Glen Spey, NY - Odor Make Bad Neighbors

Glen Spey, NY - Twelve-year-old Ronald Schneider Jr. has been sick lately with gastrointestinal troubles that have left him listless and dehydrated. His parents, Mercedes and Ron Schneider, believe his illness is being caused by a neighbor’s sewage treatment facility.
The neighbor, Camp Simcha, is a year-round camping facility serving seriously ill Jewish children. Founded in 1986 by Rabbi Simcha Scholar, the 125-acre facility is owned by Chai Lifeline, an international non-profit organization with four regional branches in the United States and associate branches in Israel and Europe.

The Schneiders bought their Glen Spey home across the street from Lake Diana in 1993. The property adjoined to Camp Simcha. Until five years ago relations were friendly between these neighbors, lately they have become strained by complaints of odor and noise. the Schneiders said they never until now noticed an odor problem coming from the camp’s sewage treatment system, which lies just across the property line from their backyard.
But now a stench drifts through their yard and the windows, and they've been advised to stay inside and close the windows when the stench rises. But they don't feel it’s fair, and with climbing summer temperatures, it’s not a workable solution.

The Schneiders said the problem might be related to the number of people now attending the camp and the sewage system’s capacity to handle the waste being generated. According to camp director Rabbi Abe Kunstlinger, there are approximately 375 people at the facility, including campers and staff members. The Schneiders allege that this number is surpassed at times.

The New York State Department of Conservation (DEC) filed an Order of Consent against the camp for violation of its SPDES permit after inspections in August and November 2004 determined that “sewage was being bypassed around the wastewater treatment system.” The camp avoided a civil penalty of $5,000 by completing the terms of a compliance schedule, which included replacement of various system components.
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) inspected the camp’s system last week and reported that the agency is working with the camp operator and its engineering consultant to minimize any odors. Kunstlinger said that the camp recently began adding an industrial deodorizer to the system and has constructed a “15-foot temporary wall” to help deter the airflow away from the Schneider’s property.

The Schneiders said that the wall appears to consist of blue plastic tarps that have begun to fall down. And they haven't noticed a reduction in odor from the industrial deodorizer.