THE HERITAGE –A HEALTH ISSUE FOR THE HAMLET

by Howard Meinke

Across the street from the Cutchogue Post Office is a site of great controversy. Forty-six acres of open land has been proposed for development of an over-55 condominium community known as The Heritage, consisting of 139 units -- each with over 2000 square feet living space plus a swimming pool, clubhouse and various amenities. This project is in an HD (hamlet density) zone, which allows one residence per quarter-acre, and it requires either public water or a sewage disposal system.

Since the SCWA (Suffolk County Water Authority) water map does not show public water at this location it is up to the town to request water if they think it is the best solution. The project’s developer can supply a private sewage plant in the absence of public water.

The surrounding residents are concerned about drastic traffic increases and the likelihood of subsurface pollution contaminating their private wells as well as nearby Wickham’s creek.

The rational for approval of this project by the Suffolk County Health Department (SCHD) is questionable. SCHD has assumed public water to be available. This may or may not come to pass. An argument for tighter scrutiny and realistic regulation appears below.

According to the Environmental Assessment Review of the plan for The Heritage of March 30, 2007, the maximum allowable sewage discharge for this property (if handled by individual septic systems) is 22,625 gallons per day. The original 150-unit proposal for The Heritage discharged just a small bit over the 22,625 gallons allowed and a Chromaglass sewage treatment system was proposed.

The current plan, which calls for 139 units, discharges 21,615 gallons, a very small amount under the maximum limit, and no treatment plant is required. This plan is based on the theory that retirement housing only produces 150 gallons of flow per day while standard housing produces 300 gallons.

Then in July, 2008 the SCHD regulations were changed so that:

Residential units less than 600 sq. ft. produce 100 gallons
Residential units 600 to 1200 sq. ft. produce 150 gallons
Residential units over 1200 sq. ft. produce 300 gallons

The Heritage residences are currently designed to be well over 2,000 sq. ft. per unit.

If you apply the July regulations to the current project;
139 units at 300 gallons - - - 41,700 gallons
Obviously Sewage treatment is required.

The project could support 74 units at the 300 gallon criterion without the necessity of on site sewage treatment.

Obviously, the sewage flow criteria listed above were developed by SCHD in order to protect public health and environmental health. Therefore, as our knowledge is increasing over time it is clear that as new refined regulations are developed, they should immediately be put into effect.

We believe that it is logical to conclude that over time the discharge of maximum levels of concentrated waste could well migrate downstream in the subsurface flow of ground water and pollute wells and pristine water bodies. Previous testimony about the pollution of the Forge River in Brookhaven is case in point. Why risk repeating this disaster?

There are many instances of foreign material in our Southold well water and subsurface water. Fertilizers and pesticides come to mind as does Temik.

Erring on the side of health and the environment is obviously the right direction to go. Our natural assets, like the underground aquifer are easy to pollute and difficult to fix.

Requiring a private sewage treatment for these high density discharge situations should be a “no brainer.” Another alternative would be to allow only the safe, lower density development.

It was suggested at the Town Board meeting on November 5, 2008 that a consultant, an expert in subsurface water flows, the migration of in-ground pollution and etc. might be able to add weight to these ideas. The SEQRA report, financed by the developer, is to be required to include a consultant’s investigation into this problem. The Board members discussed what they see as a pro development, pro public water, and pro sewer plant mentality at the SCHD.

This all gets very complicated as we try to sort out the best mix of development for the HD and HB zones, balancing the ability to achieve affordable housing with economic practicality, human health protection, environmental sensitivity and respect for our Southold’s rural character.

This debate is still raging.

We urge you to attend the Planning Board and Town Board meetings and make your voice heard on this issue. Meeting dates, times and agendas can be found on the town website at http://southoldtown.northfork.net/index.htm

Peak Oil Seminar This Wednesday

You are cordially invited to join the Southold Town Renewable Energy Committee Wednesday,

November 12, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Southold Town Hall

The Southold Town Renewable Energy Committee, Hosted by Izzy Doroski, is presenting a seminar on “Peak Oil.”

This is a community awareness lecture on the growing problem of world oil depletion known as Peak Oil. Learn how Peak Oil is causing economic problems in our lives and what measures we can take to mitigate this coming dilemma. Peak Oil is the term that refers to the fact oil production in the world will reach a maxim point of production and then go into an irreversible decline.

It is apparent the world oil reached a peak in oil production in May of 2005 and is now in decline. When you see the gas price rise over $4/gallon you are seeing the beginning stages of Peak Oil. Energy prices will continue to increase and shortages will eventually appear. The lecture will discuss all aspects of Peak Oil, what our society must do to mitigate this dilemma and what you should do to prepare for it.

This lecture is presented by Isidore Doroski of Riverhead, NY. Mr. Doroski is a member on the Riverhead Town Energy Advisory Committee and holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology and has been employed by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for more than 28 years.
Mr. Doroski's goal is to educate everyone on the subject of Peak Oil and motivate people to be part of the solution to this problem. This presentation is appropriate for everyone, including residents, business owners, contractors, architects, environmentalists, civic leaders and Legislators.
We hope to see you at this very informative seminar!

