ENB - Statewide Notices
Public Notice
Final Sportfishing Restoration and Spending Plan for the Lake Ontario System
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) is noticing Executive approval of the Final Sportfishing Restoration and Spending Plan for the Lake Ontario System. This Plan proposes ways to restore/enhance recreational fishing and fisheries in the New York waters of the lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and their tributaries upstream to the first barrier impassable to fish (hereafter referred to as the Lake Ontario system).
Funds for this restoration are available from a settlement of the State's Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claim for the Lake Ontario system. The Occidental Chemical Corporation agreed to pay the State $12 million in five equal payments over four years. The settlement was based on an assessment of the damages to the State's natural resources, in particular a loss of recreational fishing benefits resulting from the imposition of fish consumption advisories because of the presence of contaminants in Lake Ontario fish. The proceeds of the settlement will be used to restore/enhance sportfishing and the injured natural resources.
Copies of the Final Plan can be viewed or downloaded from: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/40068.html, or from NYS DEC Regional Headquarters in Watertown, Syracuse, Avon and Buffalo.
For more information contact:
Christopher Balk
NYS DEC
Lake Ontario Sport Fishing
Restoration Coordinator
Cape Vincent Fisheries Station
Phone: (518) 654-2147
cjbalk@gw.dec.state.ny.us
This notice announces the availability of the Draft New York State 2008 Section 303(d) List of Impaired/TMDL Waters.
The list identifies those waters that do not support appropriate uses and that require and are scheduled for development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or other restoration strategy. Public comment on the list will be accepted for 30 days, through February 22, 2008.
Background: The Federal Clean Water Act requires states to periodically assess and report on the quality of waters in their state. Section 303(d) of the Act also requires states to identify Impaired Waters, where specific designated uses are not fully supported. For these Impaired Waters, states must consider the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or other more appropriate strategy to reduce the input of the specific pollutant(s) that restrict waterbody uses, in order to restore and protect such uses. Additionally, the state is required to develop a Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) to outline its process for monitoring and assessing the quality of New York State waters. Two components of the CALM have been recently revised and are also available for comment. The Assessment Methodology outlines how waters are evaluated by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) to determine the degree of use support, and the Listing Methodology outlines the criteria NYS DEC uses to determine what waters are to be included on the Section 303(d) List. The recent revision to these documents are intended to clarify the current and continuing approach to assessment and listing.
Information: Copies of the Draft New York State 2008 Section 303(d) List, and/or the revised Assessment and Listing Methodologies can be obtained by contacting the NYS DEC Bureau of Watershed Assessment and Management by mail at 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-3502, or by phone at: (518) 402-8179. An electronic version of these documents can also be requested by email to dmwicker@gw.dec.state.ny.us. The List and Methodologies are also expected to be available on the NYS DEC website during the comment period at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/31290.html.
Public comments regarding the Section 303(d) List and/or the Assessment and Listing Methodologies should be mailed to the Bureau of Watershed Assessment and Management at the above address.
NYS Statewide Trails Council Meeting
Where: Saratoga Spa State Park, Administration Building
Saratoga Springs, NY
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Agenda:
* OPRHP
* Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
* State Trails Plan
* Rails to Trails
* Trails Website
* Park Master Plans
* DEC
* Program updates
* Delegate Programs and Issues
Contact: Robert W. Reinhardt, Director of Planning, State Trails Coordinator, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Phone: (518) 474-0415.
Municipalities and Owners/Operators of Public Drinking Water Supply Systems
New York State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) propose to amend the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Final Intended Use Plan (IUP) dated September 28, 2007 to adjust the estimated project costs for six DWSRF projects and to revise the project score for one DWSRF project listed on the Project Readiness List. Project descriptions and explanations of the reason for the cost increases and scoring change are included in the table below:
| Borrower | County | Project Description | DWSRF # | Current IUP Cost | Proposed IUP Cost | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poestenkill (T) | Rensselaer | New complete system; System consolidation | 17331 | $9,029,151 | $10,250,000 | Increased project score from 175 to 185 points due to data input error. Cost increase to reflect referendum-approved project amount and amount included in revised hardship application. |
| Chaffee | Erie | Replace all water lines in Hamlet, upgrade GW source | 17457 | $800,000 | $904,000 | The cost increase is a result of an update of the original project cost estimate by the engineer. |
| Minerva (T) | Essex | New ground water source, upgrade distribution system, new system consolidation | 15829 | $0 | $88,000 | The cost increase is a result of an update of the original project cost estimate by the engineer. |
| Newstead | Erie | Phase 2 of WD#10 | 17416 | $2,052,000 | $2,300,000 | The cost increase is a result of an update of the original project cost estimate by the engineer. |
| Schodack | Rensselaer | New system to serve private contaminated wells; System Consolidation; New Groundwater Source | 16736 | $3,295,022 | $4,475,000 | The cost increase is a result of an update of the original project cost estimate by the engineer. Town anticipates closing under DWSRF Guarantee Program. |
| Schodack | Rensselaer | Extend Distribution System; System Consolidation | 17357 | $2,197,291 | $3,698,353 | The cost increase is a result of an update of the original project cost estimate by the engineer. |
The Department has determined that the project cost increases and project scoring revision are necessary and reasonable. Although the project priority rankings were altered to accommodate the scoring revision of one project, these project changes will not adversely affect any other project on the IUP Project Readiness List above the funding line. Except for the above-noted changes, there are no other changes to projects listed on the Project Readiness List or to the project priority rankings.
Written statements or comments on the above DWSRF project scoring revision and project cost increases will be accepted by fax or mail until close of business on March 13, 2008 and should be filed with:
Mr. Victor E. Pisani.
Director
Bureau of Water Supply Protection
Flanigan Square, 547 River Street, Room 400
Troy, New York 12180-2216
Fax Number: (518) 402-7659
The revised Project Readiness List may be obtained by calling DOH's toll free information line at 1-800-458-1158, extension 27676 (within New York State only) or (518) 402-7676.
