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Kingston, NY - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today released the following statement in response to a letter sent today from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Alan Steinberg to developer Dean Gitter regarding the impact that the proposed Belleayre Resort would have on the environment.
"I am encouraged by the EPA's letter regarding the proposed Belleayre Resort because it clearly discusses the importance of protecting the New York City Watershed from such a project and highlights the clear evidence that the proposal as was first presented would have a severe negative impact on the watershed.
"If this original Belleayre Resort plan were ever to go forward as presented, there is no question that the EPA would inevitably require the construction of a filtration plant for New York City since the water supply would be so adversely affected by runoff from construction. Currently, the watershed is clean enough that New York City doesn't need a filtration system. Such a system would cost $8 billion to construct and hundreds of millions of dollars annually to maintain. Not only would New York City need a water filtration system, but other municipalities that draw water from the aqueduct, such as New Paltz and High Falls, would need a filtration plant.
"I offered my scaled-down development proposal for just the west side of the original project site in order to safeguard the watershed. I am very pleased that the EPA once again stated its support for a such an alternative.
"While a new proposal is apparently in the works, as far as I know there is nothing in writing at this point that goes into any detail. Regardless, we will continue to fight to protect the watershed and shield it from any negative impact that development of the eastern half of the project would bring."
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