New York DEC Warns Proposed ICE Facility in Orange County Brings Environmental Risks

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) warns that the proposed Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Chester could pose major environmental risks.

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DEC Regional Director Kelly Turturro stated that the DEC reviewed DHS’s Notice of Activity and found potential environmental threats to endangered species, freshwater wetlands, and the broader municipal water supply if ICE moves forward with the facility.

ICE’s proposal to convert the former Pep Boys warehouse in Chester into an immigration detention facility is part of the Trump administration’s latest plans to detain more than 80,000 immigrants.

The proposed warehouse located at 29 Elizabeth Drive lies in a 100-year FEMA floodplain. DHS posted a Notice of Activity on Jan. 8 describing its plan to “purchase, occupy and rehabilitate a warehouse property” at 29 Elizabeth Drive for ICE operations.

DHS said that “the acquisition [or] the planned modifications would not result in any functional changes to existing floodplain conditions.” However, the DEC said no available evidence backs those conclusions.

Several local and state officials have publicly opposed the proposed ICE facility, including New York Senator Michelle Hinchey, Congressmember Pat Ryan, and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus. Ryan, who represents New York’s 18th Congressional District, said on Wednesday that he submitted a petition with more than 10,000 signatures to DHS to stop the proposed facility.

READ: Hundreds Continue to Oppose Proposed ICE Facility in Chester, NY

Environmental concerns raise red flags

Chester is one of the state’s most ecologically rich areas, with fertile soil that has earned it a reputation as New York’s Black Dirt region.

Black Meadow Creek, a nine-mile tributary of the Otter Kill that runs alongside the proposed site in Chester, is among the waterways that could be affected by the ICE facility.

“Any work on the Project site would need to include precautions to prevent silt, sediment, fuels, solvents, lubricants, or any other pollutant from entering waters of the state,” stated the DEC regarding potential impacts to the stream.

Regulated freshwater wetlands and their adjacent areas also appear to be located at the site location, according to the DEC’s initial review.

The DEC warned that the proposed ICE facility could harm endangered species, such as northern long-eared bats and bog turtles, and said additional habitat studies and permits would be required. The agency also added that the site is located “within a sensitive area with regards to archaeological resources” and additional DEC permits may be required.

How ICE plans to mitigate the anticipated wastewater it would create is unclear.

In the agency’s letter, the DEC questioned what water supply system would be used, how wastewater would be discharged, and how stormwater would be managed for the facility. Village of Chester Mayor Tom Bell said in a letter to ICE that Chester doesn’t have the sewage capacity for the project.

Village officials said that they have not received any communication or notice from ICE about the proposed facility.

Image: A view of 29 Elizabeth Drive, the proposed facility in Chester, N.Y. (Google Maps)