I would like to thank those of you who have joined and donated financially for your generous support. For those of you who are still considering joining our group, I cannot stress how important it is for us to join together as a community to protect all of our residents,as well as preserve the unique quality of life in Yorkville and East Harlem.

Visit our website for a comprehensive look at the impact of the proposed Marine Transfer Station
 

 

Legal Initiatives
We have retained attorney, Albert  Butzel, Esq. to pursue available legal remedies. Mr. Butzel was lead council in the landmark Storm King Mountain case that defeated Con Edison's plan to build a giant power plant in the Hudson Highlands. He also defeated the plan for the proposed development of the Westway Project along the Hudson River. Mr. Butzel has won a recent victory in the litigation involving the Atlantic Yards development. Additionally, we have filed comments before the Army Corps of Engineers and an amicus brief in the New York intermediate appellate court to oppose insurance of permits to build the facility.

Lobbying Efforts
The group has retained lobbyist, Michael McMahon, Esq. from the law firm of Herrick Feinstein  to represent our interests before City and State officials. Mr. McMahon is a former congressman, as well as a former member of the New York City Council and served as Chairman of the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management. He is intimately familiar with the process that led to the adoption of the City's current waste management plan and has long opposed development of the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station.

Community Outreach
Our initial efforts were instrumental in organizing a neighborhood rally this summer adjacent to Asphalt Green with Rep. Carolyn Maloney to promote and encourage a community letter writing campaign to the Army Corps of  Engineers during the public comment period to request that the Army Corps deny the permit for the construction of the new garbage facility, as well as request new scientific testing of the East River estuary (see Sen. Liz Krueger's update in this newsletter) . We continue to man tables and distribute information at Asphalt Green (see our Keep Asphalt Green Clean and Safe column in this newsletter). We have also documented the community's recreational use of the East River, including fishing adjacent to the site. We have the active support of many of our elected officials including Rep. Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Liz Krueger, State Assembly Member Micah Kellner, Council Members Jessica Lappin and Daniel Garodnick.  We encourage you to write to your elected officials to keep this important issue on their radar and demand updates and information. Many local community groups and organizations including: Community Board 8,  East 93rd Street Block Association, East 86th Street Block Associaiton, Upper Green,  the Parent Leaders of Upper Eastside Schools (PLUS) - the parents of 5000+ Upper Eastside public school children, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Gracie Point Community Council, and Asphalt Green (read  Carol Tweedy's statement in this newsletter ) oppose the construction of this huge new solid waste plant.   

We intend to continue to hold specific community events to raise awareness and reach out to our community,  local businesses and schools.  If you are a member of a local group and would like members of our group to meet with you or organize a presentation please contact us by e-mail: info@sanetrash.org

Fundraising
We are actively fundraising in order to have the resources to fund our legal initiatives and lobbying efforts. Many of our contributions have come from  individual contributions,  building cooperative Boards and businesses.  The area in which we have concentrated our fundraising efforts includes those buildings and businesses located between 96th street and 79th street, from 2nd avenue to the East River.  We are also meeting with businesses, schools and local organizations.

If you  would like to set up a meeting with your building or the board of your building or you are a business, local organization or school please contact  us at info@sanetrash.org and a member of our group will get in touch with you directly.

If you wish to have more information regarding a contribution please contact Trevor Magyar, Treasurer at donate@sanetrash.org or visit our website to make a secure donation by credit card.
 

"I am pleased to report that the Army Corps of Engineers has requested additional information from the Department of Sanitation before it will consider granting a permit to allow construction of the proposed Marine Transfer Station (MTS) on 91st Street. While it remains unclear what the final determination of the Army Corps will be, I am encouraged that this action shows that they are seriously considering the potential adverse impacts of the proposed MTS.  I, along with other elected officials and many community members had submitted comments to the Army Corps opposing the MTS. 
 
In order for the Army Corps to approve the permit, which is essential for the project to begin, the Dept of Sanitation must submit a revised in depth mitigation plan which includes removal of structures elsewhere in the East River, account for the use of dredged materials, and will also need to provide updated Essential Fish Habitat Assessments for any proposed mitigation sites. This is a bit of good news because this process with further delay the project, pushing its potential beginning phases further into the future.

Additionally, the public comment period with the Army Corps of Engineers remains open while the Department of Sanitation gathers the required information".

Please continue to write to the Army Corps of Engineers:
Ms. Naomi Handell
Dept. of the Army Corps of Engineers, NY District
26 Federal Plaza, room 1937
New York, NY 10278-0090
Tel. 917-790-8523
Fax 212-264-4260
e-mail:  naomi.j.handell@usace.army.mil


Also you can write and send a copy of your letter to: National Marine Fisheries Service
  Ms. Diane Rusanowsky
National Marine Fisheries Service 
Milford Field Office
212 Rogers Ave
Milford, CT 06460
e-mail:  Diane.Rusanowsky@noaa.gov    

You can download a sample letter or go to our website for more information.