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#Post#: 1144--------------------------------------------------
Final Generic Environmental Statement Released for EEIP
Embankment Work
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 11, 2020, 2:21 pm
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This is a good read and perspective on what's really missing
from the recently released Canal Corporation statement for the
Environmental Impact of their Embankment Program.
It's about getting an ASSURANCE from the Canal Corporation that
public safety along the NYS Canal System will never again be put
in jeopardy by a lack of inspection, regular maintenance &
proper, timely repairs.
It's about INSURANCE that all of the dams along the Canalway,
both concrete & earthen types are registered with the New York
State DEC and their NY State Dam Registry.
You can read it on our main website:
HTML https://ecna.us/earthen-embankment-integrity-program/nycc-embankment-dam-integrity-environmental-statement-whats-missing/
[attachimg=1]
#Post#: 1388--------------------------------------------------
Final Generic Environmental Statement Released for EEIP
Embankment Work
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 5, 2021, 9:47 am
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Just out, the draft of the FINAL version of the Generic
Environmental Impact Statement for the NYS Canal Corporation's
work on their Earthen Dam Safety Issues. It also is accompanied
by an updated Earthen Embankment Integrity Program (EEIP)
Schedule of Milestones chart. They aren't ever late on this
schedule, it just gets adjusted each time another step in the
process gets completed.
[attachimg=1]
Source:
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Project_Timeline.html
This paperwork step of embankment clearing, is the required
State Environmental Quality Review Forms and Declarations, also
known as SEQR. This form is needed before the work of clearing
embankments that are unsafe, according to the owners, can be
restarted under this new EEIP banner. It outlines what is
planned, what has been considered, and what happens if they have
an unforeseen issue.
For those keeping score on the Earthen Embankment Integrity
work, this step was made possible as a the result of the 2018
lawsuit brought on by a few well-meaning communities along the
Erie, all who wanted to fight back on how fast this public
safety program was being run. So due diligence was done when
these folks filed an Article 78 that caused the FULL
environmental review steps taken.
You can read the entire FINAL version here:
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/EEIP_Final_Scope.pdf
I have preened the most important sections below, in a few
images. Basically it comes down down to what the OWNERS of the
Canal System are trying to do, and what happens when they hit a
snag. In addition, they also discuss what would happen if they
did nothing in their Reasonable Alternatives section.
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Here's a little more about the two NYS DEC Laws mentioned in
that Mitigation Section. These provide a way for the Embankment
Restoration workers to remove any and all BURROWING ANIMALS from
the embankment dams, even if they have an 'endangered'
classification. The dam owners have understood they might have a
problem here, and have provided the method to deal with it.
By the way, this addition to the Generic Environmental Impact
Statement will prevent more well-meaning community members from
trying to halt work due to 'endangered species' and DECREASE the
need for the NYS Canal Corporation or it's parent, the New York
Power Authority, to pay for litigation & court costs brought on
by frivolous lawsuits in the future.
HTML https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/68645.html
HTML https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/environmental-conservation-law/env-sect-11-0535.html
HTML https://casetext.com/regulation/new-york-codes-rules-and-regulations/title-6-department-of-environmental-conservation/chapter-i-fish-and-wildlife/subchapter-j-miscellaneous-regulations/part-182-endangered-and-threatened-species-of-fish-and-wildlife-species-of-special-concern-incidental-take-permits
Next step in the EEIP process will be Public Meetings &
Community Input to review the draft Environmental Statements,
and to see the new EEIP Embankment Remediation Handbook, that
will spell out what gets removed and where...and hopefully when
these unsafe dams can get repaired and the current requirement
for Flood Insurance and FEMA Flood Zone ratings can return to
"pre-EEIP days.
#Post#: 1390--------------------------------------------------
Not everyone likes the newly released EEIP Generic Environmental
Statement from the NYSCC
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 5, 2021, 2:54 pm
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It figures, the people MOST responsible for the extra work it
took to create all this SEQR paperwork, are the ones who now
want to demean it in some way.
Sadly this Facebook group also sees the writing on the wall when
it comes to their cause at stopping the repair of the Erie Canal
and the efforts by it's new Owners to make all New Yorkers SAFE
again from unsafe earthen dams that we call the Erie Canal.
[attachimg=1]
The words Dam Safety Program have been used, and the fact that
if these Canal Embankment issues don't get properly repaired
than thousands of New York residents will suddenly find
themselves in new FEMA Flood Zones that require mandatory flood
insurance until they are repaired
You don't have to take my word for it...go and look at the
documents and compare for yourself:
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/index.html
[attachimg=2]
#Post#: 1397--------------------------------------------------
Facebook Group Fighting Canal Embankment Work Doesn't Understand
EEIP Environmental Impact Statement at All
DIR By: Doug K
Date: February 8, 2021, 8:59 am
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When I read this post today from our friends at the Stop the
Canal Clear-Cut I almost fell out of my chair laughing...
[attachimg=1]
This statement is coming from a group on Facebook, that has
wholly denied what the Owners of the NYS Canal System have
stated about their unsafe Erie Canal Embankments that needed to
be cleared & repaired. Because in fact those embankments are now
a public safety issue for all of NY State.
This statement is coming from a group on Facebook that called
themselves the Stop the Canal Clear-Cut when this whole
Embankment Safety effort started. And that one decision
simplified the entire NYS Erie Canal safety issue to their own
idea that "trees were being harvested for profit".
This statement is coming from a group that now is fighting to
keep dangerous trees on unsafe dams all in the name of "shade",
ignoring the safety issues that neighbors and canal communities
have to deal with as a result of living among high flood-hazard
dams, like mandatory flood insurance.
It's very sad when a group that claims to have "all the
answers", can't figure out that the STATEMENT their leader said
is a "good start" was actually added to the draft Generic
Environmental Impact Statement (dGEIS) in DIRECT OPPOSITION TO A
FACEBOOK GROUP'S EXISTENCE & OVERALL PURPOSE!
The NYS Canal Corporation added this statement to show that a
bunch of people calling themselves the Stop the Canal Clear-Cut
group, are "all wrong" about why the Erie Canal Earthen
Embankment Integrity Program exists. The STCC has stated all
along it's about harvesting trees, and the NYS Canal Corporation
flatly denied that idea with this SINGLE STATEMENT in the dGEIS
release. Read it again...
NYSCC’s proposed project should not be simplified to a
system-wide tree removal program.
Because it's not about taking trees away, it's about RESTORING
public safety in and around the Erie Canal National Heritage
Corridor for all of New York
But some people won't ever understand that they are fighting on
the "wrong side", for the wrong reasons. Just like those
"patriots" who stormed the Capital on January 6th. And that is
the saddest part of all, this unbridled ignorance of public
safety that has become contagious with others, all because of
"social media" & Facebook.
If anyone out there knows Ginny Maier, please wake her up to the
reality she seems so intent on ignoring at all cost...
Please remind her that it was her, and her Facebook group, that
ASKED for these SEQR Environmental Statements to be created. The
least she could do is to try to understand them and how they
impact overall Erie Canal Earthen Embankment Integrity.
Because unlike the name of the Tree Clear Cutting Facebook group
she represents, the SAFETY of Erie Canal Communities and
Neighbors "should not be simplified to a system-wide tree
removal program"... right?
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