ENB Region 8 Completed Applications 11/12/2003

The applicant proposes to modify their current permit for construction of a highway interchange to include control the alien invasive species Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) within the 100-foot adjacent area of Freshwater Wetland BF-1. The applicant is concerned that because of the invasive nature of this plant, it could choke out other trees and shrubs designed to be planted as part of the original wetland permit.  The Japanese knotweed will be cut to ground level and allowed to grow back to approximately 6-8 inched in length at which point a glyphosate herbicide will be applied. Project areas are located in the northeast and northwest corners of the fishing access area accessed from Lowe Road in the Town of Big Flats in Chemung County.

The applicant proposes undertake a wetland restoration project  in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which includes construction of a low level berm across a drainage ditch within the 100-foot adjacent area to Freshwater Wetland AK-6 in order to restore hydrology to one acre of wetland. In addition, there will be two pairs of potholes with two level ditches excavated within the 10 acre monotypic cattail marsh to restore microtopography and diversity.  Each pothole will have approximately a 5,000 square feet surface area and be 3.5 feet deep with an average depth of one foot.  The level ditches will be approximately 100 feet long, 3 feet deep, and have 3:1 side slopes.  The project is located on the west side of State Route 63, 1/2 mile north of the 63/77 intersection in the town of Alabama., Genesee County.

The applicant proposes to construct a seasonal dock and a 57' long vinyl sheet pile breakwall connecting to the neighbor's existing breakwalls on either side with decking on top to serve as a tieback system at his property located at 155 Durand Blvd. in the Town of Irondequoit, Monroe County.  The project is located in Irondequoit Bay, the Class I, state regulated freshwater wetland, RE-1.  

The application and file are available for review at the Region 8 office in Avon.

The applicant proposes to install a 140 foot long driveway through the 100-foot adjacent area of Freshwater Wetland CG-20. The construction will include the clearing of vegetation, grading and filling to create access to the upland portion of the parcel.  The limits of disturbance in the adjacent area will be approximately 35 feet wide, with a final width of the road being 24 feet wide, and will be defined by sediment and erosion controls consisting of staked silt fence.  The proposed work will be at the north side of 5 and 20 east of the Super 8 Motel in the Town of Canandaigua, Ontario County.

The Department has made a tentative determination to modify this permit to include water filter backwash and boiler water in the discharge which is used to spray fields from a 7 million gallon storage lagoon where settling occurs.  Fields can be sprayed from May 1 to November 30.  The facility processes apples and cherries.  The proposed permit also includes the use of three water treatment chemicals in the boiler water.  The compliance limits in the permit have not been changed.  A copy of the draft permit is available for review at the Region 8 DEC office in Avon.