Maltese Follows up on Northport LIPA Flushing Tunnel inquiry

Maryann Maltese, former Regional Communications Manager for the NYS Legislature, NYS Assembly and NYS Senate, candidate of NYS Assembly 12th AD-Huntington Township Resident, provides an open letter to the Governor and NYS DEC concerning the "Swamp" located behind LIPA property.

In other NYS DEC preserved areas or the aspects thereof; Flushing Tunnels and or Pumping Stations have been installed to help maintain the ecological nature of it's environment and assist with anti-pollution matters. Regardless of which Tenant or Operator of a property takes responsibility of the sound-or pollutants NYS DEC ensures safeguards are in place-and if the location is conducive of installation of one or both items (Pumping Station or Flushing Tunnels) there entire purpose is to assist the Environment and protective habitats.

Flushing Tunnels have been the source to keep constant movement of the water mass which thus leads to nature cleansing of human pollutants. LIPA has a responsibility to NYS in ensuring that the rear of their property provides this form of filtration measures-as it is adjacent to NYS DEC protective wetlands, said Maryann Maltese.

I have addressed an Open Letter to the Governor and NYS DEC Commissioner inquiring on the nature of the property, if Flushing Tunnel or Filtration-Propeller aspects have been installed at said location and what other NYS DEC advances should also be required at LIPA Northport. This location has no State Representation within the Legislature for quite some time and for NYS to sit back and allow another 2 decades to go forward without enforcement of such requirements would be blindsiding the District.

September 26, 2020

Governor Andrew Cuomo

NYS Capitol Building

Empire State Plaza

Albany, NY 12224

Re. Huntington Boating Doc behind LIPA Northport Station

Dear Honorables;

I am writing on behalf of the residents of the 12th NYS Assembly District which the LIPA Northport Station is well within its boundaries.

I’m attaching photographs from the rear review of the LIPA Property. It appears that no Flushing Tunnels or Propelled Motors underneath the surface are installed on LIPA or within the Perimeters of this swamp. The naked eye could be wrong-but as boating usage is not at seasonal peak in 2020- NYS DEC taking the time to inspect and consider what is the true indicator on the need for filtration and/or Flushing Tunnels may be relevant.

There is only one major access point from the Long Island Sound into Huntington Boating Dock area. LIPA seems to have some form of disposal system only feeding into Sound. Without proper Flushing Tunnels to keep circulation in the area constant to move toxins out of the area-the sediments have no place to go and settle causing a dredging issue.

As you know, LIPA Northport is surrounded by ecological habitat that NYS DEC finds imperative to protect so that certain wild life or fish life necessary to maintain the delicate balances of the area remains intact.

In many NYS DEC protective environment projects; NYS requires that Flushing Tunnels be installed-it’s not an option for any Tenant, licensee permitted to rent such properties not be in State Compliances. Is LIPA incompliance?

As you know, Huntington Township has been in constant war with LIPA over fees and who owes who money for LIPA to continue to provide services. This is not my inquiry-it’s contractual in nature, but LIPA does not have the State required Mechanisms like Flushing Tunnels or Propelled devices installed to help move their wastes then it’s just sitting there constantly damages eco-systems and nearby residential communities.

Now that the Settlement has been decided for this decade; perhaps a measure going forward is for NYS to step up our mission of protecting the environment and being the source finally that this State Assembly District requires. I don’t believe the contractual settlement included such recommendations or requirement to install.

What is NYS DEC’s requirement at this point to ensure that proper filtration and movement of sludge into the rear LIPA Swamp is within ecological requirements?

I appreciate your response, if you’re interested in setting up an onsite inspection with myself and some community people to review this situation-perhaps NYS DEC has some further suggestions.

Sincerely,

Maryann Maltese

Many involved in budgets are concerned about cost factors when implementation of such concepts due to cost factors between School Districts and the Township; but this is not just a local matter-it requires State Intervention on a number of levels to ensure that outside of Contractual determinations made privately-that State Mandates (the outlines of such) are required and enforced to protect wetlands and the surrounding Community. NYS DEC can do this, and my letter is open for consideration and follow up today as the NYS Budget of 2021-didn't include this request.

Going Forward-I'm happy to be part of an onsite inspection team. Maryann Maltese is seeking Statewide Election in 2022-it's always good to point out things early in the election process.

To get involved in the matter; you can post here or email me at maryannmaltese1000@gmail.com