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On the heels of a $40,000 fine for illegally dumping at Memorial Field, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation has imposed another $55,000 fine on the city for polluting the Hutchinson River from its public works yard.
According to a Fios1 report, the city will soon not accept waste at the yard beside recyclable plastics, glass bottles, metals, cardboard and paper. The city has also been required to inspect all of the drains at the yard and increase security to avoid illegal dumping.
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas said that the Department of Justice has confirmed that they will be suing Mount Vernon and levying a “significant monetary penalty” for repeated violations of the Clean Water Act over the past 14 years, with penalties reportedly potentially reaching nearly $100 million.
"Anticipated fines could amount to $225,000 per day, or nearly $1.6 million a week. This is the ugly penalty for political dysfunction and malfeasance. This does not include the cost to make repairs, which are estimated at $60 million over a 10-year period."
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