Deer Pond Farm trust gets environmental permit with contractor-certification condition

The board approved an environmental permit for Deer Pond Farm’s plan to control invasive species within federally and town-regulated wetlands using pre- and post-emergent herbicides, provided the applicant and contractor meet specified certification and filing requirements.

Kathy Hagener, director of the Deer Pond Farm Land Trust, described the treatment as a multiyear management program and said the contractor had helped secure New York State permits. “The treatment of invasive plants is a benefit to the environment. Many of you know that invasive plants are 1 of the biggest threats to habitat loss,” Hagener said, outlining the ecological justification for the project.

Staff and board members reviewed thresholds under local code (for example, a one-acre disturbance threshold that can trigger additional certification) and agreed the planning board could not waive certain state-required certifications if thresholds are met. The board added a permit condition requiring the contractor to obtain the town-accepted certifications (including a 4-hour NYS training certificate where applicable) and to resubmit the list of herbicide products for staff review before work begins.

The board's motion referred issuance of the environmental permit to the stormwater management officer subject to a preconstruction meeting and annual permit renewal and inspection fees. The permit will also require yearly status reports to the town’s environmental and planning departments during the five-year program.

The applicant said she will provide the required contractor certifications and the list of chemicals to planning staff prior to commencement.