FARMINGVILLE, NY -The Brookhaven Town Board overwhelmingly approved a resolution at their May 6 meeting to direct the Town’s representative to the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission to take action regarding the reopening of the Suffolk County Trap and Skeet Range. The bi-partisan resolution (#439-08), sponsored by Town Councilwomen Jane Bonner (District 2) and Constance Kepert (District 4), was approved 6-1. Supervisor Brian Foley was the sole dissenting vote.

“There is no greater responsibility of a public official than the health, safety and welfare of those we serve. That is why we are asking Supervisor Foley to properly use his role on the Pine Barrens Commission to determine whether the re-opening of this facility is prohibited under the Pine Barrens Act, which would make its operation unlawful,” said Councilwoman Bonner. “Numerous Brookhaven Town residents consider this facility to be a nuisance and health threat to our community. Asking for this review is clearly in the public interest, to determine whether the re-opening of this firing range constitutes prohibited development under the Pine Barrens Act, and whether it’s operation negatively affects the quality of our drinking water.”

The Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range, operated within Suffolk County’s Southaven Park in Yaphank, is located within the Core Preservation Area of the Pine Barrens. This area was designated a “Critical Environmental Area” by the Town, the County and New York State in 1988, due to it’s location in the Carmans River watershed and above Long Island’s sole source aquifer. The range, long a source of concern about potential lead and noise pollution by residents in the area, was closed to the public in October of 2001, but re-opened in July of 2006. Because the range was not operated for more than five years, environmental, civic and community organizations have maintained that its operation must be evaluated under the jurisdiction of the Pine Barrens Commission.

“This Town Board resolution has been the biggest step forward in this two-year battle,” said Richard Amper, Executive Director of the Pine Barrens Society. “If the Supervisor now introduces a resolution for the Commission to assert jurisdiction over this matter, who cares whether he did it voluntarily or the Town Board forced his hand? This action is long overdue.”

The Long Island Pine Barrens Society and the South Yaphank Civic Association have claimed in court and in meetings with public officials that the risk of lead contamination of drinking water, intolerable noise and violations of the Pine Barrens Protection Act all required a Commission determination as to whether or not re-opening the Trap & Skeet range is permitted under the Pine Barrens Act. Previous efforts by Brookhaven officials to enforce the Town’s noise ordinance in the area of the range have been unavailing.

“Through the efforts of Councilwoman Bonner, Supervisor Foley has agreed to go before the Pine Barrens Commission on May 21, 2008 to ask the commission to assert jurisdiction over the Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range. The South Yaphank Civic Association would like to thank Councilwoman Bonner and Councilwoman Connie Kepert for introducing and co-sponsoring Resolution 439-08,” said Johann McConnell, president of the South Yaphank Civic Association.

Mary Ann Johnston President of ABCO joined with the South Yaphank Civic Association and the Pine Barrens Commission in pushing the decision forward. Johnston said, “Redevelopment within the Pine Barrens would establish an unacceptable situation for Brookhaven Civics who wholeheartedly support the Pine Barrens Act.”

At the meeting, Supervisor Foley stated he would direct his representative to bring this issue up at the next meeting of the Central Pine Barrens Commission, scheduled for Thursday, May 22 at Brookhaven Town Hall.