PRESENT: Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: V. Pinto , J. Maisano.

STAFF: Rob Hoch; Charlotte Ryer, Sec’y.

ALSO PRESENT: Mike Principe, Kimberlee Kane (NYC/DEP); Ann Cohen (CWCWC); Karen Argenti; Tina Argenti (FJPR); Marian Rose (Sierra Club/CWCWC); Frank Eadie (CB4-NYC, CWCWC); Gudrun LeLash (Pace Law); Roberta Weirnik (LWV); Fedora DeLucia (Somers); Paul Mankiewicz (Gaia Inst.); David Ferguson (CWCWC/HDFC Coalition).

The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m.. Today’s meeting will primarily focus on the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC/DEP). Chair first reviewed the sub-committee status, stating that the new sub-committees will commence on or about March 15^th. He also commented that good things developed as a result of the last sub-committees.

Chair then introduced Mike Principe and Kimberlee Kane of the NYC/DEP and thanked them for attending the meeting. Chair requested two areas to include in their discussion: (1) in-reservoir alternatives to filtration (the use of alum), a report on the aeration project – and any other in-reservoir alternatives; and (2) any non in-reservoir alternatives and also, an update of a newspaper article regarding the daily leakage of water from a tunnel in the Delaware system.

Mr. Principe began his presentation with visual slides showing water quality. He stated that the existing Croton water supply meets all the current health-base standards and expanded on how the one of the

main issues in the Croton is the change in water color, which changes with the seasons and lead to frequent system shutdowns. Croton water meets the standard color level part of the year (primarily in summer and late fall.) When there is ample supply of Catskill/Delaware water, the Croton is able to shut-down (in the fall). During periods of draught, the Croton water is the main supplier to the City (NY). The Croton water will not meet future health-base standards for disinfection byproducts. The disinfection byproduct is when chlorine is added to the water and it combines with the natural organic matter in the water and forms a "total trihalomethane" (a group of compounds). The current standard that applies to New York (only) is 15-units. (The complete presentation is in the Committee file.)

Mr. Principe continued, stating that filtration is mandated by federal and state regulations and that in the early 1990’s the Village of Croton did not apply for filtration avoidance, because they had already agreed to filter the Croton water supply. There is currently a consent decree with EPA and the Health Department to filter the Croton water supply by the year 2007, with construction of the filtration facility to begin in 2001. He added that filtration will solve the color and disinfection byproduct problems, and will significantly improve water quality. In regard to non-filtration alternatives, NYC/DEP believes (based on report analysis) that a number of suggested options, "in-reservoir" and "watershed protection" measures, would improve water quality to a certain point. Avoiding filtration, has yet to be determined. The Plan has been divided into six (6) major projects as outlined in the "Long Term Croton Watershed Management Projects" (on file w/ENV): Hypolimnetic Aeration Pilot Program; Alum Pilot Program; Wetlands Project; Ecological Engineering Pilot; THM Precursor Study; and Croton Watershed Protection Plan.

A brief discussion ensued regarding alum, and on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Maisano, the meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.