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FALL QUARTERLY MEETING - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2001 - 10:30 A.M. PLACE: The United Church of Spring Valley. East Church Street at
Centre, Spring Valley, New York. 11:15 A.M. Program: "Palisades - 100,000 Acres In 100 Years", by Robert O. Binnewies Mr. Binnewies, former Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, dramatically describes the conflicts between developers and conservationists, industrialists and wilderness enthusiasts. Their opposing views regarding the uses of natural resources required the commissioners of the PIPC to become skilled negotiators, assiduous fundraisers, and savvy participants in the political process. "This book reminds us that conservation of our nation's natural and historic assets never is easy, but always is possible if each generation places high value on the legacy it will leave for the next." (Former Senator Bill Bradley) We look forward to this reunion with Mr. Binnewies, who now lives in California. Copies of his book will be available at the meeting. Lunch will be provided by the Board of Directors.
Dear Members and Friends of RCCA, The tragic events of September 11 have reminded us of how much we mean to each other. With appreciation, Petty Hedges, President summer's end - garden fountain still spilling bubbles by Leatrice Lifshitz
INDIAN POINT On September 18, 2001, the Rockland County Conservation Association Board of Directors unanimously passed a motion proposed by Haverstraw Director Frank Leonard and seconded by Stony Point Director Doris Metraux. The Board's action was described in a letter to President George W. Bush, with copies to our officials in Washington, Albany and Rockland County. The Rockland County Conservation Association Board of Directors calls for the permanent placement of military forces at the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan, New York. Needed in light of the vile terrorist attack September Il on the World Trade Center: 1. The safeguarding of Indian Point grounds by patrolling soldiers. 2. U.S. Coast Guard vessels manned by Coast Guard crews on patrol on the Hudson River off Indian Point. 3. Patrol flights over Indian Point by the U.S. Air Force. This motion in no way alters our longstanding position which demands that Indian Point be closed. RCCA is most grateful to Assemblyman Alexander J. Gromack for supporting its resolution regarding Indian Point. His response is printed on page 3. (See below) Judy Tomkins of 75 Washington Spring Road, Palisades, New York 10964, is interested in circulating petitions calling for the closing of Indian Point. Her telephone number is 845-359-0469.
Summit on Article X Reform: Power Plant Siting in New York Thursday, November 8, 2001: 10:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Dorice Madronero and Melanie Golden will attend from RCCA. For information you may call Ann Reynolds at Environmental Advocates. 518-462-5526.
THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY September 25, 2001 Hon. Charles Schumer Dear Senator Schumer: On September 18, 2001, the Board of Directors of the Rockland County Conservation Association, Inc. unanimously passed a resolution calling for the permanent placement of military forces at the Indian Point nuclear power plant located in Buchanan, New York. The Directors were requesting patrolling soldiers, Coast Guard presence on the Hudson River and fly-overs by the U.S. Air Force at the Indian Point location. In light of the recent terrorist attack on America and the particular vulnerability of highly populated regions adjacent to the Indian Point power plant, I fully support and endorse the Rockland County Conservation Association's call for increased security and a military presence at the plant. I am hopeful you will use the influence of your offices to address and resolve these legitimate concerns for the safety of those who live adjacent to the plant. Sincerely, ALEXANDER J. GROMACK
POWER PLANT HEARINGS IN ROCKLAND For the past two years, members of the Rockland County Conservation Association have been monitoring the hearings and administrative court sessions for the siting of two large power plants under the provisions of Article X of New York State Law. RCCA has been granted limited funds and status as an intervenor on issues of environmental significance. The process has encompassed months of detailed legal and technical testimony at the town halls of Haverstraw and Ramapo by the power companies and the project opponents. Unfortunately, our concerns of inadequate funding under the terms of the siting law have been confirmed and a great deal of effort continues to be expended to raise funds to present our environmental and technical arguments. We strongly maintain that the siting law is flawed and fails to protect the interests of Rockland County. Bowline 3 - The hearings on a third generating facility