Saugerties company to pay $8M in polluting fines

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- J. Karolys and Son, LLC, has been ordered by the New York State Supreme Court to clean up dump sites and pay $8M in fines. According to the Catskill Moutiankeeper, the company must remediate three illegally sited construction and demolition debris dumps.

Ramsay Adams, the Executive director of the Catskill Mountainkeeper, released the following statement.

"Bringing polluters to justice can be very difficult, yet that's precisely what the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Attorney General Tish James, aided by a diligent and highly engaged community in Saugerties NY, has accomplished in the case of J. Karolys & Son, LLC.

In a recent ruling by the New York State Supreme Court, the polluters have been ordered to clean up the mess they made and to pay significant, attention-getting fines totaling $8 million. This landmark decision serves as a stern warning to anyone considering illegally dumping or accepting construction and demonstration debris--New York will pursue and prosecute polluters, and convicted polluters will be forced to pay. Our water, air, lands, and communities are worth more than anyone's ill-gained profits.

Catskill Mountainkeeper has been at the forefront of combating widespread illegal dumping in Ulster County since 2018. This decisive action by the Court, coupled with the unwavering support of local organizations, thousands of Mountainkeeper advocates, and affected residents and communities, reflects a collective determination to hold polluters accountable and safeguard our environment for generations to come."