http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070605/NEWS03/706050397/1023/NEWS07

Ramapo police seek witness to sewer vandalism

By JAMES WALSH
THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: June 5, 2007)

RAMAPO - The town police are investigating information that there was a witness to vandalism that led to a sewage spill into the Cherry Brook last year.

The case was never closed, and police have renewed their effort to find the person or persons responsible for the vandalism in August.

Detective Sgt. John Lynch said yesterday that police believe a witness existed because of postings to The Journal News Web site, Lohud.com, as well as e-mails and "other sources" that have been examined by investigators.

"We have information that was shared online that leads us to believe there may be a witness," Lynch said. "We believe there's a possibility that a witness might exist, and we're reaching out for that person to come forward and contact us."

Anyone with information about the spill, which ultimately led to sewage flowing from the Cherry Brook and into the Saddle River, may call the police tip line: 888-998-8477.

The incident occurred in late August, when a cement block was dropped into a manhole off Cherry Lane and adjacent to the Cherry Brook.

Rockland County's sewer district, which operates the sewage system, has estimated that 4,000 gallons of sludge was released.

Upper Saddle River, N.J., which is suing the sewer district and the village of Airmont, has charged that as much as 25 million gallons of sewage was released and polluted the waterway in that community.

The lawsuit does not seek monetary compensation. Instead it wants the sewer district to upgrade its system to ensure against future spills.

Upper Saddle River and the sewer district were at odds before the vandalism, primarily over discharges that occurred in Airmont near the state border.

Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, who is vice chairman of the sewer district, has blamed overflows on storm water entering the system.

While some residents have questioned the capacity of the sewers to keep pace with development in Ramapo, St. Lawrence has said that the overall system was collecting 21 million gallons daily, or about 69 percent of its capacity.

The sewer district is under a state order to submit plans for improvements to the system. Between 2003 and 2005, the state found that at least 40 spills in Ramapo and Clarkstown released almost 1 million gallons.

Reach James Walsh at jawalsh@lohud.com or 845-578-2445.