ENB Region 3 Completed Applications 08/30/2006

The applicant proposes to modify a portion of Freshwater Wetland PL-5 (Class II) and its 100 foot adjacent area in order to construct a 1/3 acre pond for recreational and aesthetic purposes on a 15+acre parcel.  Activities proposed within the Freshwater Wetland and the adjacent area consist of excavation of approximately 2950 cubic yards of material and revegetation of disturbed areas following construction. Excavated material will be disposed of within an on-site upland area.  The total area of disturbance to the Freshwater Wetland is 0.17-acre; the total area of disturbance to the adjacent area is 0.17-acre. The project is located on the south side of Quaker Hill Road, approximately 1000 feet east of Byrds Hill Road  in the Town of Pawling, Dutchess County.

        The Ginsburg Development Companies, LLC, has applied for a Freshwater Westland permit to construct two exploratory wells (TMA-1 and TMA-2) within the 100-foot wide adjacent area of FW# WR-5, a Class 2 wetland, and to install a temporary road crossing for TMA-2 also in the wetland adjacent area.  The exploratory wells, if found to contain sufficient water, would be used as part of a central water supply system for the proposed Prospect Hill Hamlet subdivision located on the west side of State Route 17A, approximately 1 mile north of the Village of Florida, in the Town of Goshen, Orange County, New York.  

        During the pumptesting of these wells, the applicant will install silt-fencing and/or a temporary sedimentation basin outside wetland adjacent area to prevent turbid runoff from entering the adjacent area or the wetland.

        The applicant conducted of a Fracture Trace Analysis for this newly proposed wellfield which identified this portion of the site as possibly containing a productive deep bedrock aquifer.  The proposed wells would be from 500 and 800 feet deep and take water only from the deep bedrock aquifer.  The Department requires all public water supply wells to be encased in steel down through the soil overburden and sealed with grout into bedrock, to prevent any surface waters, including water in the adjacent wetland, from being drawn directly into the wells.

        The purpose of the temporary road crossing is to allow a well drilling rig to gain access to the well field.  It is located at the narrowest possible neck of the wetland, where there is a small existing ditch.  The applicant proposes to install an 18-inch diameter corrugated plastic pipe and crushed stone around it to allow the water to pass between the two parts of the wetland while allowing the drilling rig to cross over for access to the well site.

        This Freshwater Wetlands permit application is only for exploratory drilling.  The proposed subdivision, and any other state or local permits needed for its construction (such as Water Supply and SPDES permits) would be the subject of separate permit applications, and possibly a separate public notice, if these tow exploratory wells prove productive.