Newburgh - Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and State Senator Bill Larkin announced last week a total of $1.25 million for City of Newburgh water quality improvements.
Governor Paterson recently announced nearly $25 million in Environmental Protection Fund grants for 97 Waterfront Revitalization projects across New York State. As part of this funding from the New York Department of State, the City will receive $500,000 for planning and engineering studies needed for modification and relocation of a portion of the existing combined storm and sanitary interceptor sewer, intended to reduce pollution and enable redevelopment of the 30 acre urban renewal site slated for development by LeylandAlliance.
Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said, "New York’s waterfronts are among its greatest assets. Ninety percent of the state’s population and a wide variety of economic activities are concentrated in the communities along its waterfronts. This grant will further the development of long-vacant land adjacent to the City of Newburgh’s waterfront, which will bring new life, business and activity to this community, while providing for the protection of the environment in the coming years."
Senator Larkin was able to secure $750,000 for the project in this year’s state budget.
"This project is necessary to ensure the continued redevelopment of the Newburgh waterfront and the surrounding areas," said Larkin. "There has already been a great deal of redevelopment in the area with significant plans for future development in the works. Much of this could be delayed for years, or worse, not come to pass if the sewer system is not upgraded to allow for expansion and future use."
Mayor Nicholas Valentine commented, "I would like to thank Governor Paterson, Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and Senator Larkin for these all-important funds for the upgrade of our sewer infrastructure. With these funds, we can proceed in a timely manner with the LeylandAlliance Waterfront Development."
The storm and sanitary main targeted for relocation were originally installed in 1960’s Urban Renewal parcels adjacent to Marine Drive (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd). The work will require an extensive Sewer Impact and Planning Study of the existing piping, collector system and the overflow event volumes and toxicity.
Senator Larkin said the goal upon completion of this reconstruction is to reduce the use of several of the combined sewer overflow (CSO’s) on the waterfront. In order to accomplish this, a larger capacity interceptor system will replace the existing piping so the combined sewage and storm water can reach the sewer treatment plant for management.
The preliminary estimate of the time required for the study is approximately 9 months. That, combined with the estimated 14 months for the detailed design, bidding and construction of Phase I, brings the completed Combined Sewer Collection relocation project to 24 months. With a strong collaborative public/private planning relationship and a rapidly moving SEQRA process already underway, the first phases of the Newburgh Waterfront Revitalization should be fully approved and ready for construction by summer 2010.
