United Water Receives Final Scoping Document for Haverstraw Water Supply Project
Company Acknowledges Department of Environmental Conservation for Thorough Consideration of Public Comments; Preparation for Revised DEIS Underway
WEST NYACK, NY, JUNE 30, 2009 – United Water officials announced today that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has continued with the public review process for the Haverstraw Water Supply Project by issuing a final scoping document.
"The DEC has thoroughly considered the public’s and United Water’s comments to help determine the appropriate scope of the Environmental Impact Statement," said Michael J. Pointing vice president and general manager of United Water New York. "We will now focus on addressing the comments in a revised document."
Pursuant to the final scoping document, United Water will address potential environmental impacts identified by United Water and raised by the public and involved agencies through the formal scoping sessions held by the DEC on May 7, 2009 and that were held open for public comment until May 22. The scoping document will also be used as a guide in the company’s revision of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
In September of 2008, the company submitted an initial version of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (available online at www.haverstrawwater.com/deis) for the project, a much more comprehensive document than the Environmental Assessment Form usually accompanying State Environmental Quality Review filings. The DEC has used the DEIS as a basis for the scoping document.
"It has always been a priority to act transparently and give the public as much information as possible about the project, right from the beginning. Public participation is critical to the process," said Pointing. "I encourage members of the public who did not have the opportunity to make comments during the scoping sessions to visit the project website and read our DEIS and the scoping document."
The Haverstraw Water Supply Project includes building a new water treatment plant that would purify water drawn from the Hudson River and distribute it to Rockland County customers. Demands on Rockland’s water supply have increased over time and this trend will continue into the future as the population increases.
In 2006, United Water voluntarily signed an agreement with the New York State Public Service Commission, United Water, the County of Rockland, the Town of Ramapo, and New York State Assemblywoman Jaffee that requires the company to develop among other things, an additional, sustainable water supply to meet the growing needs for water in Rockland County over the next 20 years.
"Rockland County’s population has grown much faster than its water supply and continued development is expected in the future. This means Rockland’s residents face a growing risk of more frequent and more severe water shortages, especially during droughts. A new source of water is needed to ensure that Rockland County always has a safe, reliable water supply."
Representing an approximate investment of $100 million in the local community, the project would not only provide sufficient water for drinking and fire-fighting needs, but deliver economic benefits, as well.
"This project is likely the greatest investment of private equity in the Hudson Valley today," said Pointing. "With the great downturn in the economy and North Rockland being hit particularly hard, the significant property tax dollars of up to $5.5 million will add a real boost to Haverstraw, the County and the North Rockland School District."
The project is also the most cost-effective viable solution for the County and demonstrates United Water’s commitment to its customers to build projects that are not only environmentally-conscious but limit the impact on customer costs.
The Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates utilities, sets the price of water at a rate that is enough to cover operating costs and earn a modest return on infrastructure investments.
"Since the proposed Haverstraw Water Supply Project is less expensive to build than other projects, the increase in the price of the water would be less," said Pointing. "The company is proceeding with a less expensive alternative because it has both a moral and legal obligation to spend customer funds prudently, even if that negatively impacts profits."
ABOUT UNITED WATER
United Water New York provides water service to nearly 300,000 residents in Rockland and Orange counties in New York. Its parent company, United Water, provides water and wastewater services to 7.3 million people in the United States. In addition to owning and operating 20 regulated utilities, United Water operates 240 municipal and industrial systems through public-private partnerships and contract agreements including three of the nation's largest water and wastewater contracts. Founded in 1869, United Water is a subsidiary of the SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT.
ABOUT SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT
Natural resources are not infinite. Each day, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT (Paris: SEV, Brussels: SEVB) and its subsidiaries meet the challenge of protecting resources by providing innovative solutions to millions of people and to industries. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT supplies drinking water to 76 million people, provides wastewater treatment services to 44 million people and handles waste collection for 60 million people. With its 65,400 employees, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is a global leader exclusively dedicated to water and waste management business lines and present on five continents. In 2008, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, a 35% GDF SUEZ affiliate, had gross revenues of 12.4 billion euros ($17.4 billion USD)...
