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#Post#: 132--------------------------------------------------
New York Canal Corporation SEQR Announcement - What did we
learn?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: October 19, 2018, 9:35 am
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A recent statement released from the NYS Canal Corporation,
regarding their Embankment Repair Project, seems to have brought
the "Battle for the Erie Canal" back to life. Already the press
in Rochester is stirring the pot of public sentiment & folks
like the Stop The Clear Cut Facebook Group (STCC started this
"litigation" of a safety project) are claiming a victory of
sorts. I'm chalking this up, as an Engineer, to "Learning from
your 1st Prototype" and the recent decisions by the NY Power
Authority show they are learning fast.
People actually fighting AGAINST a safety project in one third
of the 10 major Villages in the initial clearing section (of
this "critical to safety" project) certainly wasn't planned for,
and it appears the NYCC / NYPA statement shows it won't happen
again. Here's what was released to press & public regarding the
Embankment Repair Project >>>
HTML http://www.brockportny.org/news/news-announcements/472-canal-embankment-update
Here is the complete statement from the Canal Corporation:
The safety of the Erie Canal embankment remains a top priority
for the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal
Corporation. After careful consideration, we have decided not to
appeal the temporary restraining order regarding the Embankment
Safety Program. Instead, we will pursue a comprehensive
environmental review of the program across the entire state
Canal System, not just in the three towns that pursued
litigation. The public will have the opportunity to provide
input during this process. We are confident this environmental
review will confirm our position that removing vegetation from
the embankment is both an appropriate and prudent step to ensure
the safety of those who live and work on or near the canals.
In communities where the embankment has already been cleared,
the Canal Corporation is preparing to remove and dispose of tree
stumps, improve slopes to facilitate seeding and maintenance and
install a toe-drain to reduce water buildup at the base of the
embankment. That work is expected to begin in November. The
Canal Corporation plans to hold a meeting in December where the
public can provide input about enhancing the visual aesthetic
along the Erie Canal following vegetation removal and is also in
the process of hiring a design consultant to facilitate that
conversation.
Now..go back to the First Paragraph and read the LAST statement
again. See the word that not enough people are talking about
with this project? See it?..it's 'SAFETY', and the NY Canal
Corporation now has irrefutable data to support the Embankment
Remediation & Repair Project, or as some call it, "clear
cutting". At the end of the day ALL 122 miles of Embankments
will need to be cleared, in order to be SAFE, in order to be
INSPECTED & in order to be MAINTAINED properly. It's always been
about safety, but that message was sadly drowned out by "Save
the Trees" chants... the very thing that was the "root cause"
(pun intended) of the whole dilapidated state of these
Embankments.
Finally we see the direction this project will be taking, PROVE
the Reasons why, then MAKE the embankments safe... and
eventually ALL Embankments will be fixed... once they take the
time to dot their "i's & cross their t's". It will cost more to
each taxpayer but in the end will insure the MISTAKES made in
and around Rochester are NOT repeated... always make lemonade
when someone fights against 'safety'.
Get used to that idea folks, CLEAR, GRASS COVERED EMBANKMENTS.
And starting thinking about what this means to each of our
communities that now need to create action plans for: Flood
Evacuation Routes, Public Warning Systems, working with the
public learning all about "Living with Dams in your
Communities." Like we've often heard when something changes the
Status Quo... THIS changes EVERYTHING!... and it's about time,
if you ask a few local couples who've been living with the
issues caused by "fighting safety" daily.
Here's a Link to FEMA advice on Living with Dams, good place to
start a journey on Dams.
HTML https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28161
Here's a Link to Dams 101 (note, earthen dams are the most
problematic for safety)
HTML https://damsafety.org/dams101
MOVING ON:
This first Embankment Repair Project phase, starting in Dec 2017
through Today, and running from Lockport To Lyons, was part of
the "learning curve" for the New Ownership of The NY Erie Canal
System. It looks like the New York Power Authority learned that
some people WILL "bite the hand" that is making their life
safer. They took it all in stride and "re-created" the project
to include more supporting evidence.
The New York Canal Corporation has learned their NEW owner,
NYPA, takes the word SAFETY very seriously. They are sparing NO
expense on insuring that public safety is NOT something they are
careless with. They have years of experience doing this same
type work statewide, too bad some in our communities actually
believe these folks are "lying" about safety. They also are
busier than ever and keenly focused on safety now... not
profits.
The rest of the Public, including those of us being referred to
as "neighbors", hopefully will learn our own lessons as this
Erie Canal Safety Project rolls along, clearing and restoring
these Embankments to a safer, manageable condition. Much of that
in our own backyards. Hopefully each of the Erie Canal Neighbors
has a chance to have their voice heard, and so we've created a
place to do just that... go here for more.
HTML https://ecna.us/
As for my Wife, Sandy and I, we are living BELOW the water level
of the Erie Canal, with 4 million gallons of water being held
back by an "unsafe & aging" Earthen Dam a mere 40' away from our
home along 400' of shoreline; We've learned to never
underestimate the ignorance of some folks in our community who
fail to understand their actions are placing MANY others in
Harm's Way. We have one active leak on our property, another
couple we see forming, and this project has opened our eyes to
the fact that when it comes to a decision of protecting "nature"
or protecting safety..we should ALWAYS chose SAFETY... no matter
what anyone else says, never bite Safety's Helping Hand.
What did you each learn?
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