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Is the Fox Guarding the Hen House?
NYSDEC Fails to Attend Sept. 30, 2009 SPDES Meeting!
The structural problems at the Gilboa Dam that “came to light” in the fall of 2005 were the result of callous neglect by the dam's owner, NYCDEP, to follow a proper routine maintenance schedule. The crisis that ensued was exacerbated by the abject failure of the NYSDEC to intervene early on in response to the readily apparent deterioration of the Gilboa Dam, resulting from what has been charitably called “deferred maintenance”, and to order the dam's owner to maintain its then 79 year old structure. This “dropping the ball” by NYSDEC was due to their failure to conduct proper, thorough inspections of the Gilboa Dam. You can read all about this in the many archived reports prepared by DCC, Inc. members, and you are invited and urged to do so to refresh your memory of those frightening times.
With this in mind, wouldn't you think that the Agency, NYSDEC, given the responsibility of overseeing NYCDEP's compliance to SPDES Permit # NY-0268151 would want to attend the SPDES meeting held at Maple Crest, NY, 10:00 a.m., Wed., Sept. 30, 2009? Public meetings such as this one are required of NYCDEP every 6 months. Here is the section of the SPDES Permit requiring such meetings; “Public Participation: The permittee shall hold semiannual public meetings to discuss the progress of the turbidity reduction projects to be undertaken, gather public input on improvements in stream quality, and identify management efforts that may be undertaken by volunteers and other concerned groups and individuals.” One of the operative phrases in this section of the permit, “gather public input”, is highlighted. Without the presence of NYSDEC, the public that contributes to their salaries is deprived of a vehicle to express their thoughts on matters pertaining to NYCDEP's operations in the Catskills. The public is all too aware of the result of lax or, even worse, corrupt governmental oversight. A collapsed bridge in Minneapolis and a collapsed crane in NYCity occurred for the very same reasons that led to the near catastrophe at Gilboa in the winter of 2005/2006. Does NYSDEC think that the public has such a short memory or attention span that they can return to the good old days of “you pretend to maintain and we'll pretend to inspect”. If they do, they are dead wrong which is better than us being “dead drowned”. Failure to attend a meeting NYSDEC should have a presence at and subsequent neglect by that agency can only lead back to the “bad old days” of having NYCDEP reverting into a rogue agency from downstate that has little or no regard for the lives, safety and property of those dwelling under its threatening shadow, upstate.
For further information visit Wikipedia and Boehm Article.pdf.