WaterBlogged.org » From Guest Pens: Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz – Croton is one of the Mayor’s worst failures http://bit.ly/3Xawfi

We could not agree more!

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November 2007 Report from Assemblyman Dinowitz

The Comptroller’s audits can be found at the following links:
• DEP’s Oversight of Costs to Construct the CWTP, FR09-110A, 9/1/2009 – http://bit.ly/AI5Pr
• DEP’s Progress in Constructing the CWTP, FR08-121A, 9/1/2009 – http://bit.ly/1a4a3E

The public is invited to attend this presentation. A representative of the New York City Comptroller’s office will present the September 1, 2009 Audit Reports listed below:

The audits can be found at the following links:
• DEP’s Oversight of Costs to Construct the CWTP, FR09-110A, 9/1/2009 – http://bit.ly/AI5Pr
• DEP’s Progress in Constructing the CWTP, FR08-121A, 9/1/2009 – http://bit.ly/1a4a3E

VLADECK HALL, Amalgamated Housing Co-op, 74 Van Cortlandt Park South, enter off of Hillman Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463.

Parking is limited, please use public transportation.

Bring a friend
Refreshments

notice December 2003

execsumm Dec 2003

20opn Court of Appeals Feb 2001

dseis2004fjpr March 2004

Notice dated May 1, 2009

minor_modification_notice

Minor Modification dated April 30, 2009

minor_modification

Christina had warned me not to park beyond the end of the elevated Jerome train line, as her car had recently been vandalized up there. I was lucky enough to find a parking spot directly in front of the DEP Community Outreach Storefront. The meeting was very well attended. Everyone seemed engaged. Ezra Glaser; Karen ; Michael Gary; Jenny Nelson/Richard Barr (from BxSciencePA) and Walter Matystik spoke up during the citizens comment period before the meeting was called to order. The presentation had some amazing views from Google Earth of the Filtration Plant construction in progress. Check to see them for yourself. There were facts given mentioning the dismantling of the Filtration Demo Plant sitting on the site on which DEP promised JPC an OUEL. I’m waiting for the right moment to bring up the OUEL. StarQuest remembers those promises well, as should Zorro.

I found it sadly funny that when commenting on the complaint of dog faeces around the JPReservoir perimeter going uncleaned, the DEP Rep defended their inaction by saying that dog feces cleanup is citizen’s responsibility. And so, I ass.u.me in the view of DEP, is pollution of all sorts as well, right? So perhaps this is a call for citizen action or what?

Radical Priest Father Gorman passed out copies of his Official-looking letter taking issue with the denial of access to full use of Jerome Park, esp. the jogging trail around the reservoir. This has long been an issue for Anne Marie Garti of JPConservancy. There were no refreshments served. No coffee, tea, nor bottled water. I wonder what kind of water DEP serves when it does provide refrescos?

/icle
9/25/08

The NYC DEP thought they could BLAST on parkland adjacent to the Jerome Park Reservoir right across the street from the Bronx High School of Science.

You can read the decision on the WaterBlogged site at: http://www.waterblogged.org/judges-decision-dep-stated-no-blasting-issued-a-reasonable-study/

Also visit the Fort Independence Park Neighborhood Association at: http://www.fipna.org/2008/09/13/judge-disposes-of-court-case-on-blasting-as-moot-or-we-won/

In not so many words, the decision said that the issue of blasting was withdrawn by the agency two business days before they appeared in court on September 3rd. It also stated that since the DEP issued a study (also presented to the court two business days before the September 3rd appearance) that “hard look” satisfied the environmental law requirements.

