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U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AGREES TO PARTICIPATE IN GILBOA DAM REPAIR PROCESS
Schumer, Clinton, McNulty, Praise Army’s Quick Action;
Expect Corps’ Involvement to Boost Public Confidence
(Washington, DC): – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island), announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to participate in planning and advisory meetings on the remediation and repair of the Gilboa Dam in southern Schoharie County beginning this week.
At the request of local officials, Schumer, Clinton, and McNulty wrote to the Corps last month seeking their immediate involvement in the assessment and planning process, in coordination with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), which operates the Gilboa Dam as part of the New York City watershed supply system.
“This is a good step that the Army Corps of Engineers understands the urgency of this issue,” Schumer said. “We will continue to work with them, the City of New York DEP, and leaders in the Schoharie Valley to make sure this problem is dealt with in a timely fashion. The bottom line is, all responsible authorities must work together to make sure the Gilboa Dam is safe and secure.”
“I am pleased that the Corps has answered our call for help. These two agencies have so much experience in taking care of these issues, so I am glad that they are now coming together to help us with Gilboa Dam,” Senator Clinton said. “We need to take every step to ensure the safety of the communities below the Gilboa dam. I hope that with both the Corps and NYC Department of Environmental Protection involved we can get this done as soon as possible and get it done right.”
McNulty said, “Our number one concern is for the safety of our constituents. Over the years, the level of trust held by residents of Schoharie County in New York City officials has deteriorated, and the City Department of Environmental Protection’s recent flurry of activity and sudden concern has not provided much reassurance. The participation of the Army Corps’ in this week’s advisory group meetings will help restore that confidence. I thank the Corps not only for their responsiveness, but also for their willingness to assist the NYCDEP in any way they can.”
The following is the body of the letter of reply from the Army Corps of Engineers to Schumer, Clinton and McNulty, dated December 5, 2005:
This is in response to the November 16, 2005, letter from Senators Schumer and Clinton and you regarding Gilboa Dam in New York. Gilboa Dam spans Schoharie Creek in southern Schoharie County and is part of the water supply system operated by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). Several mayors of downstream municipalities have expressed concern regarding the efforts of NYCDEP to ensure the dam’s safety and requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coordinate with NYCDEP to provide expert assistance in resolution of the problems.
Members of the Corps New York District have been in touch with representatives of NYCDEP to determine how the Corps can be of assistance. As you are aware, NYCDEP has a long term plan for rehabilitation of its system of dams. Work on Gilboa Dam is scheduled to start in the spring and be finished by the 2010-2011 timeframe. In the meantime, some immediate interim remedial measures including notching of the spillway and installation of rock anchors are proposed to help stabilize the dam until the full remediation can be completed. The Corps has been requested to participate in a “technical advisory group” workshop in early December at which NYCDEP will present and discuss these measures. We anticipate having representatives attend from our Dam Safety, Emergency Operations, and Regulatory offices. We will continue to coordinate with NYCDEP to determine if any additional assistance is required.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Stockton, P.E.
Deputy Director of Civil Works
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
Contacts: Eric Schultz (Schumer) 202.224.7433
Nina Blackwell (Clinton) 212.688.6262
Michael Wojnar (McNulty) 202.225.5076
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