Marie Domenici, Chairwoman
Southold Town Renewable Energy Committee - 516-510-7873

The "Master Plan" Story – A New and Urgent Chapter

By Howard Meinke

Supervisor Scott Russell is forecasting a budget for next year that is markedly higher than this year. You know the insanity that accompanies a budget increase, “Cut, Cut, Cut” regardless of logic is always the mantra. To ensure that a Comprehensive Master Plan survives this budget insanity we must rally behind it!

Russell has put a Master Plan proposal from former town planner Valerie Scopaz, reported to be $70,000, in the budget. In addition, Heather Lanza, the current director of planning, is submitting a manpower budget and a subcontract budget for a Master Plan to the supervisor. We don't know with any certainty how this information appears in the budget.

What we do know is that there is a budget hearing scheduled for Thursday, October 2nd at 3 pm at Town Hall. There is another hearing on Thursday, October 9th at 3 pm at the Town Hall annex. Southold citizens must be there to support a Master Plan and to hammer on the urgency of doing it before the economy inflates again. We can also make the point that there is room in the planning board agenda now to do a good part of this work with current town employees and that we should be able to squeeze prices for any outside work.

This is extremely important. Please attend, we need bodies at the hearing and cogent comments to insure a good result.

Public Comment Needed on the Ferry Fouling Our Waters

EPA Establishing Regulations for Vessel Discharge - Public Comments Needed

By Keri Christ

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of establishing regulations for waste discharges from marine vessels, including large ferries. This is significant because Cross Sound Ferry (CSF) has been operating in and discharging effluent into the waters off our coasts for over 30 years and is subject to these regulations.

It is imperative that comments be submitted by North Fork residents and environmental organizations as soon as possible. Although the comment period closed on August 1, 2008, this week I spoke with Ryan Albert at the EPA, who agreed to accept and read my late comments. He advised that although EPA will not formally respond to our comments, he will read them and we still have the chance to affect management decisions.

Here is how to submit comments:

1. Make sure comments include the following identification:
Docket ID No. EPA HQ OWN 2008 0055 for the VIPS

2. Go to http://www.regulationsgov/ and follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.

3. In addition, email your comments to Ryan Albert (202.564.0763)at
CommercialVesselPermit@epa.gov . Ryan Albert, EPA Headquarters, Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail Code 4203M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460

BACKGROUND

In June 2008, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the decision in a lawsuit initiated by Northwest Environmental Advocates which revoked a 30-year year exemption of "incidental discharges from vessels" from NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permits) required under the Clean Water Act. In July, following on the heels of the court's decision, two pieces of legislation were quickly passed exempting vessels less than 79 feet in length and recreational vessels. However, vessels greater than or equal to 79 feet are subject to the regulations. All eight of CSF vessels are larger than 79 feet in length and are covered by the regulations. CSF also owns tugs that will be covered.

In July, EPA issued a "proposed vessel general permit" and solicited public comments which were to be submitted by August 1, 2008. A public hearing was also held in Washington DC.

The EPA has published a Factsheet about the permit.

Those interested in submitting comments should review the comments made by Northwest Environmental Advocates, as well those submitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Protection (NYSDEC) and perhaps most importantly, those submitted by Cross Sound Ferry principles John Wronowski and Adam Wronowski.

The EPA has identified 28 different kinds of discharges that are to be regulated. As of the new deadline December 19, 2008, CSF will be required to obtain NPDES vessel general permits from EPA for these discharges and limit and report them pursuant to EPA regulations. They will also be required to educate crew members and the public about discharges as the regulations stand now.

I have not yet completed review of all of the documents/pertinent comments, but here are some thoughts on the points which need to be raised:

· Why weren’t the Orient State Park National Natural Monument and the Long Island Sound and Peconic Estuary which are presumably "federally protected in whole or in part for conservation purposes" included in Section 12 of the proposed general permit?

According to Ryan Albert, the EPA's contractor consulted lists of protected areas, but some may have been overlooked and only those areas which are well-defined were included.

We should urge the EPA to include the Long Island Sound and Peconic Estuary as well as Orient's national natural landmark in the Part 12 lists. We will have to submit implementing legislation/designation information to demonstrate federal protection of our waters and national natural landmark (NNL). I have the NNL designation information and will request this in my comments.


Mr. John Wronowski’s comments claim no environmental benefits to be gained and it is impossible for CSF vessels to acquire invasive species because they "operate in interconnected Lakes, Bays and Sounds", and do not operate in any waters included in Part 12, re: underwater ship husbandry.

· Support arguments and facts in the Northwest Environmental Advocates comments about large ferries; for the need for technology and water quality-based effluent limits, and more specific information regarding fleet vessels regulated under the permit -e.g. age, existing methods for handling waste etc., support large ferry oily water separators, same requirements re: gray water for ferries as for cruise ships, reporting of estimated volumes of gray water etc.

