WHITE PLAINS – The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the Environmental Protection Agency have filed a civil lawsuit against the owners of a horse breeding, boarding and training facility in the Town of Wallkill for allegedly filling federally protected wetlands.
The lawsuit contends the owners and Maplewood Warmbloods, LLC trucked into their facility on Bart Bull Road in Wallkill construction and demolition material and directed the use of heavy machinery to spread the fill material and level and raise the grade of the property.
It is alleged that at the end of November 2018, EPA learned of the potential development activity at their expansion site and the following month cautioned one of the parties involved – Thomas Pushkal – by phone that if was filling protected wetlands on any additional properties, he would need a federal permit.
From December 2018 to April 2019, it is alleged that without a permit, they used dump trucks and other heavy machinery to engage in extensive earthmoving, grading, and filling activities to construct private access roads throughout the expansion property.
The violations alleged they discharged concrete, metal, glass and other fill material into wetlands that are part of the waters of the United States and the lawsuit will hold the defendants accountable for alleged violations of environmental laws. They would be required to remedy the alleged significant damage they have caused to protected wetlands, said US Attorney Damian Williams.
The lawsuit was filed against Thomas Pushkal, Jennifer Vanover, Edward Pushkal, Frances Pushkal, and Maplewood Warmbloods, LLC.
