To the editor: After reading Les Lynn’s opinion piece regarding the West Milford MUA, I find it funny that a so called “environmentalist” would be defending an organization of which he seems to have very little knowledge. Mr. Lynn had a lot to say in defending the West Milford MUA and to discredit its critics. What he didn’t say though, is very telling of his possible motives in writing the piece. In order to set the record straight, the residents of West Milford have a right to know about relevant environmental questions being raised about the MUA. 1. As testified in the recent Valley Ridge hearings, the MUA has a checkered past (pumping bad things into Belcher’s Creek) of non-compliance violations. In fact since the 1990’s there are at least several dozen and those are the ones we know of. 2. During the Valley Ridge Planning Board hearing last week, it became apparent that the MUA needed both the proposed Valley Ridge and Eagle Ridge developments to financially resolve their neglected sewer treatment plants, even if it came at the expense of Greenwood Lake and the West Milford taxpayer. In the Valley Ridge testimony, the developer suggested that a sizeable monetary contribution would be in order if the MUA played ball. In fact, not only was the MUA actually a strong proponent of these developments, but we learned they had gone so far as to develop a cockamamie scheme to pump sewerage up a mountain and down the other side to the Old Milford plant. The MUA had even gone to the extreme of trying to condemn property in order to install the sewer line. Still, without final approval of the planning board, it seems they were pretty confident the project would pass. Maybe Mr. Lynn knew something the rest of the town didn’t. 3. Residents living near or driving past these sewerage plants have complained not only to me, but to other officials of the smells emanating in their neighborhoods from these treatment plants. 4. An independent test last week (I was present when it was taken) confirmed that the fecal coli form output of the MUA Old Milford plant was 47,000. The DEP acceptable level is 200. An investigation is needed, and as a elected representative of West Milford it is my job to make sure it gets done. (Whether Mr. Lynn likes it or not.) 5. The slight of hand used in the past of blaming individual septic tanks for polluting Greenwood Lake can no longer deflect the MUA’s problems. There are to many experts other than Mr. Lynn who think otherwise. Finally, the last time I checked, the weeds growing in West Milford’s end of Greenwood Lake have no political affiliation. In fact, until recently, West Milford has had a dismal record of alleviating the problems associated with our end of the lake. I would hope that by bringing the MUA to environmental accountability, and by listening to environmental experts such as Dr. Doris Aronson, and organizations such as Skylands Clean and the Bi-State Commission, it would be a giant step towards this goal. Lastly, by the look of the weeds in Greenwood Lake this year, Mr. Lynn might consider joining the effort in resolving this serious problem instead of trying to shoot the messenger. James Warden West Milford Councilman