“On September 14, 2020 the Brookhaven Town Planning Board will consider an application for Yaphank Auto Storage Facility, which would allow for the storage of vehicles on 35.67 acres north of Horseblock Road in Yaphank. While the Planning Board is an independent board whose decisions are not controlled by the members of the Town Board, we join our constituents in voicing opposition to this proposal because of the potential for significant harmful environmental impacts.
“This project would require the removal of hundreds of native trees to provide a storage yard for vehicles awaiting auction. The site is within the two-year capture zone of the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) Patchogue-Yaphank well field. SCWA engineers and hydrogeologists have serious concerns about this project because of the potential for release of various Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), including BETX-related compounds such as Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Toluene, Xylenes, and other hazardous hydraulic fluids and battery acids. SCWA has stated that, “given the number of vehicles that can be stored there together with the potential for leakage of a variety of such toxic fluids and other contaminants from these automobiles, we are now of the opinion that this use has no business in such close proximity to one of our well fields. The risks are simply too great.” Because of this, SCWA has objected to this proposed project after reviewing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
“We believe that storage of vehicles at this location poses too great a risk to our environment, our drinking water and the health our residents.”