ENB Region 4 Completed Applications 10/20/2004

The applicant proposes a new discharge of an average of 37,500 gpd of treated sanitary waste (in two phases) to an unnamed tributary of the Switzkill from a primary treatment plant at the applicant's facility, the Rigpa Center for Wisdom and Compassion, Game Farm Road, in the Town of Berne, Albany County.  The Department has made a tentative determination to issue a permit for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under Article 17 of the Environmental Conservation Law.  This tentative determination indicates that the discharge regulated under this statute is considered to satisfy regulatory standards for permit issuance, based on information available to the Department at this time.  As a tentative determination, the Department seeks comments on the proposed regulated activity prior to making a final decision on permit issuance.  As such, this tentative determination does not signify department approval for, or endorsement of, the activity for which a permit is sought or for the overall proposed project.  A draft permit is available for inspection and comment at the Region 4 Office.  SPDES #NY-0268534.

Applicant proposes to expand the existing Slingerlands Price Chopper, located at the intersection of New York State Route 85 and New Scotland Road, Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, from 63,680 square feet to 73,823 square feet.  This expansion will necessitate the placement of fill in 0.135 acres of federal wetlands.

The applicant proposes to stabilize the existing shoreline of embayment #2 by placing rip-rap stone approximately 1 foot above the low tide level on the north and south sides of the embayment.  The project site is located off of Water Street in the City of Hudson, Columbia County.

The applicant proposes to stabilize an unstable portion of the side slopes of Tarigo Pond using heavy stone rip rap.  The project area to be stabilized is approximately 300 feet long and 6 to 10 feet in height.  The site is located on the Little Red Kill Road opposite Tarigo Road.

The Department has made a tentative decision to approve Emission Reduction Credits (ERC’s) for the past emission reductions of oxides of nitrogen (N0x) and Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) which were the result of the shutdown of the General Electric Nott Street Plant in the City of Schenectady.  The amount of ERC’s that are proposed to be certified are slightly less than that which was requested by the applicant.

The ERC’s requested for emission unit "misc. combustion" are reductions from emissions not subject to 6 NYCRR Part 201.  As such, they are not considered reductions under this permit surrender.  The applicant however, may pursue certification of such reductions under 6 NYCRR Part 2312.6(a)(7)(iv) which requires the applicant to submit a single source State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for Department and EPA approval.

Also contained in the applicant’s application are requests for Carbon Monoxide (CO) ERC’s.  New York State does not have any areas within its borders that are in nonattainment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for CO.  As such, the Department no longer certifies CO ERC’s.

In summary, as a result of the shutdown of the GE Nott St. Plant (specifically emission units BOOTHS, PNTDIP, STLMLS, U03026, U03025, U00005 and U00006) the Department intends to certify 7.57 tons of N0x , and 45.74 tons of VOC ERC’s.  The application and supporting documentation are available for review at the NYSDEC Region 4 Office.