Grand Jury: Croton Falls Reservoir Contaminated by Contractor's Illegal Landfills

A grand jury indicted Anthony Adinolfi, owner of Dirtman Enterprises, Inc., on felony charges accusing the local business owner of operating two large unlicensed landfills in the New York City Watershed, including the Croton Falls Reservoir, state officials announced Tuesday.

According to an investigation by the offices of New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens, Adinolfi had arranged for construction and demolition debris that contained tile, plastic, coal and coal ash, to be dumped as landfill on private properties in Putnam County. 

The properties are located at 737 Croton Falls Road and 618 Barrett Hill Road, both in Carmel. 

Schneiderman and Martens said some of the materials eroded and were discharged into the New York water system, including the Croton Falls Reservoir. Water from the New York Watershed provides approximately 1.2 billion gallons of drinking water to nearly one half of the state’s population every day, according to a press release from the Attorney General's office.

“Our office will vigorously pursue those who disregard state environment laws for personal gain,” Martens said in reference to the DEC.  It is alleged that in a period of nearly two years Adinolfi arranged for hundreds of truckloads of fill to be dumped on the properties and earned over $300,000 in the process. 

“Polluting our state’s watershed by dumping dangerous waste into illegal landfills is deplorable, and this individual will be held accountable for committing these serious crimes,” said Schneiderman.

Analysis of multiple samples taken from the debris on the properties showed the presence of coal ash and slag, both of which typically contain hazardous substances and carcinogens, the press release said.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jason P. Garelick in conjunction with other law officials.

Adinolfi’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 5 in Putnam County Court. If convicted, state officials said he could face one and three-quarters to four years in jail.

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