Huntington, Northport and Asharoken Sign Water Quality Agreement

Town and village leaders signed what they are calling a “historic agreement” that formalizes cooperation among municipalities on on measures affecting water quality in Northport Harbor, Centerport Harbor and Northport Bay.

Signed by Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, Northport Mayor George Doll and Asharoken Mayor Gregory Letica today, the agreement creates a six-member Northport Harbor Water Quality Protection Inter-Municipal Council.

The council’s members will include the supervisor, the two mayors and one additional representative from each of the three municipalities. The council will have the legal authority to apply for state and federal funds in order to conduct studies, develop management plans, provide educational services and coordinate water quality protection and enhancement programs.

“We share a common waterway and the common interest of preserving water quality,” Petrone said. “Working together under this agreement will maximize efforts to undertake projects, obtain grants and establish uniform rules and regulations aimed at achieving our common goal.”

Officials say that the federal government, under the Clean Water Act, and the state government under its SPEDS permit and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, urge local governments with water bodies that fall under joint shared jurisdiction to enter formal partnerships like this as a means of maintaining cleaner, safer shared water bodies.

The agreement is the latest outgrowth of work done by the Northport Harbor Water Quality Protection Committee, which has studied ways to restore Northport Harbor and other adjacent waters. Read about the committee’s work here.

In the photo: Seated, (l-r): Asharoken Mayor Gregory Letica, Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone, Northport Mayor George Doll. Standing, (l-r): Asharoken Deputy Mayor Mary P. Pierce; Adrienne Esposito, co-chair of the Northport Harbor Water Quality Protection Committee; Huntington Councilwoman Susan A. Berland; Northport Deputy Mayor Henry Tobin; Northport Trustee Damon McMullen