March 14, 2003

Contact: Charles Sturcken (718) 595-6600

DEP Announces Tests Of Noise Diversion Techniques At Several City Reservoirs

Commissioner Christopher O. Ward today announced that as part of the City’s on-going Waterfowl Management Program in the upstate watershed, the Department will conduct noise monitoring of waterfowl dispersion techniques at several city reservoirs within the next two weeks

Commissioner Ward said, “DEP proposes to expand its successful Waterfowl Management Program, which was designed as part of the City’s Watershed Protection Program. The objective of the Waterfowl Management Program is to minimize the presence of fecal coliform bacteria in the reservoirs, which can result when waterfowl roost on the reservoirs during the migratory and winter seasons. To alleviate any local concerns, we have also notified local police precincts of our noise monitoring plans."

During the noise monitoring operation, noise caused by various pyrotechnic devices and airboats will be carefully measured. DEP will incorporate the results of the monitoring into an Environmental Impact Statement being prepared to assess potential environmental impacts of DEP’s expanded Waterfowl Management Program.

These noise surveys will be performed for one day at each of the target reservoirs on March 14th, 20th, 21st, or 24th. Reservoirs that will be surveyed on one of these dates include: Cross River, West Branch, Croton Falls, Rondout, and Ashokan as follows:

Background:

As part of NYCDEP’s watershed protection strategy, DEP is proposing to expand its Waterfowl Management Program beyond the current program at the Kensico Reservoir to five additional City reservoirs: Rondout, Ashokan, West Branch, Croton Falls, and Cross River. The proposed program expansion is subject to environmental review pursuant to New York’s Executive Order 91 and its amendments, City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and its implementing regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617). Currently, DEP is preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Expanded Waterfowl Management Program to examine and disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposal. As part of this environmental analysis, the DEIS will examine the environmental effects of targeted avian dispersion activities (e.g. pyrotechnic techniques and airboats). In order to accomplish this, ambient background and operational noise surveys will be conducted.