ENB Region 5 Completed Applications 08/09/2006

The applicant proposes to mine sand from a proposed 4 acre Life-of-Mine area situated on a 12 acre parcel of land.  A portion of the site had been used as a sand pit in the past but was not reclaimed to any other use.  No on-site processing of materials is proposed. A Mined Land Reclamation Plan has been filed with the Department of Environmental Conservation as part of the application.  The site would be reclaimed suitable for residential development.  The mine site is located about 400 feet east of NY Rt. 30 and one quarter mile southwest of Ski Tow Road. A permit is also required from the Adirondack Park Agency (APA Project Notice No. 2006-78).

The applicant proposes to mine sand & gravel from a  9 acre Life-of-Mine Area on a 37.5 acre parcel of land owned by Mitchell Construction & Sales, Inc.  The applicant proposes to process the excavated mineral by crushing and/or screening on-site.  No washing of the gravel or other treatment is proposed.  Gravel will be trucked from the mine directly to NYS Rte 37 via a proposed haul road which would be gated and maintained for this use. The reclamation objective is to plant grasses with eventual reversion to natural forest or other uses.  A minimum of 100 foot separation distance will be maintained from the adjacent state regulated Freshwater Wetland CO-17 and the Salmon River [Class C (T)]. The site is located on the east side of NY Rte. 37 south of its intersection with Fray Road.

Proposed gravel parking area in the adjacent area of Freshwater Wetland S-39 (class III), to serve a public canoe launch and trail to Kayaderosseras Creek at Saratoga Spa State Park.  The 60 foot x 35 foot parking area will be located approximately 30 feet from the wetland boundary.  The project is located on the south side of North Line Road, 0.3 mile west of Old Post Road, City of Saratoga Springs.

Proposed repair and reconstruction of the Hadlock Pond Dam, which breached on July 2, 2005.

Repair and reconstruction activities include partial rebuilding of the embankment, construction of a new fuseplug spillway, repairs to the left wingwall of the existing ogee spillway, and replacement of the primary spillway (drop inlet) and low-level outlet works. The elevation of the primary spillway will be set at its previous elevation of 452.44 feet above mean sea level, which will restore the lake to normal (historic) levels.  The dam is located at the southern end of the pond, to the east of Hadlock Pond Road.    

The applicant is requesting modification of its Water Quality Certification as a prerequisite to modifying the license for the Hudson River Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 2482 located on the Hudson River to enable an upgrade in generating equipment.  The Hudson River Project is an existing 80 megawatt (approximately) hydroelectric project consisting of the Spier Falls and Sherman Island facilities.

The Department has prepared a draft Water Quality Certificate (WQC) and made a tentative determination to approve the request for Water Quality Certification.  The modification of the WQC addresses all work associated with Erie’s request to increase the installed capacity of the Sherman Island Development by replacing the turbine runner in the existing powerhouse, installing a new turbine in the empty Unit 1 bay in the existing powerhouse, and constructing a new minimum flow turbine (Unit 6) and associated powerhouse, penstock and tailrace at the dam.  At the upstream Spier Falls Development, Erie also proposes to accelerate installation of the 1-inch clear spaced trash racks from 2010 to 2008.  

In total the proposed upgrade would increase the project’s generating capacity to     28.8 MW to 39.6 MW.

The facility is located on the Hudson River in the towns of Moreau and Corinth Saratoga County and Lake Luzerne and Queensbury; Warren County.