Senator Avella Expands DEP Bioswale Opt-Out Request to Include Soil Drilling

Queens, NY – During an on-site visit this morning, State Senator Tony Avella discovered a disturbing reality. The Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) planned soil testing process looks and sounds more like an oil drilling operation than an environmental test.

Senator Avella immediately sent the attached letter to the DEP and the Mayor and renewed his call for a full opt-out from DEP’s bioswale project for his district. Senator Avella also asked for soil drilling to be added to this opt-out request.

“If we are continuing to discuss a full opt-out program, why is DEP incurring all these costs and inconveniencing homeowners — and possibly damaging their sidewalks — for a bioswale that may never end up being installed?” Senator Avella wrote.