Saugerties: Water Supply May Be Inadequate for Additional Development

Presentation by hydrologist shows an inadequate water supply for Saugerties development. Comparing similar area watersheds that have empirical data reveals 1.8 million gallons per day figure used by Saugerties officials to be flawed. If Kings Highway water district opens as planned there will be water shortages.

Data reports inaccurate monitoring of Saugerties' water supply.

Saugerties' Blue Mountain Reservoir "cannot supply adequate water for additional development".

The information presented at last night's public meeting was non-biased and thorough. The conclusion of the report performed by Paul Rubin, president of HydroQuest:

The 1.8 million gallons of water per day that has been used to support expansion is based on a water value metering, NOT on empirical data. In other words, the 1.8 figure is baseless and inaccurate. 

There has NEVER been a study performed based on historical data. Therefore when severe times of drought [eventuality] occur, there will be NO water for those businesses.

A more accurate [though optimistic] figure is 1.2 million gallons per day which would suggest that another source for water is needed if Kings Highway and other development is to have adequate water volume.

Not acting upon this new data would lead to law suits and severe consequences for those of us who receive our water from the Blue Mountain Reservoir.

Saugerties Violates Clean Water Act 26 Times Since 2004

The New York Times reports that since 2004 Saugerties has violates the Clean Water Act 26 times:

http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters/polluters/new-york/12477

	Facility Name	City	Last Inspected	Violations	Fines
	Saugerties (V) Dock Street STP	Saugerties	Feb. 13, 2006	18	$0
	Glasco WWTP	Saugerties	Feb. 8, 2006	4	$0
	Malden On Hudson WWTP	Saugerties	Feb. 11, 2004	4	$0
	Hits On The Hudson	Saugerties	No Information	0	$0
	Horse Show Facility	Saugerties	June 1, 2004	0	$0
	Philips Components	Saugerties	March 17, 2003	0	$0
	Saugerties MS4 Storm Sewers	Saugerties	No Information	0	$0
	Saugerties MS4 Storm Sewers	Saugerties	No Information	0	$0

This zip contains 8 facilities of 4,606 in the state.

In parts of New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, California and other states where sewer systems cannot accommodate heavy rains, untreated human waste has flowed into rivers and washed onto beaches. Drinking water in parts of New Jersey, New York, Arizona and Massachusetts shows some of the highest concentrations of tetrachloroethylene, a dry cleaning solvent that has been linked to kidney damage and cancer. (Specific types of water pollution across the United States will be examined in future Times articles.)

Records analyzed by The Times indicate that the Clean Water Act has been violated more than 506,000 times since 2004, by more than 23,000 companies and other facilities, according to reports submitted by polluters themselves. Companies sometimes test what they are dumping only once a quarter, so the actual number of days when they broke the law is often far higher. And some companies illegally avoid reporting their emissions, say officials, so infractions go unrecorded.

Some violations are relatively minor. But about 60 percent of the polluters were deemed in “significant noncompliance” — meaning their violations were the most serious kind, like dumping cancer-causing chemicals or failing to measure or report when they pollute.

Finally, the Times’s research shows that fewer than 3 percent of Clean Water Act violations resulted in fines or other significant punishments by state officials. And the E.P.A. has often declined to prosecute polluters or force states to strengthen their enforcement by threatening to withhold federal money or take away powers the agency has delegated to state officials.

Here are some commercial labs certified by NYS:

http://www.wadsworth.org/labcert/elap/comm.html

LABID: 10709: ADIRONDACK ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC

314 NORTH PEARL STREET
ALBANY NY 12207
MR. PAUL BATISTA (518) 434 -4546

Approved for the following categories:
• Air and Emissions
• Non Potable Water
• Potable Water
• Solid and Hazardous Waste

LABID: 11740: ALPINE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

1146 CENTRAL AVENUE
ALBANY NY 12205
MR. CRAIG PETREIKIS (518) 453 -0146

Approved for the following categories:
• Air and Emissions

LABID: 11129: FIBERS ID INC

1670 WESTERN AVE BLDG. B
ALBANY NY 12203-4218
MR. MICHAEL H. HAY (518) 456 -4501

Approved for the following categories:
• Air and Emissions
• Solid and Hazardous Waste

LABID: 11799: JH CONSULTING GROUP, INC

15 LYNWOOD DRIVE
LOUDONVILLE NY 12211-1347
MR. JACK HALSTUCH (518) 785 -9839

Approved for the following categories:
• Non Potable Water
• Potable Water

LABID: 11917: RESPONSE LABS LLC

12 COLVIN AVENUE
ALBANY NY 12206
MR. JUSTIN ADAMS (518) 482 -5630

Approved for the following categories:
• Air and Emissions

LABID: 10350: ST. PETER'S BENDER LABORATORY

19 WAREHOUSE ROW
ALBANY NY 12205
DR. JEFFREY D. HUBBARD (518) 525 -5480

Approved for the following categories:
• Non Potable Water
• Potable Water

LABID: 11859: THE HOME INSPECTOR, LLC

14 TAMARACK LANE
NISKAYUNA NY 12309
MR. DOUG VIERATH (518) 496 -7240

Approved for the following categories:
• Air and Emissions

LABID: 11779: WKP LABORATORIES INC

565 WASHINGTON AVENUE
ALBANY NY 12206
MS. NOELLE BRUNO (518) 431 -0007

Approved for the following categories:
• Air and Emissions

Glasco Ponds Subdivision in Saugerties applies for DEC Permit

Glasco Turnpike Operating LLC
c/o Joseph Scharf
225 W 83rd St Apt 32
New York, NY 10024
Facility:

Glasco Ponds Subdivision
Glasco Tpke (CO Rte 118) ¼ Mi E of US Rte 9W
Saugerties, NY 12477
Application ID:

3-5148-00349/00003
Permit(s) Applied for:

Section 401 - Clean Water Act Water Quality Certification
Project is Located:

Saugerties, Ulster County

Project Description:

The applicant proposes to construct a 68-lot residential development, Glasco Ponds Subdivision, with associated internal roadways and stormwater management facilities on a 47 + acre site. The project includes construction of six stormwater detention basins with outfalls to an unnamed tributary of the Hudson River (Class C), and four separate crossings of this stream. Construction will result in the filling of approximately 0.42-acre of federally regulated wetland; approximately 0.81-acre of new wetland will be constructed at the project site as mitigation. The project is located on the south side of Glasco Turnpike (County Route 118), east of US Route 9W in the Town of Saugerties, Ulster County.
Availability of Application Documents:

Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection during normal business hours at the address of the contact person. To ensure timely service at the time of inspection, it is recommended that an appointment be made with the contact person.
State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Determination:

Project is a Type I action and will not have a significant effect on the environment. A coordinated review with other agencies was performed and a Negative Declaration is on file.

SEQR Lead Agency: Saugerties Town Planning Board
State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) Determination:

A cultural resources survey has been completed. Based on information provided in the survey report, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has determined that the proposed activity will have no impact on registered or eligible archaeological sites or historic structures. No further review in accordance with SHPA is required.
Coastal Management:

This project is not located in a Coastal Management area and is not subject to the Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act.
Opportunity for Public Comment:

Comments on this project must be submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later than Sep 04, 2009.
Contact:

R Scott Ballard
NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters
21 South Putt Corners Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845)256-3054
r3dep@gw.dec.state.ny.us