ENB Region 2 Completed Applications 03/24/2004

The Department has made a tentative determination to approve this application for the modification and renewal of an existing permit for existing and proposed discharges of an average of 7910 gallons per day of treated sanitary wastewater into the groundwater from cromaglass and septic treatment systems at the applicant’s facility located at the New York Botanical Gardens on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, where the applicant operates a botanical garden.  A draft permit is available for inspection and comment at the regional office.

The applicant proposes to expand the open water area in Aurora Pond and establish the pond as a deeper more permanent open water pool. The slope below Douglas Road will be rebuilt to control erosion in the gully and stabilize the slope in a manner appropriate to the natural setting. A key component of the project is redirection of water which currently flows through the stone lined Gabbler's Creek channel through Aurora Pond and then back into the creek channel where it continues toward Little Neck Bay. Elsewhere in the park, the applicant proposes channel wall reconstruction, drainage channel improvements, removal of invasive vegetation, reconstruction of eroded slopes and stream banks and entry area improvements. The project site is located in Udall's Cove Park, Douglas Road, 38th Road, Queens.

The applicant proposes to upgrade approximately 5,400 feet of 33,000 kV distribution cable to support higher summer load demands. The existing cable is located along a transmission line and railroad right-of-way and crosses tidal wetlands, tidal wetlands adjacent areas, freshwater wetlands and freshwater wetlands adjacent areas. New aerial cable and associated hardware will be installed on existing and new poles and new underground cables will be installed in existing and new ducts. Temporary access roads will be installed in tidal wetlands, tidal wetlands adjacent areas, freshwater wetlands and freshwater wetlands adjacent areas. Limited vegetation clearing is required to gain access to cable spans. Disturbed areas will be restored. The project site is located west of Route 440 from South Avenue to Victory Boulevard, Staten Island.

The applicant proposes to construct forty-nine (49) two-family detached houses including internal streets and a private pumping station. Eight of the proposed houses and a potion of Bedell Avenue and Page Avenue are located within the adjacent area of NYSDEC regulated Class I Freshwater Wetland AR-15 (Tottenville). The applicant proposes to establish a deed restricted area of no land alteration containing NYSDEC regulated Freshwater Wetlands and Freshwater Wetlands adjacent area. The project site is bounded by Page Avenue, Bedell Avenue and Cleremont Avenue, Staten Island, Block 7780 and 7775, Lots 1, 9, 21, 29, 185, 188, 191 and 194.