Looks like we made them do the right thing! Time will tell.
/Karen

On  11/11/07, Comments on the High Cost of the CWTP, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz press release and study

Click on the links in blue for more info.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) is building a water treatment plant for the Croton Water system.  On the next link, you can read about the plans to build the Croton Water Treatment Plant (CWTP) in a park in the Bronx. It was approved in a Final Environmental Impact Statement when the DEP decided to build this plant in June 2004. In the past two and one half years, interesting things have happened:

1. According to the October and December minutes of the Facilities Monitoring Committee (FMC) the Costs have almost tripled original estimates, now approaching $3 billion. The FMC is a little used committee from the ”Fair Share of Municipal Facilities” part of the “Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP)” as required by the City Charter.
2. Handouts from the May 17, 2007 FMC are attached below.  But you can find all the latest minutes from the meetings on the link above.
3. Water Board Rates are to rise 11.5% this June.  By September the DEP was asking for more.  Wonder why?  As the DEP.  FYI – The Water Board sets the rates for the meter.  They get a recommendation from the Water Finance Authority.  Both the Water Board and the Water Finance Authority used to be listed on the web, but are no longer there.  Contact the DEP for more info.

4. Promised park projects proceed, but not according to the timming of the original list, it is not up to projected days to completion.  See attachment distributed to the City Council in 2004 –updatedlistfor10m091304 below.

5. Bidding process to hit snag causing fines to accumulate.

6. The Department of Investigation (DOI) is partnering with the DEP to create a new “Integrity Monitory Project” modeled after World Trade Center (WTC) recovery program to monitor contractors with contractors. Go to the link and download the DOI report for 2002-3 and go to page 12.

7. Many diesel trucks entering worksite  without new air equipment, as promised.

CONTACTS and INFO

• Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz wrote to the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) and the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) to ask for the issue of the more than double costs be investigated.  Letters are attached with Costs Chart.  Download the file for contact info.

• Cost Chart listed separately, as well.  Email karenargenti@bceq.org for more info.

LINKS ON THE WEB

Water and Wastewater

New, $1.3B Underground Water Plant for NYC Water and Wastewater, FL - May 16, 2007 The contract is for the Croton Water Filtration Plant in New York. The total contract amount is USD 1.3 billion, of which Skanska has 80 percent, …

The $2.8 billion hole?  Bronx water filtration plant under construction drowning in cost overruns and controversyNY Daily News, May 30, 2007, JUAN GONZALEZ, DAILY NEWS COLUMNIST In the middle of the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park, a 380,000-square-foot hole in the ground lies at the heart of a growing scandal. . . .

Officials, leaders call for probe into BX plant project News 12, the Bronx, – June 1, 2007 Play the video (06/01/07) VAN CORTLANDT PARK – Elected officials and community leaders gathered at City Hall Friday to demand an investigation into what they call a scandal surrounding the construction of the Croton water filtration plant. The rising cost of the construction project is at issue. Community leaders and officials complain that the estimated cost of the construction of the Van Cortlandt Park plant has risen from $1.3 billion to nearly $3 billion. . . . .

Assembly Members Boiling Over Costs Of Bronx Filtration Plant
November 02, 2007, NY1

A water filtration plant under construction in the Bronx has some local lawmakers boiling.

Members of the New York State Assembly say the plant, which is being constructed in Van Cortlandt Park, is already $1.5 billion over budget – ballooning from $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion.

“These massive cost overruns are going to affect people’s bills or their water rates, no matter if they are a homeowners, co-op owners or renters,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz of the Bronx.

NY1 learned Friday that seven out of 11 Assembly members from the Bronx have sent letters asking the state attorney general and comptroller to investigate. Other letters were sent to the Assembly and City Council speakers, as well as members of Congress, asking for hearings.

“We don’t know if there is wrong doing or not or just poor judgment,” said Bronx Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene. “But we want to make sure that our constituents are not the victims of poor planning.”

.  .  .

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp%3Fstid%3D12%26aid%3D75231&cid=1123007440&ei=okcsR6e4KIXSpgLjg-ibAw

Updatedlistfor10m091304.xls

Handouts FMC 051707.pdf

Investigation LTR 052907.pdf

Dinowitz Letter DOI 092007.pdf

Attachments to DOI letter 092007.pdf

Chart 091107REV.pdf

DOI repsonse to Dinowitz 100407.pdf

PR Dinowitz CWTP High Cost 111107.pdf

A Critical Analysis of the DEP Explanation for High Costs ….pdf