DEP Wants Schedule For United Water Dam Project
The state Department of Environmental Protection has given United Water until April 1 to outline their schedule for the project.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is requiring United Water to start work to upgrade the dam at the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir "as soon as possible" in a letter dated March 1.
The DEP is requiring United Water to approximately double the rate at which water can flow out of the reservoir so that the dam would not break in a 1,000-year storm.
United Water has until April 1 to submit a schedule for the project.
Steven Goudsmith, a company rep, told Patch that the schedule is still being developed.
United Water's plan was approved by the DEP in late 2011, but work has not yet started. Hillsdale officials have insisted the borough's Planning Board should review the effects the project could have on downstream flooding along the Pascack Brook.
United Water filed a petition with the state Board of Public Utilities, seeking a ruling that the DEP had sole authority. The BPU dismissed the petition without prejudice last month, declining to say that they had the authority to make that decision.
The meaning of that ruling has apparently been interpreted differently by the parties involved. The DEP wrote that the BPU deferred to their "exclusive jurisdiction in this matter." Borough officials and the Hillsdale & Westwood Flood Solution Group have said that the BPU's decision to not decide meant that they still had the right to exam the downstream environmental impact of the plan.
The project could also still be held up by two Hillsdale ordinances passed last year. These laws would give the borough the authority to have the Planning Board review the plans. United Water has filed a lawsuit to void the ordinances, saying that the borough made "repeated attempts to thwart" the dam project.
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STRESSED
9:45 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Why doesn't United Water just do what Hillsdale wants and this whole thing will be done with. Also seems like United Water is hiding something. For the sake of all those flood residents I sure hope this project doesn't make things worse for them, someone really needs to find this out asap they need anwers as it has been long enough with United Water and Hillsdale about this. Really wish you will keep on top of this story. Thanks
Curious
10:46 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Department of Environmental Protection - Mission Statement: To assist the residents of New Jersey in preserving, sustaining, protecting and enhancing the environment to ensure the integration of high environmental quality, public health and economic vitality. We will accomplish our mission in partnership with the general public, business, the environmental community and all levels of government by: Providing residents and visitors with affordable access to safe and clean open space, historic and natural resources; Assuring pollution is prevented in the most efficient and practical way possible; Assuring the best technology is planned and applied to achieve long-term goals; Assuring non-treatable wastes are isolated, managed and controlled; Enhancing environmental awareness and stewardship through education and communication.
Have the governing bodies considered the residents, businesses and overall environment impacted by an increased spillway capacity? What is efficient and practical pollution prevention? How much pollution prevention is at play every time 200+ homes, offices and businesses flood? Whatever the flood waters touch on land ends up back in the trout laden brook that many NJ residents fish and feed from.