Today, we received papers from the city responding to the Order to Show Cause and the Temporary Restraining Order of July 29, 2008. All of the papers are not included but most of them are here. Please download each pdf and read it.
Memorandum of Law citypapersmol082908
For grass roots organization information, check out the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (www.bceq.org) and the Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association (www.fipna.org)
RAISED BORE METHOD - 8.2.1.7. New Shaft Chamber and Tunnel, pp. 11-12
“. . . the raised bored construction method . . . involves drilling of a pilot hole from the surface. A boring drill rig would be assembled at the bottom of the shaft where the tunnel would terminate, and turned by a machine at the top. The boring spoils would fall into the tunnel, and would be removed as the drill is raised from the bottom of the shaft. Using the new tunnel for access, all the debris would collapse into the new tunnel and would be removed at the water treatment plant site . . . . This method would reduce the impact caused by construction in the area.”
Last week, the NYC Health Department issued a press release that stated Two New Yorkers have been infected with the West Nile Virus. You can read it here:
Two New Yorkers Test Positive for West Nile
What does this have to do with the Reservoir you ask?
Simple, for the last several months the DEP has kept the reservoir empty on both sides of the wall. The north side is empty and pretty much dry, however the south side is empty but with large standing pools of water that have now turned green and mossy.
So why is this a health issue? Again, simple, standing water attracts mosquitoes and with them come disease. The Health Departments own statement says:
“Take Simple Steps to Avoid Mosquitoes
* Eliminate any standing water from your property, and dispose of containers that can collect water.
Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly. Standing water is a violation of the health code. ”
So is DEP getting a violation? This is a serious situation that needs immediate addressing. Millions of mosquitoes could be breeding as I am typing this, do you want to be the next infected person?
I am asking everyone to call 311 and report the standing water in the south side of the reservoir. Please ask for a complaint number and if you can send it to us via our Contact us.
(1) no surface drilling or blasting
(2) hoe ram drilling
(3) blasting
Click below to view in flash. Use the mouse to click to the animated photo’s; the pages will advance but you need to use the mouse click to go through the presentation. FULL SCREEN IS THE LAST RIGHT BUTTON.
This is the exact presentation given to the Facilities Monitoring Committee five days before the presentation at Amalgamated. Clearly you can see the DEP making the case between two types of methods, but not the one they have permission to use. The EIS is clear: no surface drilling (and that includes hoe rams) or blasting.
Click below to view in flash. Use the mouse to click to the animated photo’s; the pages will advance but you need to use the mouse click to go through the presentation. FULL SCREEN IS THE LAST RIGHT BUTTON.
(Please click the image to advance the slides)
If you do not have flash, you can download the Acrobat (pdf) version by clicking here: cro-312os_6-13-08_fmc1
It is truly amazing that the City has no idea what they are doing. See the note from the City’s attorney:
. . . . “DEP is currently in the process of finalizing its environmental review of proposed project changes, including the possibility of shifting from hoe ramming to blasting for rock excavation at the Jerome Park Reservoir site, and will not make any final decision regarding the use of blasting until that review is completed,” said Susan Amron, deputy chief of the environmental law division of the city’s law department, in a statement. (Riverdale Press, July 31, 2008 online)
Where in the world did hoe raming come from? They forgot to mention the originally approved section of the FSEIS. See below:
. . . . . From Section 8.2.1.7.
“The construction of the New Shaft at this location would be done using
the raised bored construction method. This method involves drilling of a
pilot hole from the surface. A boring drill rig would be assembled at
the bottom of the shaft where the tunnel would terminate, and turned by
a machine at the top. The boring spoils would fall into the tunnel, and
would be removed as the drill is raised from the bottom of the shaft.
Using the new tunnel for access, all the debris would collapse into the
new tunnel and would be removed at the water treatment plant site for
either the Mosholu or the Harlem River Site alternatives. For the
Eastview Site, the material would be removed through the NCA from shafts
upstream of the Reservoir. This method would reduce the impact caused
by construction in the area.
The drilling of the New Shaft via raised bore construction would take
place in the first summer of the scheduled construction period. The new
tunnel lining would be installed before the New Shaft Chamber
construction commences. In response to public comment, construction of
the New Shaft Chamber would occur during the school year with the
concrete pours taking place during the summer months, Saturdays, or
holidays to avoid disturbance of the nearby schools while they are in
session. The construction of the New Shaft Chamber would be
simultaneous with setting the piping in the New Tunnel from either the
water treatment plant or the NCA, depending on the site selection, to
the New Shaft Chamber.
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