ENB - STATEWIDE NOTICES

Completed Applications
Consolidated SPDES Renewals

PUBLIC NOTICE

PROPOSED LIST OF RECOMMENDED
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UNDER THE

CLEAN WATER/CLEAN AIR BOND ACT OF 1996

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ("NYSDEC"), as authorized by Title 3, Section 56-0303 of the Environmental Conservation Law, known as the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, and in accordance with subdivision 3 of Section 56-0303 of Environmental Conservation Law has compiled an eligible project list for the Peconic and South Shore Estuaries using the project eligibility and ranking guidelines. This list is subject to a 45 day review and comment period by the appropriate management conference, advisory committee or advisory council prior to finalizing such list of projects.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, in cooperation with the New York State Departments of State and Agriculture and Markets, proposes the Water Quality Improvement Projects listed in the charts below to be funded with 2001-02 State capital appropriations under Title 3, Section 56-0303 of the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996.

The following types of Water Quality Improvement Projects were considered for funding: (1) wastewater treatment improvement projects; (2) agricultural and nonagricultural nonpoint source abatement and control projects; (3) aquatic habitat restoration projects.

Projects eligible to be funded are Water Quality Improvement Projects to implement management plans for the Peconic and South Shore Estuaries.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reviewed more than 700 Water Quality Improvement Project applications submitted statewide from municipalities, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and State agencies. The proposed list of projects to be funded have all of the characteristics listed below. The projects:

• Address the priorities identified in the applicable Management Plans.
• Will significantly improve water quality or aquatic habitat based on an assessment of the severity of the problem, the value of the resource, the nature of the impairment, and the potential for improvement;
• Are economical, technically viable and cost-effective solutions to water quality problems or aquatic habitat enhancement; and

• Are important to a community's comprehensive and coordinated approach to solving water quality problems or enhancing aquatic habitat in a specific watershed.

The DEC will accept comments on the proposed list of projects to be funded during a 45-day public comment period which ends May 12, 2003. Written comments should be addressed to Bond Act, Water Quality Improvement Projects, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-3500.

During the comment period DEC will discuss the proposed list of projects for each Management Plan area with the appropriate committee coordinating the implementation for that Management Plan area. The list of Bond Act projects to be funded for the applicable project categories will be finalized and published in the Environmental Notice Bulletin following the public comment period and the management committee review.

Management Plan: Peconic Estuary

The Peconic Estuary Management Plan identifies four high priorities: improvements to the Riverhead Wastewater Treatment Plant, storm water abatement, aquatic habitat restoration and mitigation brown tide projects.

Management Plan: South Shore Estuary

The South Shore Estuary Plan identifies three high priorities: Nonpoint source pollution (particularly stormwater runoff) abatement and control, habitat restoration and protection and wastewater treatment improvement wherever wastewater treatment systems are causing documented water quality problems in the South Shore Estuary.