BY BRANDON LAWSON
The Schuyler County legislature met for the regular monthly meeting, Monday, Feb. 12 in the legislature chambers at the county office building.
During the meeting, all resolutions were passed including the opposition of the current application to operate a gravel quarry in the town of Dix.
An expansion project has been announced by It’s Greener Now Inc., at the facility Padua Gravel Pit, 3362 State Route 409, Watkins Glen. Plans call for expanding the existing 14.33-acre mine by approximately 60.95 acres and operating for 20 years. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation held a virtual public comment period also on Monday night with an in-person event at the Watkins Glen Community Center, Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The resolution passed by the legislature stated:
WHEREAS, it has been reported in the New York State Environmental News Bulletin on January 3, 2024 and elsewhere that Padua Gravel (“applicant”) is proposing a 60 acre expansion to their gravel quarry operations, located in the Town of Dix, County of Schuyler, State of New York, adjacent to the Village of Watkins Glen
WHEREAS, according to records of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the applicant applies for approval to expand a fifteen acre quarry operation by 60 acres, for a total of 75 acres to be mined by permit for the next twenty years,
WHEREAS, the present application is carried over from an initial application from the years 2007-2008,
WHEREAS, at that time the DEC suspended decision on the above application,
WHEREAS, to reactivate the pending application, the applicant submitted a DEIS to the DEC on May 13, 2019, which was deemed insufficient by the DEC, requiring a revised DEIS that was submitted on Aug. 9, 2022.
WHEREAS, Schuyler County received no notice of these action by the DEC,
WHEREAS, Schuyler County received notice of the Jan. 3, 2024 publication of the DEIS in the DEC Environmental News Bulletin on behalf of the applicant, that has been declared sufficient by the DEC,
WHEREAS, the DEC has declared a comment period with a deadline of Feb. 28, 2024
WHEREAS, this is an insufficient amount of time for the Village of Watkins Glen, the Town of Dix, and Schuyler County to respond to the effects the proposed project will have,
WHEREAS, this proposal appears to impact noise, traffic, aesthetic and hydrological characteristics of the site
WHEREAS, the Schuyler County Legislature objects to the DEC activating an application dormant for 16 years without requiring a new initial review
WHEREAS, the Schuyler County Legislature objects to the DEC’s failure to notify our county of the proposed action
WHEREAS, the proposed time period is insufficient to review the 784 pages of documents that are on file with the DEC, and to hire the required experts to review the record
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Schuyler County Legislature notes its opposition to the current application to address these and other legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant be required to submit a revised application to address these and other legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DEC reopen and allow an additional period of public comment on the application to address these and other legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DEC conduct a full, fair and exhaustive environmental review of the project, to address any legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Schuyler County Legislature requests that no approvals be granted for this project pending satisfactory completion of the above, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Legislature shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the following: Gov. Kathy Hochul, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, New York State DEC Region 8, New York State Historic Preservation Office, Senator Thomas F. O’Mara, Assemblyman Philip A. Palmesano, and such other and further officials as might be deemed appropriate and proper.
There were four public comments during the meeting. One related to a property owner’s question about an appeal sent to the county attorney regarding an eminent domain procedure.
Another was a local resident voicing opposition to the Padua Gravel Pit expansion project.
Two others were questions about the proposed housing development near Watkins Glen International, called The Esses. Legislative Chairman Carl Blowers encouraged the questions be sent to the clerk and legislator Mark Rondinaro offered to explain details of the county comprehensive plan.
A website for the development shows there could parking spaces, garages, homes with garage space and high-end building options ranging in cost from $80,000 to $6,000,000 on the 172-acre property.
The Schuyler County legislature met for the regular monthly meeting, Monday, Feb. 12 in the legislature chambers at the county office building.
During the meeting, all resolutions were passed including the opposition of the current application to operate a gravel quarry in the town of Dix.
An expansion project has been announced by It’s Greener Now Inc., at the facility Padua Gravel Pit, 3362 State Route 409, Watkins Glen. Plans call for expanding the existing 14.33-acre mine by approximately 60.95 acres and operating for 20 years. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation held a virtual public comment period also on Monday night with an in-person event at the Watkins Glen Community Center, Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The resolution passed by the legislature stated:
WHEREAS, it has been reported in the New York State Environmental News Bulletin on January 3, 2024 and elsewhere that Padua Gravel (“applicant”) is proposing a 60 acre expansion to their gravel quarry operations, located in the Town of Dix, County of Schuyler, State of New York, adjacent to the Village of Watkins Glen
WHEREAS, according to records of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the applicant applies for approval to expand a fifteen acre quarry operation by 60 acres, for a total of 75 acres to be mined by permit for the next twenty years,
WHEREAS, the present application is carried over from an initial application from the years 2007-2008,
WHEREAS, at that time the DEC suspended decision on the above application,
WHEREAS, to reactivate the pending application, the applicant submitted a DEIS to the DEC on May 13, 2019, which was deemed insufficient by the DEC, requiring a revised DEIS that was submitted on Aug. 9, 2022.
WHEREAS, Schuyler County received no notice of these action by the DEC,
WHEREAS, Schuyler County received notice of the Jan. 3, 2024 publication of the DEIS in the DEC Environmental News Bulletin on behalf of the applicant, that has been declared sufficient by the DEC,
WHEREAS, the DEC has declared a comment period with a deadline of Feb. 28, 2024
WHEREAS, this is an insufficient amount of time for the Village of Watkins Glen, the Town of Dix, and Schuyler County to respond to the effects the proposed project will have,
WHEREAS, this proposal appears to impact noise, traffic, aesthetic and hydrological characteristics of the site
WHEREAS, the Schuyler County Legislature objects to the DEC activating an application dormant for 16 years without requiring a new initial review
WHEREAS, the Schuyler County Legislature objects to the DEC’s failure to notify our county of the proposed action
WHEREAS, the proposed time period is insufficient to review the 784 pages of documents that are on file with the DEC, and to hire the required experts to review the record
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Schuyler County Legislature notes its opposition to the current application to address these and other legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant be required to submit a revised application to address these and other legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DEC reopen and allow an additional period of public comment on the application to address these and other legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DEC conduct a full, fair and exhaustive environmental review of the project, to address any legitimate areas of concern prior to any decision on the project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Schuyler County Legislature requests that no approvals be granted for this project pending satisfactory completion of the above, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Legislature shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the following: Gov. Kathy Hochul, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, New York State DEC Region 8, New York State Historic Preservation Office, Senator Thomas F. O’Mara, Assemblyman Philip A. Palmesano, and such other and further officials as might be deemed appropriate and proper.
There were four public comments during the meeting. One related to a property owner’s question about an appeal sent to the county attorney regarding an eminent domain procedure.
Another was a local resident voicing opposition to the Padua Gravel Pit expansion project.
Two others were questions about the proposed housing development near Watkins Glen International, called The Esses. Legislative Chairman Carl Blowers encouraged the questions be sent to the clerk and legislator Mark Rondinaro offered to explain details of the county comprehensive plan.
A website for the development shows there could parking spaces, garages, homes with garage space and high-end building options ranging in cost from $80,000 to $6,000,000 on the 172-acre property.