at Haverstraw Bay, to join the two other existing plants, have been formally closed. Some state permits on air and water impacts will be finalized and the procedures will be completed by November 30, 2001. The Siting Board will then make a decision on the application of the Mirant power company. Issues of the plant's impact on Hudson River marine resources and visual impacts have been presented by Scenic Hudson and Hudson River Fishermen and will be considered in the decision of the Siting Board and could result in legal appeals. RCCA and the Passaic River Coalition have strongly protested the plants use of large quantities of potable water from limited supplies in Rockland County. Ramapo Energy Limited Partnership, Tome Valley - The proposal for this plant is in administrative court sessions which will continue in November and are scheduled for completion in March 2002. Opponents have raised numerous issues including air, water, visual impacts and the effect on endangered species. The site of the plant is within the sole source aquifer area and is adjacent to the Torne Brook and two of its tributaries, a critical source of water for Rockland County and northern New Jersey. It borders Harriman State Park recreational areas. Included among the intervenors opposing the plant are the County of Rockland, Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Town of Ramapo, Village of Suffern, State of New Jersey, Passaic River Coalition, Tome Valley Preservation Association and Rockland County Conservation Association. Fund raising for legal expenses has mobilized residents of surrounding areas and continuing contributions are needed. The Legal Defense Fund is being coordinated by Melanie Golden on behalf of the Torne Valley Coalition, of which RCCA is an active participant. Checks should be made out to Torne Valley Preservation Association, or TVPA, and marked for the Legal Defense Fund. Please send to Melanie Golden, 10 Kingsgate Road, Suffern, New York 10901. Thank you. - Robert J. Nelson, RCCA Board of Directors
MILLENNIUM PIPELINE The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for this controversial project has been released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. During the review process, many substantial concerns were raised about safety, need and environmental impact. In December 1997, Millennium filed its initial application to construct, acquire, own and operate a 422- mile-long natural gas pipeline that would extend from an interconnection in Lake Fire at the Canada/U.S. border, through southern New York, to connect with a Consolidated Edison line in Mount Vernon, New York. Among the areas to be significantly affected are Lake Erie, the Hudson River at Haverstraw Bay and Mount Vernon. The pipeline would cross the Hudson River in Haverstraw Bay, between Bowline Point in Haverstraw and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Veterans Administration Hospital in Cortland, about 11.3 miles north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The FEIS concludes that construction and operation of the Millennium Pipeline Project would result in impacts from Lake Erie to eastern New York and would be locally significant. Most notably during the construction period the project would cause a variety of adverse impacts. Although these may be mitigated extensively through proposed and recommended mitigation, many are unavoidable. The most significant unavoidable impacts are turbidity and sedimentation in Lake Erie and the Hudson River; direct and indirect impacts on the federally-endangered shortnose sturgeon and federally managed essential fish habitat in the Hudson River; damage to farm soils especially in the black dirt area in Orange County; permanent conversion of about 26.3 acres of forested wetland to non-forested wetland; and disturbance of residential communities. RCCA held a public meeting on February 10, 2000 to discuss the project, at which time there was a detailed explanation of the method proposed for crossing Haverstraw Bay. The proposed crossing would be 2.1 miles long. Speakers were R. Allan Beers, Coordinator, Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources; Brentley K. Archer, Manager Government Affairs, Columbia Gas Transmission; and Richard Hail, Jr., Manager Environmental Permits, Columbia Gas Transmission. The pipeline would be 36 inches wide for most of its length and 24 inches wide in Rockland and Westchester. In Rockland, the existing 6.7 miles of 24-inch-pipeline, which was constructed from Ramapo to Clarkstown by Columbia Gas Transmission, will be conveyed to Millennium. Anyone interested in reviewing the FEIS may call Betty Hedges at RCCA, 845-354-1071.
Newsletter: - Betty Hedges email: bhbettyhedges@aol.com Distribution: - Faith Leigh, Cynthia Brown, Diane Gruskin, Robert Nelson Return to TOP of page |
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Last Updated: September 09, 2003 |
