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Comments of the New York Building Congress on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Site Selection for the Proposed Croton Water Treatment Plant Project April 7, 1999 Mr. Joseph W. Ketas, Assistant Commissioner Dear Mr. Ketas: This letter will be in lieu of public testimony at the joint public hearing of the City Planning Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection on April 7 at City Hall. As an organization of the design, construction and real estate industry of New York City, the Building Congress is keenly aware of the importance of infrastructure investment to the City’s future. Our membership is knowledgeable on the issues associated with the water quality of the Croton System and the case for a filtration facility. Given the complexity of the overall issue, the Department of Environmental Protection has been wise to conduct a broad scope of inquiry on the proposed Croton Water Treatment Plant. The Building Congress believes that, in the final analysis, the City has carefully weighed the overall benefits and costs of this decision and concluded appropriately that the project should be located beneath the Mosholu Golf Course in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx. In our judgement, this water treatment facility must be built - - as the City has agreed to do - - and it should be built in the Bronx at the proposed site. We believe that the Department of Environmental Protection has carefully addressed alternative locations, including the option of not building anything. The decision to locate the project beneath the Mosholu Golf Course responds to the many considerations involved with this critical decision, and the Building Congress believes it should go forward without delay. Thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments. We are prepared to assist the City’s efforts in any way that would be helpful. Sincerely, |
