Calverton Enterprise Park

Democratic candidates for Riverhead Town Board are calling on the town to pull out of its joint application with Calverton Aviation and Technology to the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency and to reject the developer’s plans to build an air cargo hub at the Calverton Enterprise Park.

Contamination of fish in portions of the Peconic River by the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS prompted the New York State Health Department this week to warn the public to limit consumption of fish caught in those areas.

Calverton Aviation & Technology says it is exploring rail freight uses for the Calverton rail spur refurbished and by town at a cost of $3.5 million in 2010-2011.

Environmental investigators have found new areas of PFAS contamination — some at very high levels — at the former Grumman site in Calverton, raising questions from community members about possible impacts to development plans for the property.

Despite signing on as a joint applicant for financial assistance from the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency, Town Board members say they didn't see Calverton Aviation & Technology's plans for the site until they were presented to the IDA in September.

“This informal forum is intended to provide an opportunity for the CAT team to update Riverhead residents on their vision for the proposed project at EPCAL while the agency continues its due diligence" on the company's application for financial assistance, the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency said in a press release announcing the forum.

Editorial: A lot of big projects are heading to the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency for "benefits," collectively millions of dollars in tax exemptions. It's important for residents to understand what the IDA does and why. The agency, which lacks transparency, must do a much better job to provide public information to the public, or it does not deserve the public's support.

Navy representatives and their consultants will present updates to the investigation into PFAS chemicals and the monitoring of other volatile organic compounds in wells surrounding the former Grumman site at the next meeting of the Calverton Restoration Advisory Board, Wednesday, April 19.

Calverton Aviation & Technology's attorney said in September his client hoped to gain approval from the IDA by the end of 2022 or early in 2023. Five months later, it's not clear whether the IDA's vetting process has even begun.

Construction loan creditors have sued a Triple Five affiliate to collect $389 million on a defaulted loan agreement. The debt was one piece of $1.7 billion in private construction financing for the American Dream mall in New Jersey.