Letter to Administrator Long - Let Nassau Take "Charge' & Deliver Much-Needed Power To Bay Park Treatment Plant

Letter

Dear Administrator Long:

I write to urge you to swiftly approve Nassau County's single source procurement request to provide additional power to Long Island's Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant (Bay Park or "BPSTP"). Bay Park urgently needs extra power in order to move forward with the FEMA approved Phase E4 project to increase resiliency, clean water, and implement their effluent division project. As the plant quickly moves towards its maximum load, without swift FEMA approval the PhaseE4 project will fall behind schedule and the operations of Bay Park and the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Ocean Outfall -- Effluent Diversion Project, also known as the Western Bays Resiliency Initiative could derail.

Nassau County's single source procurement proposal would allow for Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) through PSEG Long Island to be the sole source for the instillation of two 11MW 13.2 kV feeders. The instillation of these two feeders is essential to deliver electrical service to the plant in order move forward with their Phase E4 project, previously approved by FEMA in May 2017.

The additional electricity from PSEG Long Island would expand BPSTP's scope through their Phase E4 plan to improve water quality and strengthen the resiliency measures of Bay Park. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, BPSTP continues to work on their resiliency efforts and the swift instillation of these feeders is essential to the resiliency of the sewage treatment plant in the case of another storm. In addition to increasing resiliency, BPSTP would utilize the extra power to improve water quality across the region. The aging infrastructure of Bay Park and continued discharge of treated effluent into the Reynolds Channel are a dangerous and unnecessary risk to the environment and local residents, Phase E4 is critical to preventing further environmental damage. The effluent diversion project will improve water quality by pumping the effluent from Bay Park to an existing ocean outfall pipe and in consequence help restore marshlands that protect the shore from flood waters and storm surges. Without the additional feeders, more water cannot be treated through the BPSTP and the FEMA approved Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Ocean Outfall -- Effluent Diversion Project could be delayed putting local residents and waterways at greater risk.

Thank you for your consideration of this important project. FEMA's swift approval of the single source procurement proposal for Long Island's Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant is essential to Long Island's resiliency and environmental quality. Should you have any further questions please contact my staff.

Sincerely,

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