Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announced in his annual county address last night that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has filed a formal complaint against the New York City Department of Environmental Protection over the DEP's controversial releases of muddy water into the Esopus Creek this winter.
During his 2011 State of the County Address before the county Legislature, Hein said the state on Monday served the [NYC] Department of Environmental [Protection] with a complaint and notice of hearing, that he said, would prohibit any future releases without state approval and county consultation, as well as $2.6 million in civil penalties.
Earlier: Hein has been keeping up a steady drumbeat of outrage about the DEP's releases over the past few months.
5pm update: This post has been corrected. (See brackets in quote above.)