Statement before the New York State Assembly
on N.Y. Power Authority’s Proposed Power Generation Plants
March 22, 2001
Good morning. My name is Debi Rose. I come before you today
as a Staten Island community activist and leader for over 25-years, as a member
of Community Board #1 on the North Shore and as a candidate for the
49th City Council district this year. I am submitting today an
updated portion of my testimony presented at the public hearing held on Staten
Island on January 25, 2001.
First, I want to be clear that I understand the purpose and
need for the placement of additional power generation plants to meet the
growing electric demand in the City and State. One need only look at the
ongoing crisis in California for potential ramifications of not having
sufficient capacity. That being said, I can even understand that the Power
Authority’s plan attempts to spread the need for these plants throughout
the City as “temporary measures” until larger plants are built. Call
me cynical - but for Staten Islanders the words “temporary measures”
does not bode well. We have been dealing with the temporary garbage facility at
Fresh Kills for over forty years.
Obviously the residents of the entire City are the consumers
of this power and therefore should bear some burden in hosting these plants.
The question, however, is whether the sites chosen by Power Authority is the
best location for such plants. On Staten Island I clearly believe that it is
not! It is clear from the Power Authority’s decision to relocate the plant
from its first site on Virginia Avenue, that they can – and I believe
should – consider alternate locations for this plant. The proposed
location raises several questions and concerns:
The first question to be answered is why is NYPA considered
this area of Staten Island at all? Weren’t other more appropriate sites
throughout Staten Island considered for this generator? So far the only two
locations considered by the Power Authority are both in the same residential
area of Staten Island.
The Pouch Terminal site of the proposed generator, between
Edgewater Street, Lynhurst Avenue and Bay Street, is located in a mixed-use
commercial and residential area of Clifton. The proposed site sits adjacent to
residential housing, a retail commercial strip mall and a funeral home on Bay
Street. On its other border sits Edgewater Plaza, a waterfront multi-use office
complex, which is the daily home to hundreds of public and private workers. In
addition the site is in close proximity to a major church and school in the
Clifton/Rosebank community. I state these concerns not as simply a NIMBY (Not
In My Back Yard) issue but as a community impact concern.
Second, what of the potential environmental impact of the
proposed generator? Doesn’t it mean increased air and noise pollution for
this community? Should we rely solely on NYPA and the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) “environmental assessment” of the
proposed site? I do not believe that the “environmental assessment”
is sufficient to meet the concerns of the surrounding community. The
Clifton/Rosebank community is already the home of a major Sun Chemical Plant,
which produces pigment and inks products, the Con Edison Fox Hills substation,
as well a numerous industrial and automotive companies. The cumulative
environmental effects of these businesses, taken together with this proposed
generator plant, can not be taken lightly.
Therefore today, I call upon the Assembly to require that
the New York Power Authority to conduct a full environmental impact review of
all of the proposed power generators in the City of New York. While I
understand that DEC does not have to conduct such a full study, I believe that
such a study will give the community better confidence on the impact of this
generator and I believe show that this is not the best suited location for it.
I also agree with the New York Times editorial this Tuesday that
Governor Pataki should reconsider these sitings and build a consensus with the
various communities.
Finally while I, and I am sure the community, appreciate
the opportunity to share our views regarding the placement by the New York
Power Authority (NYPA) of the 44 megawatt gas turbine generator in the Clifton
section of Staten Island, I deeply question what if any impact it had on the
final determination in this matter. NYPA has rushed to complete this plant by
an arbitrary deadline of June without conducting full community input and
environmental review. While there is litigation involving other NYPA power
plants in the City, Staten Island is one of the few that has not received the
same attention.
I only hope that you will take these concerns seriously as
you further consider this plan. I am willing to work with the Assembly, NYPA
and the community to find alternative locations for this generator. Thank you.
|
