seep into the ground. We’ve been advised not to use our well water for drinking or cooking.

We are the Eighmey family, and we live in the Town of Woodstock, NY at the edge of the Catskills. Our well is just 23 feet from this illegal dump, which lies directly over the sand and gravel aquifer that supplies the Town’s drinking water. Lab tests show that the buried waste contains hydrocarbons, lead, pesticides, and dangerous chemicals called PFAS. The dump must be completely removed as soon as possible to protect the Town of Woodstock's water resources.

Woodstock’s anti-dumping laws require the removal of the debris, but foot-dragging has kept progress at a standstill. In 2020, the Town Board passed a resolution to monitor our well water until the waste is cleaned up. At a cost of more than $1,000 per test, this was a huge relief to us. But our Town Supervisor declared the resolution “void” and the well-testing plan was abandoned. Worse, he has now canceled the long-awaited waste removal and restoration. The owner is now free to spread the C&D waste across his property, which side-steps the remediation recommended by environmental professionals.

We have sought the advice of lawyers and environmental experts, and they have worked hard to persuade Town officials and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to take action. But the Town Supervisor has rejected our good faith efforts, and the DEC continues to look the other way.

We will not give up, and as more facts come out, we’re certain the Woodstock community will join together to make sure the dump is completely removed as soon as possible. It may take legal action to make that happen, and we are prepared to lead that effort. The facts and laws are on our side. Protecting our water supply depends on it.

We are already over $100,000 in debt from 3 years of trying to get rid of this dump. The funds we raise will pay for expert environmental professionals, legal fees, and monitoring of drinking water.

Recently, a judge in the Ulster County Supreme Court has ruled that the building permit issued for "Plan E" is illegal. The Town continues to fight us and refuses to acknowledge and properly remediate their mistake.

If you want more information, please join our Facebook Group, named: "Shady Dump NY".

Please help save Woodstock’s water.