On motion of TRUSTEE____________, seconded by TRUSTEE _______, the
following resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York:
WHEREAS, there are approximately 2,000 railroad ties scattered in mud flats in the Croton Bay; and
WHEREAS, these ties are considered to be a navigational hazard for watercraft operators and a visual blight; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, through a water quality improvement project funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Village paid for a multi-year study by Hudsonia which looked at the environmental considerations of removing the railroad ties; and
WHEREAS, in 2003 Hudsonia produced a report which concluded that there would be no adverse environmental impacts from removing the ties; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, the United States Military Academy Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering completed a feasibility study on the removal of the ties from the Croton Bay; and
WHEREAS, this study concluded that an optimum method of removing the ties would consist of the utilization of small, shallow draft, flat-bottomed boats used to transport removal crews where the ties could be lifted out of the mud flats and transported to the shore; and
WHEREAS, although this method is a relatively low-cost option in terms of material, it would require a large amount of man-power; and
WHEREAS, the Village has applied to the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program to have this department undertake to remove the ties; and
WHEREAS, the objective of this program would be to remove approximately 1,000 ties from the bay; and
WHEREAS, the Village has been informed by Vinnie Tamagna, the Hudson River Navigator, that the Village has been placed on the list of approved projects by the Department of Defense; and
WHEREAS, Metro North has committed to pay for the disposal of approximately 1,000 ties at an estimated cost of $18,000; and
WHEREAS, although the Village will not be responsible for any expenses associated with the project it is responsible for going through the SEQRA process and applying for all necessary permits; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that the Village Board of Trustees declares its intent to become Lead Agency for the environmental review of this project,
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the Board authorizes the distribution of the Coastal Assessment Form and Environmental Assessment form to all involved and interested agencies including the New York State DEC, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Waterfront Advisory Council, Historic Hudson Valley, Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, and the Village and Town of Ossining.
Date: January 16, 2007
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