East Marion Hopes to Defeat Developer -- Spa is Not Sustainable

By Anne Murray

A proposed upscale holistic spa set for Shipyard Lane in the tiny hamlet of East Marion moved another step forward recently when the developer submitted a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) on the project to the Southold Town Planning Board.



(rendering of proposed spa - beach view)

The East Marion Community Association met last week in order to organize opposition to this massive project – which calls for 28 buildings at the former oyster factory site on Gardiner’s Bay. The property, at the end of quiet, residential Shipyard Lane is slated to become the Shizen Hotel Wellness Center & Spa.

The developer envisions attracting wealthy clients to the exclusive spa, which will be gated and private and contain a pond, gardens and many other amenities. The community foresees the end of our quality of life, with the construction of a private marina and the arrival of a 114-unit transient motel, with a 72-seat restaurant, a 99-seat cafeteria, a 10-seat bar and their associate traffic. The developer proposes widening the Main Road and the addition of a traffic light in East Marion. The plan also calls for 189 parking spaces at the site, with 111 of these located in an underground garage. Only two acres of the 18.27 acre site will be left as open space - not open to the public -- just undeveloped.

We feel the spa is unsustainable and does not make sense for this community. If it goes forward, it will forever change not only the rural character of East Marion, but the town of Southold and the entire North Fork. You can view the developer’s proposal at the East Marion Community Association’s web site: http://www.emca.us/index.html If you would like to help us in our effort contact us here: board@emca.us

(rendering of proposed spa - street view - right)

Starting a Southold Food Co-operative: Sustainable and Money Saving

By Heather Cusack

A group of people in Southold met recently to discuss the creation and opening of a Southold Food Co-operative with a storefront in Southold. The idea came up because the long time health food store business on the Main Road (Natural Choice) closed down.

Many people on the North Fork do have their own mini co-ops of a few families who order natural foods directly from United Northeast Food distributors; a truck arrives at their houses once per month delivering bulk and cases of food. Also, as we live in a farming and sea area much of our food comes from our own gardens, farms, and fishing/harvesting from the sea.

What is a food co-op and why would that be a good thing to have here in Southold? A food co-op is a non profit organization, organized with a board of directors, volunteer labor, and some paid staff. The food prices are low as there is no profit, and costs are the rent for the space, utilities, and any paid labor. Food co-ops exist all over our country and provide everything and more than a supermarket.

The current group did the legal work to form a not for profit, but were unable to get enough members to commit to renting the space the Natural Choice had, so the idea is in limbo now; but still it is a viable possibility! The best way to get started would be to use a space where there are very little costs; possibly a barn or garage or other space that is empty; to receive the bulk orders from the truck. People can meet to pick up what they order, and then eventually set up shelves, refrigeration, etc and sell to the public at a marked up price that would cover any expenses.

What can you get from a co-op? Items such as organic fruits and vegetables, grains, and beans, nuts, cereals, baking supplies, frozen and convenience foods, and all the other things that the group wants to stock, from toilet paper, to light bulbs, to shampoo would be available.

I recently went to an awesome, beautiful co-op in Bozeman, Montana while out there to visit Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman is a college town, which helps with the support of a co-op. Co-op members work 2 hours per week for a discount on food. The co-op there was huge, like a big Whole Foods market. The store was totally powered by solar panels on the roof; it had fresh baked breads and a deli full of delicious organic foods, soups, salads, and dinners of all kinds. It also had bins of bulk foods, nuts, grains, granolas, etc.

How is a food co-op a more environmentally sound way to buy food than a supermarket? The food is mostly in a bulk form so there is less or no packaging; members bring their own jars and bags for refilling. Co-ops can also carry the packaged health food, but that stuff is more expensive. The least expensive and most nutritious are whole foods: oats, flours, pastas, raisin, nuts etc., which the Co-op can buy in ten or twenty-five or one hundred-pound containers, and members can purchase these items by the pound. I was in a food co-op for many years in Rhode Island; it was great to go there and refill everything from empty shampoo and dish soap containers, to jars for beans and grains.

Is there enough interest in Southold to start a food co-op? I think so; it will take some education and commitment from a group of 10-20 people to get it going. Are you interested? If yes, email me or call me for more information: Heather Cusack-765-3301 or
hcusack@suffolk.lib.ny.us .

Cleaning Up a CFL Bulb Breakage

by Marie Domenici

We now live in an age when everyone is becoming energy conscious, investing in alternative energy solutions such as solar, wind, geothermal. People are seeking a quick reduction in energy consumption by changing from conventional light bulbs to CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs. But very few of the people I have spoken with know what to do in the event a CFL bulb breaks. DO NOT clean it up as you would a conventional bulb or standard broken glass. CFL contain Mercury!

Go to LIPA's website http://www.lipower.org/efficiency/lighting_cflqa2.htm to learn how to safely clean up a broken CFL bulb and share this information with everyone you know.