NYS DEC Putnam Trail Hearing Tonight

Public Notice

Notice of Legislative Public Hearing

Location: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Lehman College's Lovinger Theater (In The Music Building)
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, New York 10468

Applicant: New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Olmstead Center
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Flushing, New York 11368

Application Number: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) Application ID # 2-6001-00014/00008

Project Description and Location: Applicant New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYS DPR) has applied to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) for a Freshwater Wetlands Permit to change the surface and width of the Putnam Rail Trail, which runs for approximately 1.5 miles on the Old Putnam Railroad track in Van Cortlandt Park from Van Cortlandt Park South to the New York City's boundary line with Westchester County in the north. The proposed project would remove creosote treated rail ties; add approximately 4 ½ inches of pavement on top of the existing rail ballast to create a ten foot (10') wide asphalt path with an adjacent three foot (3') wide earthen-jogging path on one side and an adjacent two foot (2') wide seeded buffer on the other side of the asphalt path; improve drainage on and beneath the trail by filling existing depressions and cleaning or, where necessary, replacing culverts; remove portions of a chain link fence; install a wooden split rail fence in some areas; install benches and path markers; clean and adapt historic artifacts; restore a train platform; remove trees under six inch caliper within the fence line of the corridor and eight to twenty trees larger than six inch caliper; remove invasive plant species; and install landscape plantings. Sections of the proposed work will take place in areas that are subject to the jurisdiction of the NYS DEC under the Freshwater Wetlands Act. Specifically, some of the modifications will take place in the area adjacent to freshwater wetland YO-1 and in two areas, where the trail traverses Van Cortlandt Lake, the project will take place above that wetland.

SEQRA Status: The project is an "unlisted action" as defined in 6 NYCRR 617.2(ak) that was subject to a coordinated review. NYS DPR served as lead agency and issued a negative declaration on June 8, 2011, based upon its determination that the project will cause no significant adverse environmental impacts. 6 NYCRR 617.2(y), 617.7.

Notice of Complete Application: NYS DEC Staff issued a notice of complete application on April 26, 2013.