MakingWaves - May 12, 2017

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
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MakingWaves

The Division of Water has posted new announcements on its webpage.

This Week's Updates:

  • Asset Management Pilot Program
  • WQIP: Source Water Protection Meeting & RFA Update
  • Pharmaceutical Guidance
  • Drought Update

New Pilot Program to Help Municipalities Improve Sewer Systems Operations

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos and Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) President and CEO Sabrina M. Ty announced that 10 municipalities have been selected to participate in a new $3 million pilot program. In the pilot, an engineering firm will work with each municipality free of charge to develop asset management planning to improve operations, management, and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants and sewage collection and conveyance systems. For more information, view DEC’s May 10 press release.


WQIP: Source Water Protection Meeting and RFA Update

Public Meeting

DEC is hosting a meeting with eligible applicants to discuss the Land Acquisition Projects for the Source Water Protection category in the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program.

Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Location: Public Assembly Room 129, DEC Central Office, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207

Pre-registration is required. To RSVP, please email user.water@dec.ny.gov by Thursday, May 25, 2017. Include the names of people planning to attend and their affiliation.

Request for Applications (RFA) Update

DEC now has up to $1.5 million available to municipalities and soil and water conservation districts through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program for nature-based shoreline stabilization projects along the open shorelines and embayments of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and the Finger Lakes. Funding is to reduce erosion, enhance coastal resilience and improve water quality and coastal habitat.  Nature-based shoreline projects incorporate natural features and materials alone or in combination with structural components to manage erosion and stabilize shorelines, while enhancing aquatic habitat, natural coastal processes and access to the extent practicable or desired. We encourage municipalities to read the Program Overview (PDF, 772 KB) for more details.


DEC Issues Guidance to Keep Drugs Pharmaceutical Guidanceout of New York’s Waters

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos today issued guidance for pharmacies and the public to keep unused drugs out of New York’s waters. The new guidance, prepared in consultation with the State Department of Health and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will assist the public, pharmacies, and health care facilities to properly manage unwanted drugs. It also reminds pharmacies, other retailers, and veterinarians of requirements to post notices to comply with New York’s Drug Management and Disposal Act. For more information, view DEC’s May 12 press release.


Drought Watch Ended in Most of NYS

The drought watch for all of New York State, except for Long Island, has ended due to a return to normal precipitation levels and improved groundwater, stream flow and lake levels. Long Island remains in a drought watch because it has not had the increased precipitation the rest of the state has received. For the latest updates on drought conditions, go to the Current Drought Conditions webpage