154-13 Draining Reservoirs.pdf

154-13 August 20, 2013 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DELAYING OF DRAINING THREE (3) RESERVOIRS ON GARRET MOUNTAIN AND REPLACING THEM WITH LARGE CONCRETE TANKS, UNTIL UPDATED RULES ARE RELEASED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WHEREAS, in response to a federal Environmental Protection Agency mandate to cover all treated drinking water supplies, the Passaic Valley Water Commission is planning on draining the three (3) reservoirs on Garret Mountain and replacing them with large concrete tanks; and WHEREAS, the reservoirs are the Levine, New Street and the Great Notch, which happens to form about half of the western border of Rifle Camp County Park; and WHEREAS, construction of the tanks would mar the landscape of the immediate area, which straddles Paterson and Woodland Park and would cost upwards of $100 million; and WHEREAS, the cost would be passed on to consumers; and WHEREAS, being that local residents have been drinking this water for decades; and WHEREAS, lawsuits filed against the mandate by New York City and Portland, Oregon, have spurred the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revisit this requirement, known as LT2 and the EPA is taking until 2016 to release an updated version; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency has also granted New York City an extension for one particularly expensive reservoir replacement project; and WHEREAS, based on this information, the Passaic County Planning Department would like to see the Passaic Valley Water Commission delay movement on the construction until the updated rules are released and less harmful solutions are explored; and WHEREAS, these three sites about residential neighborhoods and the introduction of tanks would render them industrial in look while also raising the residents’ water rates; and WHEREAS, the Township Council of the Township of West Orange are desirous of demonstrating their support for the delay on the project, until the updated rules are released; and WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the Regular Meeting of the Governing Body of the Township of West Orange;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Township Council of the Township of West Orange, County of Essex, State of New Jersey hereby urges the delay in movement on the tank construction project, until the updated rules are released by the Environmental Protection Agency; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to all New Jersey representatives. Susan McCartney, Council President Karen J. Carnevale, Municipal Clerk Adopted: August 20, 2013