Dear Colleague:
As part of development of a water quality improvement plan for Newtown Creek, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are holding a public meeting to present information and obtain public input. NYSDEC and DEP want to consider and, as appropriate, include comments from the public in the Newtown Creek Watershed/Waterbody Facility Plan (WWFP) before it is finalized. A WWFP is the initial step in the process toward achieving water quality goals for Newtown Creek. Following final WWFP approvals, DEP will commence the Long Term Control Plan for Newtown Creek.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility Visitor Center, 329 Greenpoint Avenue – entrance is at the intersection of Greenpoint Avenue and Humboldt Street, Brooklyn NY 11222.
The Newtown Creek WWFP was originally developed under a 2005 Consent Order between NYSDEC and DEP. Public meetings were conducted to present information and hear from interested parties. The WWFP has now been modified in conformance with the recently negotiated NYSDEC-DEP 2011 Consent Order. As a clarification, this plan is separate from the EPA-designated Superfund National Priorities List Program for Newtown Creek.
DEP has placed the WWFPs for electronic review at this location: http://www.hydroqual.com/projects/ltcp/wbws/index.htm. For persons who wish to review the repository copy, the WWFP is available on Fridays between 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm or may be viewed by appointment at other times at the Newtown Creek Visitor Center. Please contact Ms. Jessica Bergeron, Events Coordinator, at (860) 919-7724 or jbergeron@dep.nyc.gov to make arrangements to see the repository copy.
In addition to soliciting public comments on February 22nd, the public comment period will continue through March 9, 2012. Comments or questions may be sent by email to kmahoney@dep.nyc.govand gekline@gw.dec.state.ny.us. If you prefer to mail your comments, please send them to Mr. Keith Mahoney, P.E., DEP Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, 96-05 Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing NY 11373 and Mr. Gary E. Kline P.E., NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-3506.
For more information, please contact me at (718) 595 3519 or markl@dep.nyc.gov or you may reach Martha M. Holstein who is coordinating the meeting at (718) 625 1005 x 223 ormholstein@urbansol.com.
If you are available, we hope you will join us at the meeting.
Sincerely,
Mark Lanaghan
Assistant Commissioner