The Birches Nomination Submitted

The nomination to request funds for the upgrade of the separate sewer and storm water collection system in the Birches (aka Continental Villas) development was submitted on Thursday. As with the MNBM nomination, I have posted the Birches nomination cover letter below, along with a sample letter of support. I have also posted a flyer that was made up by a reader who did an incredible job collecting letters for the MNBM nomination (thanks Sue). The intent is to motivate people to send a letter. I think you will agree that it does the job.

It is my hope that everyone who sent in a MNBM letter will also send one for this and more will join them. Even if no money is designated for the project, the effect of 30 – 40 letters will have the impact of keeping this issue on the front burner. It may be a good idea if a couple of people print out the flyer and put it in the envelope as well – it’s a good visual for the committee members.

 

Same drill, please let me know that you have sent in the letters.

 

The Cover Letter:

Residents for the Protection of Mill Neck Creek
7 Arlington La.
Bayville, NY, 11709
ResidentsforMNC@smalltownblog.com

 

March 13, 2007

Nassau County 2006 Environmental Bond Act Program
One West Street
Mineola, NY 11501
Attn:  Thomas F. Maher, Director of Environmental Coordination, Room 326 A

Dear Committee Members,

We are writing to you to ask that you please consider designating funds, under the Stormwater Quality Improvement category, for the purpose of upgrading the stormwater collection system of the "Birches" residential development (a.k.a. Continental Villas). The outflow of this collection system is located on a lot on Meleny Rd. in Locust Valley (Section 29, Block 68, lot 16).

At present, this system has been badly compromised and is being used as a conduit to transport raw sewage from nearly 30 houses in the development, to be discharged directly into Mill Neck Bay (a.k.a. Oak Neck Creek). These homes were constructed with on site septic systems that were poorly designed and constructed for the soil conditions present at that site. Due to the failure of these systems, these homes were inappropriately connected to a lateral under-drain system that discharges the untreated sewage into the bay. The only attempt at treating this sewage is a contact chlorination tank that cannot handle the volume that regularly flows from this development.

The Non-Point Contamination Source Study, commissioned by the Village of Bayville, clearly shows that this sewage discharge is a major factor in the closing of Bayville’s Creek Beach to swimming and the closing of all of Mill Neck Bay to shell fishing. It is obvious that the effects of this point source extend beyond Mill Neck Bay, contributing to impaired water quality throughout the Oyster Bay – Cold Spring Harbor estuary. The Study also shows that water quality improvements have been made through road drainage projects designed to limit runoff. With the construction of a sewage treatment plant, and a continued effort by surrounding municipalities to reduce storm water runoff, water quality in Mill Neck Bay and the entire Oyster Bay – Cold Spring Harbor Estuary will undoubtedly see significant improvement.

This situation has existed for decades and has yet to be addressed. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had mandated that a packet sewage treatment plant be operational before September 15, 2005, but years of negotiations between Nassau County and the Town of Oyster Bay have stalled over cost-sharing details. The primary issue that appears to be holding up the correction of this appalling condition is the cost of installing a separate sewer and stormwater collection system under the roadways of this development. It is due to these unresolved cost-sharing details that we continue to allow untreated sewage to discharge into a National Wildlife Refuge that has been designated a Significant Fish and Wildlife Habitat and a Regionally Important Natural Area. It is little wonder that this refuge has also been designated one of the ten most endangered National Wildlife Refuges in the nation by Defenders of Wildlife, a well-respected national environmental organization.

It is for these reasons that we are requesting that funds be designated for the installation of this system, in the hope that the additional funds will facilitate a long overdue solution to this very real threat to public health.

 

 

 Sincerely,

              Barry E. Lamb 
              Founding member, Residents for the Protection of Mill Neck Creek.

 

The Letter of Support:

March 19, 2007

Nassau County 2006 Environmental Bond Act Program
One West Street 
Mineola, NY 11501
Attn:  Thomas F. Maher, Director of Environmental Coordination, 
         Room 326 A

Dear Mr. Maher and Committee Members:

I am writing to express my strong support for the nomination for the upgrade/replacement of the separate sewer and storm water collection system for the Birches development in Locust Valley in the category of Storm Water Quality Improvement through Nassau County’s 2006 Environmental Program Bond Act. This project nomination satisfies the vast majority of the evaluation factors for storm water improvement and will help to facilitate the long overdue construction of a packet sewage treatment plant to treat the raw sewage, from nearly thirty homes, that is currently being discharged into Mill Neck Creek.

The project will greatly benefit the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor estuary, which boasts a number of important designations including, but not limited to the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a Regionally Important Natural Area, Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat areas, and an Audubon Important Bird Area. The benefit extends all the way to the county and regional level by protecting a body of water that is critical to the regions economic, recreational, historic and aesthetic character.

It will also help to address a very real and significant threat to public health that has been allowed to exist for decades.

Thank you for taking our support into consideration.

Sincerely,

 

 

And the Flyer: Birches Flyer


And as promisied the modified flyer for posting:  Modified Flyer

Barry E. Lamb
Bayville


 

Posted by Barry E Lamb at Sunday, March 18, 2007 9:00 AM
Categories: The Birches

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