DEERPARK – The state Department of Environmental Conservation is going to increase the boundary of wetlands in the Basha Kill south of Westbrookville in the Town of Deerpark from 20 acres to 450 acres.

Town Supervisor Karl Brabenec said the expanded area is to bring state and federal classifications in line.

“Right now it is considered a federal wetland. The difference with the federal wetland as opposed to the state, with the federal wetland, you don’t have the buffer around it,” he said. “So what the state is doing is they are trying to conform to the federal standard; however, when the state comes in, you have 100 foot buffer around the proposed acreage.”

The state is also adding 75 acres of buffer land, so property owners will need permission to develop any of that land, Brabenec said.

The public can still submit comments on the proposal for the next 30 days by e-mailing the Town of Deerpark at info@townofdeerpark.org.

All comments will be forwarded to the NYS DEC. In addition, the DEC has offered free flagging services if residents feel their property may be affected. Residents can contact the DEC, Region 3 office by calling 845-256-3000.