BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY December 8, 2019 8
CB8 rejects DEP plan to keep reservoir’s northern basin empty
BY JASON COHEN
Members of the Community
Board 8 Environment
& Sanitation Committee are
are concerned that an NYC
Department of Environmental
Protection decision will
impact the ambience of the
borough’s landmarked reservoir.
In October, the DEP sent a
letter claiming that leaving
the north basin of the Jerome
Park Reservoir empty didn’t
require an environmental
impact study.
On Wednesday, November
20, the committee rejected
the DEP’s modifi ed negative
letter of declaration regarding
the reservoir.
DEP announced the start
of a $15 million project to
rehabilitate gatehouses, install
new, lower fencing and
upgrade security infrastructure
at the reservoir in January
2018.
Work on the project began
late in 2018, will continue
through 2021 and will help to
ensure the long-term reliability
of the city’s Croton water
supply system.
However, in June, DEP
representatives told the committee
that the project would
require the northern basin to
remain permanently empty,
so that it can be used as an
emergency storage basin for
treated water discharge from
the Croton Water Treatment
Plant.
The board didn’t agree
with this assertion and
passed a resolution stating
the absence of water threatens
the historic, scenic, and
aesthetic value of the Jerome
Park Reservoir and constitutes
a potential environmental
study.
According to Anne Marie
Garti, a co–founder of the Jerome
Park Conservancy, the
relationship between the DEP
and the community has been
strenuous. The reservoir was
listed on the National Register
Latino Judges
Association
visits
Providence Rest
On Saturday, November 23, the
Latino Judges Association’s
Community Service Committee
visited Providence Rest for ‘A Day
of Service’ to honor the facility’s
senior residents and also participate
in crafting holiday cards.
(top left) (l-r) Honorable Joanne Quinones,
Frances Maiello, Barbara Cirillo and
honorable Connie Mallafre Melendez, Latino
Judges Association chairwoman.
(top right) Connie (l) with the honorable
Betsy Barros.
(bottom left) Josephine Gabriel (l) and
the honorable Llinet Rosado.
(bottom right) (l-r) Dr. Ronald Wilensky
with judges Sallie Daniels, Wilma Guzman
and Lourdes Ventura.
of Historic Places in 2000.
She pointed out that the
DEP is mandated by law to
conduct an environmental
study and its proposed
changes to more than 30 acres
of open space is contrary to
the Croton Water Treatment
Plant and Final Environmental
Impact Statement and all
documentation received by
CB8 and the State Historic
Preservation Offi ce prior to
2019.
Also, before gaining approval
from the SPHO and
CB8, DEP failed to inform
them that it intended to keep
the north basin empty.
“There are laws that agencies
have to comply with,”
she said to the Bronx Times.
“The DEP is not doing from
our perspective what it is legally
obligated to do.”
Garti, who is a lawyer,
said she is ready for a fi ght
in court if needed. She said
there is no issue with them
trying to fi x the eastern wall,
CB8 Environment and Sanitation Committee Chair Robert Fanuzzi speaks at a meeting on Nov. 20.
chneps Media/ Jason Cohen
but reiterated, that it is necessary
to do an environmental
study.
“They’re attempting to
circumvent by saying that
there wouldn’t be signifi cant
impact,” Garti explained.
“They opened themselves up
to a legal challenge.”
Committee chair Robert
Fanuzzi shares her concerns.
“The community board
doesn’t understand why
there have been so many
diffi culties with the eastern
wall and keeping the basin
empty,” Fanuzzi said. “We
don’t see the connection and
the city agencies are being
mislead. We believe there is
an impact by keeping it dry.
We don’t agree with the negative
declaration.”
He said the hope is the
members of the DEP will attend
the next meeting.
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