Res. No. 899
Resolution calling upon the State Legislature to amend the Hudson River Park Act to authorize a marine transfer station and environmental education center in the Gansevoort peninsula in lower Manhattan.
By Council Members Reyna, Dilan, Fidler, Gonzalez, Jackson, James, Mark-Viverito, McMahon, Recchia Jr., Nelson and Gennaro
Whereas, In response to the need to develop a Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) to meet the challenges of waste disposal and recycling for the next twenty years, the City developed a draft SWMP that was released in October 2004; and
Whereas, The draft SWMP was supported by a Final Environmental Impact Statement in April 2005 and a Findings Statement in February 2006 and was substantially enhanced through extensive collaboration between the Bloomberg Administration, the New York City Council and public and private stakeholders throughout the five boroughs; and
Whereas, The SWMP fundamentally changes the way the City transports waste through the export of solid waste predominantly by barge and rail from facilities in each borough, including through the construction and operation of marine transfer stations for the transfer of recyclable materials and solid waste, including a marine transfer station and an environmental education center at Pier 52 on the Gansevoort peninsula in lower Manhattan, site of the Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station that the New York City Department of Sanitation has not used since 1991; and
Whereas, The SWMP recognizes that responsibility for the City’s waste management system must be allocated equitably throughout the five boroughs so that each borough can process a substantial amount of recyclable materials and the residential, municipal and commercial waste that is generated within its borders; and
Whereas, The construction and operation of a marine transfer station for the transfer of recyclable materials and an environmental education center at Pier 52 on the Gansevoort peninsula is a critical component of the SWMP that will (i) ensure that recyclable material generated in Manhattan can be transferred in Manhattan and (ii) create additional capacity to transfer recyclable materials that will increase Manhattan’s capacity to process Manhattan generated commercial waste in Manhattan; and
Whereas, The City Council overwhelmingly approved the SWMP on July 19, 2006 and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approved the Final Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan in October 2006; and
Whereas, State legislation is needed to amend the Hudson River Park Act so that the construction of the marine transfer station and environmental education center on the Gansevoort peninsula can proceed; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State Legislature to amend the Hudson River Park Act to authorize the construction and operation of a marine transfer station and environmental education center at Pier 52 on the Gansevoort peninsula in lower Manhattan
CJC-5/30/07
LS#3350