SCHUYLER COUNTY--An expansion project by It’s Greener Now Inc. at the facility Padua Gravel Pit, 3362 State Route 409, Watkins Glen, will be the topic of a legislative public comment hearing Monday, Feb. 12 and Tuesday, Feb. 13.
According to the department of environmental conservation, “the applicant proposes to expand the existing 14.33 acre mine by approximately 60.95 acres, resulting in a total life of mine affected area of approximately 75.28 acres. The mine will continue to operate as a traditional surface extraction of unconsolidated sand and gravel. Mining will not involve the removal of consolidated bedrock and will occur above the water table. The proposed expansion would result in the extraction of approximately 3,500,000 cubic yards (CY) of material for a duration of approximately 20 years. A previous proposal to construct a material transport tunnel under NYS Route 409 and rail siding has been eliminated. Further, the Life of Mine affected area has been reduced and below groundwater table mining has been removed from the proposed project. The hours of operation for the expansion will remain the same as the current hours (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday). There are no proposed changes in the equipment used for the operation nor will there be a change in truck traffic. The applicant needs to apply for a new air facility registration.”
“A State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) negative declaration was issued on May 14, 2007. Subsequently, an amended negative declaration was issued on Dec. 21, 2007. That decision was later rescinded and a SEQR positive declaration was issued on June 3, 2008. The scoping meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was held July 1, 2008. The DEIS was first received by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) May 13, 2019. The last revision to the DEIS was received Aug. 9, 2022 and the last revised Mine Plan Map received Feb. 14, 2023. The DEIS was determined to be sufficient for public review on January 3, 2024.”
There will be two legislative public comment hearings next week. The first hearing will be held virtually on Monday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. through the WebEx electronic platform. A second hearing will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. at Seneca Lake Events Center at Clute Park, 586 East 4th Street, Watkins Glen.
The link to access the virtual meeting is here: http://tinyurl.com/y2j4njes.
Comments can also be submitted by email or mail to: its-greener-now-comments@dec.ny.gov and Frances Knickmyer, NYSDEC Region 8 Headquarters, 6274 E Avon-Lima Rd, Avon, NY 14414.
Following the hearing, the DEC will determine whether substantive or significant issues have been raised and whether an adjudicatory public hearing should be scheduled before an administrative law judge.
Electronic copies of the application and DEIS documents and draft permits are available online at: https://jmt.com/padua-ridge-deis/.
According to the department of environmental conservation, “the applicant proposes to expand the existing 14.33 acre mine by approximately 60.95 acres, resulting in a total life of mine affected area of approximately 75.28 acres. The mine will continue to operate as a traditional surface extraction of unconsolidated sand and gravel. Mining will not involve the removal of consolidated bedrock and will occur above the water table. The proposed expansion would result in the extraction of approximately 3,500,000 cubic yards (CY) of material for a duration of approximately 20 years. A previous proposal to construct a material transport tunnel under NYS Route 409 and rail siding has been eliminated. Further, the Life of Mine affected area has been reduced and below groundwater table mining has been removed from the proposed project. The hours of operation for the expansion will remain the same as the current hours (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday). There are no proposed changes in the equipment used for the operation nor will there be a change in truck traffic. The applicant needs to apply for a new air facility registration.”
“A State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) negative declaration was issued on May 14, 2007. Subsequently, an amended negative declaration was issued on Dec. 21, 2007. That decision was later rescinded and a SEQR positive declaration was issued on June 3, 2008. The scoping meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was held July 1, 2008. The DEIS was first received by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) May 13, 2019. The last revision to the DEIS was received Aug. 9, 2022 and the last revised Mine Plan Map received Feb. 14, 2023. The DEIS was determined to be sufficient for public review on January 3, 2024.”
There will be two legislative public comment hearings next week. The first hearing will be held virtually on Monday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. through the WebEx electronic platform. A second hearing will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. at Seneca Lake Events Center at Clute Park, 586 East 4th Street, Watkins Glen.
The link to access the virtual meeting is here: http://tinyurl.com/y2j4njes.
Comments can also be submitted by email or mail to: its-greener-now-comments@dec.ny.gov and Frances Knickmyer, NYSDEC Region 8 Headquarters, 6274 E Avon-Lima Rd, Avon, NY 14414.
Following the hearing, the DEC will determine whether substantive or significant issues have been raised and whether an adjudicatory public hearing should be scheduled before an administrative law judge.
Electronic copies of the application and DEIS documents and draft permits are available online at: https://jmt.com/padua-ridge-deis/.
