COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
Minutes: Monday, February 10, 2003
MEMBERS PRESENT: M. Kaplowitz, Chair; U. LaMotte; V. Pinto; M. Rogowsky; W. Ryan.
OTHER LEGISLATORS: R. Wishnie
BOL STAFF: T. Bernard, P.Neglia, S. Kirkpatrick.
GUESTS: Nancy Seligson, Virginia Benedict, Supervisor Linda Cooper (Yorktown), John Raymond, Suzannah Glidden, Marc Yaggi (Riverkeeper), Ralph Butler(WCDPW),Supervisor Marion Sinek (New Castle), Janet Jardi (Bronxville), Sabrena Charney (WC Planning Dept.), Gina D’Agrosa (WC Planning Dept.), George Klein (Sierra Club), Dr. Steven Kaplan (CWCWC, HRS Clearwater), Neal Rentz(No. County News), Oreon Sandler (CWCWC)
DISCUSSION:
Chair Kaplowitz called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. and announced the series of four community meetings on sewage diversion in Peekskill (2/13), Yorktown (2/19), New Castle (2/24) and Yonkers (3/12). These meetings seek community input after which there will be further SEQRA scoping meetings
The following speakers in opposition to sewage diversion addressed the committee:
Drew Claxton, Peekskill City Councilwoman, representing a coalition of groups seeking equity in water quality along the Hudson. They believe that upgrading Hallocks Mill wastewater treatment plant, septic systems and Bedford Correctional wastewater treatment plant to treat New Castle sewage is a viable and equitable alternative. This plan maintains Croton water quality, prevents overdevelopment and it pollution, protects the Hudson River and prevents environment injustice. Diversion uses public funds and sets public policy to grow an infrastructure that has disparate
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environmental impacts. It further increases odors, causes more illness, decreases capacity and puts more sewage in the Hudson. Physical problems near county plants are documented. The larger the plant, the greater the health issues. Copies of documents were handed out.
Diversion will result in loss of capacity and more sewage in the Hudson. Peekskill SPDES is 10 million gallons a day (mgd). Six years ago, in 1997, the average usage was 6.8 mgd. The 2001 figure of 6.4 cannot be accurate because of the development since 1997. Capacity in March, 2001 was 81%. Numerous developments are in the planning process or under construction. Current total for sewer district is 9 mgd. counting projects waiting to be included over the next 2-5 years. The Phase I diversion is 1.73mgd. which is over the current capacity. Areas of Cortlandt and Yorktown (Shrub Oak) are still waiting to be sewered since they are in the Peekskill watershed. Letters were presented that described the predicted need by officials to expand the Peekskill plant.
Oreon Sandler advocated the upgrading of Hallock’s Mill plant because it is less expensive, takes less time, protects the watershed and the river and minority communities. It further would reduce cost to Hallock’s Mill ratepayers. Croton water, according to DEP, is high quality. The problem is storm water runoff. 85% of phosphorus loading is from runoff. Only 2% going into the New Croton Reservoir is from Hallock’s Mill. Once pipes are in the ground, there is little control over hookups and expansion.
The capital cost of expansion should be included in the decision. $600,000 of the $1.4M SEQRA is used for design of diversion which he believes is inappropriate. Funds should be designated for the study of alternatives.
The diversion plan is “growth neutral” only in the Hallock’s Mill district not everywhere else. Increased development threatens the Croton Watershed. Funds should be used instead to purchase sites in the watershed to prevent over development.
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Marion Rose (Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition) handed out the DEC brochure that states the water is high quality. Her conversation with a DEP engineer dispelled the rumor about pharmaceuticals being detected in the water. A study that is often used to say the Hudson would not be damaged by diversion is very old and needs to be redone using modern methods.
The Savin Report says that 2.5 mgd would be diverted from Yorktown Heights. However, since Yorktown only has 1.5 SPDES, this shows 1mgd in growth. This is a lot of growth allowed in the watershed which would be allowed with diversion.
Chair Kaplowitz asked that documents be delivered to the staff so copies can be made and distributed. The staff should respond to the contentions made in the materials.
The following individuals spoke in support of the diversion plan:
Karen Argenti is a member of Friends of Jerome Reservoir, a community activist and worked in public administration for NYC Council President. There are people who live in Bronx County near the Jerome Reservoir like her who do not want a treatment plant built in the Bronx. Her group joins others in supporting the preliminary design and environmental review of the diversion project. Ms. Argenti thinks this is a better alternative and preserves the quality of drinking water. She delivered a copy of her letter to the Board, USGS study of drugs in water discharged from sewage treatment plants, EPA article on clean water infrastructure.
When the rules were agreed on initially, in a plant with less than 50,000 gal/day the total phosphorus limit was 1mgl. The limit for 50,000-500,000 gal/day was .5 and over 500,000 the limit was .2 which is mostly being met in the Catskill-Delaware. In the Croton system with the exception of large plants, most of the sewage treatment plants are causing more pollution be cause their goal is only 1.
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She further urged the committee to look fully at the best way to protect the Croton Watershed rather than just at diversion.
Dr. Paul Mankewicz, PhD. described his twenty plus years working with the Catskill and Croton Watersheds specifically doing his thesis on the filtering effect of capillary action of plants. He does not believe that sewage should not go into the water supply. The best filter is the roots and bacteria in the millions of cubic centimeters of land.
There are many environmental quality issues to consider. The phosphorus and nitrogen we put in to the water supply or Hudson must be removed whereas the phosphorus holding capacity of the land under a forest is almost 900 pounds per acre per year. We need to look at the overall impact of our efforts. We could look at ways to divert water to the landscape and use natural filtering and use treated water for other purposes such as watering golf courses.
Legislator LaMotte expressed her concern about water and effluent going from one watershed to another.
There was a discussion of the Bedford facility (a State wastewater treatment plant) which discharges into the Muscoot. Mr. Sandler reported that Bedford is proposing the collection of sewage in Katonah and along 117 and Haynes Road be hooked up to the Bedford Facility and that the State had offered to deed the facility to Bedford for $1 if they operate it. This plant handles 500,000 gal/day. 160,000 gallons could come from New Castle. A similar referendum in Bedford was turned down 10 years ago.
Legislator Oros urged that the proposal go back to the County Executive to be revised to include a study of upgrading and other alternatives also. Once the SEQRA process starts as proposed, we will be committed to diversion.
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Legislator Pinto reiterated the committee commitment to hear the public on all sides of the issue. Legislator LaMotte expressed interest in Dr. Mankewicz presentation of a second diversion alternative.
Virginia Benedict connected Dr. Mankewicz presentation to her storm water presentation and discussion of the “living machine.” Steve Kaplan urged that people be part of the decision of what goes on around them. There is a lot of technology around to assist us including new septic systems that do not need to be emptied.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. on the motion of Legislator Pinto and the second of Legislator La Motte.