Jun
26th

Norwood News: Reservoir Blasting Plan Bashed

Reservoir Blasting Plan Bashed

by ALEX KRATZ
NORWOOD NEWS, June 26, 2008

Local residents came out in force last week to vigorously oppose a city plan to blast away rock with explosives at the Jerome Park Reservoir.

The controversial plan is the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) contentious Croton Water Filtration Plant project currently under way in Van Cortlandt Park. The project has been plagued by massive cost overruns, federal fines, construction delays and contractor turnover.

Click on the link below to continue to read the article and comment to their blog, and/or return to our page for more chances to comment.

http://www.norwoodnews.org/story/index.cfm?s=e&id=635

Jun
16th

Public Access & the Outdoor Urban Ecology Lab (OUEL)

Broken Promises of the NYC DEP to the Jerome Park Reservoir community.

Some reports to the CFMC for June 19, 2008:

Jun
16th

Blasting at Jerome Park Reservoir? NO WAY!

Friends of Jerome Park Reservoir say:

Blasting at Jerome Park Reservoir?

NO WAY!

Thursday, June 19, 2008 beginning at 7 pm at Vladeck Hall,

(74 Van Cortlandt Park South at HIllman Avenue)

Our precious reservoir, as well as our peace and quiet, is in jeopardy!

In documents explaining the construction of the water filtration plant in the Mosholu Golf Course, the City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) indicated that there would also be significant construction necessary at the Jerome Park Reservoir on Goulden Avenue right in front of the Bronx High School of Science. Unfortunately, in 2004 that project was approved by the City Council anyway.

But now that the work at the reservoir is about to commence, the DEP has come up with a dangerous new wrinkle. Rather than dig their holes using a “mechanical” method, DEP documents indicate that on Thursday night they are prepared to tell our community that they will be conducting BLASTING to dig the hole instead!

Aside from the noise and dust this will cause, this will mean they will be sending 45-90 trucks through our community each week in order to remove the 9,000 cubic yards of residual dirt. Please note that these trucks will not be necessary if they stick to their already-approved drilling method.

Needless to say the disruption to our community, the affect on all the schools along education row, in particular to the Bronx High School of Science, as well as the traffic congestion this will mean for our entire region is not acceptable. The timing of this proposal raises questions. Also, to conduct this sort of change to their original Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) without significant review or even issuing another study is not permitted.

Please join your neighbors at the Croton Facilities Monitoring Committee meeting that is to take place this Thursday, June 19, 2008 beginning at 7 pm at Vladeck Hall, (74 Van Cortlandt Park South at HIllman Avenue) to let the DEP know that we are united and strong against this nightmare. This meeting will include other items, such as local job opportunities, and public access to the reservoir. Please come.

For more information visit: www.waterblogged.org under the Friends of Jerome Park Reservoir category, or email: JeromePark@aol.com