SPACE Seeks Interested Party Status for Proposed Biomass Waste-to-Energy Plant

Public Scoping Hearing on Proposed Biomass Waste-to-Energy Plant in Stony Point, NY – FEB 20 at 7 p.m.

To the editor,

The Stony Point Planning Board will begin its pubic scoping hearing on WED. FEB 20 at RHO Building on Clubhouse Lane for the proposed  Biomass Waste-to-Energy “Gasification” Plant. The plant would be located at Holt Drive Industrial Park in what is called the “Hudson View in Bldg. D” application. Written public comments can be submitted to the board until February 27.

SPACE  was asked by developer, Patrick Magee and MBC Construction to hear a presentation on the plan several months ago.  At that time, SPACE met with one of the potential companies that would operate the gasification plant if approved. We were impressed with the leading edge technology and  Dr. James Cervino, who is a scientist at Woods Hole, MA, has volunteered himself as a consultant for this project and has appeared several times before the Stony Point Planning Board on behalf of the project.

SPACE is not opposing this project and believes that the advanced “gasification” process being proposed is cutting edge technology that will provide both environmental and economic benefits for Stony Point. However, SPACE has also requested and expects the town to approve its request to be admitted as an “interested party” in the SEQRA environmental review process.

This project has great potential economic and environmental benefits for the Town of Stony Point. At the same time, we welcome the participation and scrutiny of the project by the lead agency, the Town of Stony Point Planning Board. As we have said we must involve the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, which has  the health and environmental oversight and permit approval authority. They are now involved with the process. The Town of Haverstraw, has  also raised some objections, which should be addressed during the SEQRA review.

UPDATE:

Last month, the Stony Point Planning Board declared itself Lead Agency and that it is going to do a “coordinated review” of the project with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). The project was determined to be a TYPE 1 ACTION under the NYS SEQRA environmental review process. That means that it could have a significant environmental impact and will need to go through a public scoping session to identify what those impacts might be.

What is Scoping?

Scoping provides an important opportunity for town residents and others to identify environmental questions or issues that it wants the applicant to answer in its DEIS – Draft Environmental Impact Statement. If issues are not identified, they may not be included in the review. Therefore, SPACE encourages all interested parties to attend the:

SCOPING PUBLIC HEARING
Wednesday, FEBRUARY 20, 2013 at 7 p.m.
Location: Rho Building, located on Clubhouse Lane; Stony Point, NY

Written comments:
Submitted by Wednesday, FEBRUARY 27 to: planning@townofstonypoint.org

The Planning Board will then meet at its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Rho Building to review input received.

A number of issues have been raised by the DEC and the Town of Haverstraw and others agencies including:

1. The DEC has issued warnings of “segmentation” to the Stony Point Planning Board and expects the applicant to look at the proposal in total, more comprehensively. Some wetlands access and further expansion of the Magee industrial park needs to be considered more completely during the SEQRA review process.

2. The expected capacity of the facility is between 1,000 – 4,000 tons per day. Although the applicant wants to bring biomass (trash) in by rail, it will have to be trucked in by road until then. Through their attorney, Mr. Silverberg, the Town of Haverstraw and and some residents and businesses have raised traffic issues and the size of the facility eventually needed if it grows to 4,000 tons per day.

3. The DEC’s role and review process for addressing air and water impacts and significant input for required permits.

We hope to see you at the Scoping Public Hearing on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

George Potanovic, Jr.
President, SPACE
Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment
PO BOX 100; Stony Point, NY  10980

845-429-2020
info@stonypointer.org
www.stonypointer.org

  holt dr, Stony Point Biomass plant