News & Events > Events > Riverkeeper Events > Public Hearings: Proposed Hudson River Desalination Plant

When:

March 6, 2012

Where:

Haverstraw Town Hall, One Rosman Road, Garnerville, NY map

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a public hearing on United Water New York’s proposed Haverstraw Water Supply Project, a desalination plant that would filter Hudson River water from Haverstraw Bay for drinking water, on March 6 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The hearings are among the public’s best opportunities to comment on the draft environmental impact statement for the project.

Riverkeeper is supporting the Rockland Water Coalition‘s efforts to argue for more public comment, and for funding for independent expert analysis of this project. Concerns about the project include:

• Environmental Impacts: Impacts to Haverstraw Bay, a spawning area and nursery important for fish throughout the Hudson River Estuary and the Atlantic Coast. The plant would draw up to 10 million gallons per day of water from Haverstraw Bay, a spawning area and nursery for fish throughout the Hudson River Estuary and the Atlantic Coast. It would discharge up to 92,000 gallons per day of wastewater.
• Cost: Desalination is among the most energy-intensive and costly ways to produce drinking water. The energy demand would also result in increased emissions linked to climate change.
• Health: The proposed plant’s water intakes are 3.5 miles from Entergy’s Indian Point nuclear power plant, which has a long history of proven radioactive leaks.

In addition to the hearings, when the public can present verbal or written comments, people have until April 20 to submit written comments on the draft environmental impact statement. Mailed comments must be postmarked by April 20, and email or fax comments must be received at the DEC by 5 p.m. April 20.

Address comments to:

Christopher Hogan
NYS DEC – Division of Environmental Permits
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-1750
Phone: (518) 402-9167
Fax: (518) 402-9168
E-mail: depprmt@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Rockland Desalination Plant Fact Sheet (PDF)