Bond Act Funds to Help State Agencies Comply with Environmental Standards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 28, 2000
Bond Act Funds to Help State Agencies Comply with Environmental Standards
Governor George E. Pataki today announced that $4.5 million from the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act will be used to help State facilities comply with environmental laws and regulations. This Bond Act funding will enable State agencies to correct environmental violations at State-owned facilities.
"This funding provides the resources for State agencies to correct longstanding environmental violations, while setting an example for others who must comply with environmental laws and regulations," Governor Pataki said. "Since 1995, ongoing efforts by State agencies to improve compliance have produced significant environmental and public health benefits."
Each year, State agencies conduct an environmental audit of their facilities to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The funded projects were selected by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in consultation with other Stateagencies, based upon the severity of the potential threat to the environment and public health. The state agencies that will receive funding are the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the DEC.
The Bond Act funding will enable State agencies to correct a wide array of environmental violations. Funds will be used to rehabilitate or replace aging water systems, remove outdated petroleum storage tanks, upgrade sewage treatment plants, repair dams and close landfills. These projects will help to protect ground and surface water quality at various locations across the state.
For example, OPRHP will receive $500,000 to clean up and properly close three inactive landfills located in Allegany State Park, Cattaraugus County. This project will protect surface and groundwater in New York's largest state park. The DEC will receive $250,000 to complete the cleanup of the maintenance garage at the Lake Clear Sawmill in Franklin County. The project will include the removal of petroleum storage tanks and construction debris and the installation of a watertight holding tank to capture floor drain runoff, to protect groundwater at the site.
DEC Commissioner John P. Cahill said, "Under Governor Pataki's leadership, State agencies have made great progress in improving their environmental compliance, correcting many long-neglected environmental abuses. This funding reinforces the Governor's pledge to correct the most serious environmental violations at State facilities."
The $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, proposed by Governor Pataki and approved by the voters in November of 1996, authorizes $25 million to improve the environmental performance of State buildings, campgrounds, parks, and other facilities. To date, approximately $18.6 million in Bond Act funds have been committed to environmental compliance projects at State facilities.
| AGENCY/PROJECT DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT | |
| Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) | ||
| OPRHP | Allegany State Park, Cattaraugus County. Clean up and properly close three inactive landfills to alleviate potential surface water and shallow groundwater contamination. | $500,000 |
| OPRHP | Harriman State Park, Orange County. Clean up and properly close landfill in accordance with State regulations. | $500,000 |
| OPRHP | Robert Moses State Park, Suffolk County. Testing, replacement and/or retrofitting of petroleum bulk storage tanks. | $550,000 |
| OPRHP | Sterling Forest State Park, Orange County. Repair spillway for leaking dam to meet current dam safety requirements. | $200,000 |
| OPRHP | Lake Taghkanic State Park, Columbia County. Upgrade or replace the water treatment plant system to meet current treatment standards. | $400,000 |
| OPRHP | Projects at eight State parks, Suffolk County.
Investigate and remedy subsurface discharge systems that are in need of rehabilitation or replacement to correct SPDES violations. The investigation phase (estimated at $200,000) will identify each park's needs. The implementation phase (estimated at $300,000) will enable OPRHP to take immediate action and/or upgrade systems as needed. | $500,000 |
| Subtotal: $2,650,000 | ||
| Department of Transportation (DOT) | ||
| DOT | Scobell Chemical/Highway Right of Way, DOT Region 4, Monroe County. Supplement the cost of designing a remedy for on-site contamination and investigating possible off-site contamination associated with this DOT-owned property . | $135,000 |
| DOT | Defreestville Highway Maintenance, DOT Region 1, Rensselaer County. Repair or replace leak detection system for petroleum bulk storage tanks. | $50,000 |
| DOT | Schodack Rest Area/Comfort Station, DOT Region 1, Rensselaer County. Repair water discharge system to correct SPDES violations. | $50,000 |
| Subtotal:$235,000 | ||
| Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) | ||
| DEC | Lake Clear Sawmill, DEC Region 5, Franklin County. Complete the cleanup of buried petroleum storage tanks and construction debris and install a watertight holding tank to capture floor drain runoff from the maintenance garage at the site. | $250,000 |
| DEC | Dickinson Center Maintenance Center, DEC Region 5, Franklin County. Perform a geologic and hydrologic investigation of this inactive disposal site and design a plan for closure, including remediation if necessary. | $100,000 |
| DEC | Bear Spring Mountain Campground, DEC Region 4, Delaware County. Raise the dam which forms Launt Pond and repair the spillway to meet current dam safety standards. | $200,000 |
| DEC | Lowville Sub-Office and Maintenance Center, DEC Region 6, Lewis County. Remove and replace vehicle lift and install an oil/water separator at the drain discharge to collect oil and other contaminates for collection by the municipal sewer district. Extend the water supply and sewage disposal system for the Maintenance Center to the municipal system . | $400,000 |
| DEC | Saratoga Tree Nursery, DEC Region 5, Saratoga County. Replace leaking, underground vehicle lift, install an oil/water separator and connect drains to the nearby municipal sewer to correct improper floor drain discharge. | $250,000 |
| DEC | Ridge Environmental Conservation Area, DEC Region 1, Suffolk County. Extend water supply and sewage disposal system for this multi-use facility to correct failing subsurface disposal systems. | $425,000 |
| Subtotal:$1,625,000 | ||
| TOTAL:$4,510,000 |