Issues of illegal dumping and opening burning at Neubig Farm on Barberry Road have been an ongoing concern for East Haven and state officials for years.
And now more recently the property has been over the past few months — one of which — that are now under investigation.
'Separate Investigation'
And while of the old dairy farm's owner, Robert Neubig of Wallingford, for allegedly operating an illegal waste disposal facility on his land may raise a few eyebrows, it will have little if any effect on the town's arson investigation.
"It's a separate case," East Haven Fire Marshall Anthony Moscato told East Haven Patch Thursday, referring to the illegal dumping and burning allegations. "The state has been working on that for some time."
'Without a Permit'
Neubig — who owns and operates Neuco Corp, a Wallingford-based general contracting business — was arrested Wednesday at the farm during the execution of a search warrant.
He was charged with construction of a solid waste facility without a permit and operation of a solid waste facility without a permit.
The case will be prosecuted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Chief State’s Attorney Office.
Neubig did not immediately return a call from East Haven Patch requesting comment on his recent arrest or the ongoing arson investigation.
Solid Waste 'Coming In from Other Areas'
According to the warrant, Wednesday's charges follow a long history of environmental and criminal violations at the property dating back to 2004 — including illegal solid waste disposal and illegal open burning.
Moscato said over the years, the East Haven Fire Department had been called to the property many times due to complaints regarding opening burning of garbage, plastics, wood and other debris that had been dumped there.
The fire marshall added that the solid waste was not from items found on the now-dormant farm, but instead from outside sources.
"It appears there were things coming in from other areas," he said. "There were actually vehicles we saw on the property that had names on them."
Arson Investigation Continues
Although the two cases are separate, Moscato told East Haven Patch that his department's parallel investigation into the three suspicious fires at the Barberry Road site continues.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal, as well as the , are assisting the EHFD on the case.
When asked if the investigation was near completion, Moscato said due to the nature of the case, there was no way to set a timetable for its end.
"Arson fires are like that, it just takes time. And sometimes it goes nowhere," he said. "You just try to keep gathering information... and as we speak, it continues."
