Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C-Smithtown) is announcing that the Town of Smithtown will receive a $2,000,000 grant to assist them in closing their landfill. The landfill closure grants announced today by Gov. Pataki are the combination of funds from the state Environmental Protection Fund and state environmental bond funds.

"I am pleased to announce this vital state assistance," said Assemblyman Fitzpatrick. "Smithtown has always worked diligently to comply with environmental laws and guidelines, often taking the lead. With concerted recycling efforts, increasing efficiency of converting waste to energy, and the use of the Tulsa Plan to revamp commercial solid waste collection, Smithtown has moved aggressively to meet the challenges of solid waste disposal," he added.

"The state has been a partner throughout the whole process and we are pleased to have this help from Governor George Pataki as we close not just a landfill, but the last chapter of an earlier garbage saga," the Assemblyman concluded.

The Smithtown Landfill is a 25.3 acre site located on Old Northport Rd. in Kings Park. The grant will be used to construct gas venting and collection systems, construct barrier protection and topsoil layers, install gas, stormwater and leachate management collection systems.

Including today’s announcement, more than $127.7 million has been provided to municipalities for 137 landfill closure projects statewide. Approximately 1,660 acres of unlined landfills have been capped, preventing an estimated 502 million gallons of polluted runoff from entering groundwater.

Assemblyman Fitzpatrick noted that the state assistance grants provide between 50 and 90 percent of the total eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 per project. To receive state assistance, municipalities must have a landfill closure plan approved by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and must be in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.