Spring Glen, NY – State environmental and health officials say they are satisfied Thursday’s oil spill at the former Homowack Lodge resort, now known as Machne Bnos Square, has been contained.
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Joe Naclerio, who was supervising cleanup on Friday for CSC Conklin, the company that had been contracted by the Hasidic sect that owns the hotel, said it was lucky that a culvert under a portion of Phillipsport Road was blocked, or the spill could have traveled across the road and into an open field and dilapidated golf course.
Members of Congregation Bais Trana, the Hasidic group from New City in Rockland County, who bought the former Catskill resort along with 400 acres of land in 2006, would not speak to reporters.
The spill, of less than 50 gallons, is said to have occurred shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday when the group attempted to transfer heating oil from one tank to another.
In the process they allowed the oil to escape into drains that ended up in a nearby stream. A neighbor reported the spill around 3:30 p.m.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has cited the owners with three violations for failing to report the spill, failing to report a large oil storage tank and producing an “unwholesome” material near a public road.
Wawarsing Councilman Teddy Brebbia said there have been ongoing issues with emergency access and fire safety at the site. Supervisor Bob Fiore was not available on Friday.
Anita Altman, who has property next to Machne Bnos Square, said the place has gotten steadily worse. She filed a complaint with the town in April 2008, and she says there are several deteriorating and empty bungalows that she believes are fire hazards.
Brebbia said the town is aware of the complaints, and they are going through the process of addressing them as quickly as possible.
This property is under the direct control of the Skver rebbe, Z’tl, The article says there have been multiple violations of health and saftey rules and the oil spill is only the latest problem. They should shut down the camp, send any girls home (it sounds like a girls facility) and not allow it to reopen until the rebbe directs his chassidim to clean up the place and staff it with competetent professionals.
im sure the clintons will pardon them on this one too!
#2 anti square bias? anti ehrliche yidden bias.
Why is it bias to point out the obvious? Don’t do the crime l’chatchila
the homowack was a run down dump with a nice diningroom smelly room and halls.
skwere is turning it around .the building dept. in the mountains are driving all camps nuts change this ,thats no good ,permit to flush a toilet ,they have noting to do for 8 month a year ,the 4 month that yidden come to bust them with taxs they make it hard for us.
“Anita Altman, who has property next to Machne Bnos Square, said the place has gotten steadily worse. She filed a complaint with the town in April 2008, and she says there are several deteriorating and empty bungalows that she believes are fire hazards.”
Always we are our own worst enemies.