CHESTERFIELD — A local nonprofit whose removal from the Indian Hollow property by the Army Corps of Engineers sparked indignation from some parents came to the attention of the town’s Board of Health, who spoke to the Army Corps prior to the group’s removal.

“There was a complaint that came in from neighbors,” said Henry Badner, a member of the health board.

The land is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and the nonprofit Biocitizen was using it as a part of its day camp programming.

Badner said that he received two complaints from neighbors about the nonprofit’s presence at Indian Hollow, which is also home to a campground. Badner said that the neighbors had noticed a large amount of traffic on the road leading to Indian Hollow.

“It was apparent to them it was not a very sensible thing,” he said.

In Early July, Biocitizen was asked to leave the property by the Army Corps and a state trooper, with the conduct of one of the Army Corps personnel being described as intimidating by the mother of one of the children. Another mother described the display of force from the trooper and Army Corps as inappropriate and potentially traumatizing.

A spokesperson for the Army Corps said Biocitizen was asked to leave Indian Hollow because the campground was closed and because it didn’t have a permit to operate on the property. However, the closure information wasn’t readily apparent on the Corps’ website at the time of the group’s removal, although signs were posted about the campground being closed. The hiking and mountain bike trails on the property were open to the public, however, and remain so.

Kurt Heidinger, Biocitizen’s founder, said the organization is going through a review process to be able to get a permit to operate on Army Corps lands, and he has spoken about this to Matthew Coleman, the project director at Knightville Dam. Indian Hollow is situated in the Knightville Dam area.

“It’ll be a thorough regulatory process,” he said.

Heidinger said that before the group was asked to leave, he was not aware that the organization required a permit to use the land.

“We basically just arrive, take a hike, and leave,” he said.

He also said that the phone number he had been given to contact Coleman wasn’t working on Monday, a number that also wasn’t working for the Gazette later that week.

Heidinger said that Biocitizen is operating a travel camp and has all the proper licensure.

Biocitizen is a Westhampton-based educational organization that has used the Indian Hollow property as part of its day camp programs, where children explore different microbiomes in the Pioneer Valley, for the past decade. Biocitizen also runs programs out of Los Angeles, New York City and Concon, Chile.

“We have a program that is world-class,” said Heidinger. “We have an excellent record.”

Badner expressed concern with a lack of sanitary facilities at Indian Hollow, as well as with the lack of cellphone service there and the inability of emergency vehicles to get on site.

“The gate down there is barred,” Badner said.

Badner said he thinks exploring Indian Hollow as a child would be fantastic, but that his concern is with safety.

Heidinger said that area is regulated by the Army Corps, and not the Board of Health.

“That is exactly why the Army Corps was there,” he said.

After the complaints from neighbors were received, Badner said the board contacted the Army Corps asking about Biocitizen’s presence.

“It was quite quick, I have to say,” said Badner, of the Corps’ response.

Badner and board Chairman John Chandler were at the site when Biocitizen was removed from the property.

In contrast to Biocitizen parents’ characterization of the Army Corps and police officials’ demeanor, Badner said their behavior was “anything but” intimidating.

“These guys were all very polite,” said Badner, of the Army Corps personnel. “So was the state trooper.”

Additionally, Badner alleged that Heidinger was “recalcitrant” and “wasn’t responsive” in his interactions with the trooper and the Army Corps.

Heidinger said Badner had it backwards.

“We were actually in the process of leaving,” he said.

Heidinger said he spoke to the health board members that day, and that he then sent an email to the board with all of the information about the group’s licensure and offered to appear at the board’s next meeting.

“We are actually eager to communicate with them to firm up our emergency preparedness plans,” said Heidinger.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.