Washington County junkyard sued for discharging toxic chemicals

A Washington County junkyard has been slapped with a lawsuit by the Attorney General's office, accused of allowing toxic chemicals to seep into the air and nearby groundwater.

A.G. Andrew Cuomo said East Side Used Auto Parts in the town of Kingsbury, Washington County, had been crushing cars without properly draining the fluids since the current owners began operations there in 2003.

As a result, Cuomo said, gasoline, petroleum, antifreeze and Freon has been polluting the soil and groundwater wells.

The lawsuit also charges the junkyard with spilling hazardous chemicals and improperly storing potentially harmful debris, including car batteries and tires.

"The crushing and handling of vehicle and scrap metal at the facility has created noxious odors, dust, smoke, loud noises and vibrations affection the health of residents in nearby homes in the Town of Kingsbury," Cuomo said in a written statement released Monday.

It's not the first time the junkyard owners, James Marro and Robert Marro, have faced complaints. The Marros have been cited by the Department of Environmental Conservation repeatedly since they began operating in 2003.

After receiving numerous complaints from nearby residents of headaches, nausea, beathing difficulties and loss of sleep, the DEC finally turned the case over to the AG's office.

Cuomo said he wanted the Marros to clean up any soil and groundwater contamination and require the Marros to pay civil penalties, which he estimates could total more than $50,000 per day of violations.