DEC fines mobile home park owner
Paid $44,388 for violations resulting in unlawful discharge of wastewater
ALBANY — The operator of a mobile home park in Montgomery County recently paid a civil penalty of $44,388 for violations that resulted in the unlawful discharge of wastewater into a Mohawk River tributary, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
In an announcement Friday, the state agency said Ahmed S. Shah, who is also the owner of the Pattersonville Mobile Home Park in the town of Florida, inadequately operated the facility’s septic and treatment systems. As a result, it said, untreated wastewater bypassed sand filters and discharged into the tributary for at least four days, violating a permit issued by the agency. The determination came after state officials inspected the mobile home park in the summer of 2022.
“The protection of water quality is critical to sustain healthy communities, safeguard aquatic habitats, and support local economies,” DEC Region 4 Director Anthony Luisi said. “DEC took decisive action in this case to hold the owner of a Montgomery County mobile home park accountable for numerous violations of Environmental Conservation
Law and we will continue to ensure all water quality violations are thoroughly investigated and addressed for the protection of our communities and the region’s natural resources.”
Shah also failed to report the discharge to a regional water engineer within 24 hours of becoming aware of it, according to state Department of Environmental Conservation officials. Other department regulations violated by Shah include the failure to install a backup pump for the system, neglecting seasonal effluent disinfection at the facility and lacking proper record-keeping, including written operations and maintenance plans, officials said.
On Jan. 17, the agency reached an agreement with Shah, which involves the civil penalty and a requirement to bring the facility into compliance. According to state officials, Shah is addressing permit and environmental law violations, and they plan to monitor ongoing compliance.