Sewage Pollution Right to Know Law Public Information Session

When:

July 16, 2015: 7:00PM to 9:00PM

Where:

SUNY Ulster Community College, Vanderlyn Hall, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, NY map

A man views a sewage spill in the Twaalfskill, a tributary of the Rondout Creek that runs through is back yard, on July 9, 2013. (Photo by Dan Shapley)

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is taking public comments until 5 p.m. on July 31 on proposed regulations that will govern the implementation of the Sewage Pollution Right to Know Law, which was passed in 2012 with support of a coalition led by Riverkeeper.

The law requires that all discharges of raw or partially treated sewage from publicly owned treatment plants, pipes, manholes, pump stations and other infrastructure be reported publicly within four hours. Those reports are currently being made to registered users of the via the NY-ALERT system by e-mail, text or phone.

Please make your views known about the importance of public notification of sewage contamination, the main cause of illness from contact with water during recreation like swimming. Your comments may include:

• What water you use, and how you use it recreationally.
• Thanks to the DEC for implementing this important law to protect public health and the environment.
• The importance to you of publicly reporting all sewage discharges promptly, including those that come from combined sewer overflows.
• The types of public reporting that would adequately inform you, including the adequacy or inadequacy of the NY-ALERT system currently being used.
• The importance of setting fair penalties to ensure compliance with the law.

You must send comments during the public comment period. The DEC is required to consider and respond to public comments made via e-mail or mail. Send your comments to [email protected] or:
NYS DEC – Division of Water
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, NY, 12233-3500

Several public information sessions about the regulations are scheduled. Though the statements made at these public information sessions will not be considered as public comments, it will be important for the DEC to hear from you about the importance of this law and its thorough implementation. The public information sessions are scheduled at the following dates and times:

• NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York (Central Office); July, 7 2015; 7 p.m.
• Monroe Community College (MCC), Monroe B, 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York; July 15, 2015; 7 p.m.
• SUNY Ulster Community College, Vanderlyn Hall, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, New York; July 16, 2015; 7 p.m.
• NYS DEC, 207 Genesee St, Utica, New York; July 21, 2015; 7 p.m.
• Federal Building, 4th Floor Board Room, 90 Church Street, New York, NY; July 22, 2015; 7 p.m.