City official seeking more time for responses to water study
CONNELLSVILLE – A city official is seeking additional time for residents to respond to the recently released river study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “This is such an important concern that the comment period should be extended for all,” said Mayor Judy Reed on Thursday. “It has taken years for this final proposal (to be released); then, it was released during the holiday season, whenever people are busy.”
Last month, the federal entity released a draft report of the Youghiogheny River water-management-and-reallocation study that detailed the corps’ proposal to revise its water-release schedule and its determination to delay any new allocations for additional water supplies sought by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC).
While rumors have circulated that responses would be received by the corps until mid-February, spokesman Richard Dowling said the public-comment period will end Jan. 31, as initially established by the corps, unless extensions are granted.
Dowling said that Crouse and Co., an engineering firm hired by Fayette County to work with a local coalition in assessing the corps’ study results and assist in developing a long-term water-needs plan, has received authorization to submit its analysis and comments past the deadline date. All others that have not sought prior extensions, however, must tender their respective comments by Jan. 31.
“We have no problem (with Crouse’s request), since we have built into the schedule an extended period to review any comments,” said Dowling. “We’ll simply begin reviewing the comments that are already in and continue with those from the Fayette County group or any others that ask for extra time.”
The corps has received some communications from various sources since the release of the 125-page document.
“We have received a couple of e-mails,” said Dowling. “As of yet, no one has raised any new questions or offered substantive new information.”
The study results have determined that any water reallocation to MAWC will be delayed until April 2007 and the requested permitting of 10,000 acre-feet within the reservoir to the authority will be available for any water supplier wanting to increase their water quantities.
Initially, MAWC had requested authorization to draw an additional 17 million gallons of water daily from the Youghiogheny and reserve storage space for the allocation in the reservoir.
Additionally, the study has determined that the corps can revise its water-release schedule without seriously impacting the waterway.
According to the figures, water output from the dam would be cut by nearly one-third of its current release from July 1 to mid-October.
What, if any, action taken by the corps after reviewing submitted responses will depend upon what new information is garnered or objections raised by the public.
“Our response to those comments becomes part of the final report, which then will go to the corps’ headquarters in Washington (D.C.) for a decision,” said Dowling. “If approved, the initial changes in release schedules can be implemented, possibly in this calendar year.”
Dowling said public input during the course of the study has impacted the recommendations laid out in the draft report.
“The public has had a noticeable impact on the report,” he said. “The concerns raised by the public have resulted in changes in the implementation schedule and we’ve answered the concerns of those who felt it was improper to set aside the specific amounts of water for any one user.
“In fact, when its available, the water will be there for any user, including MAWC, North Fayette County Municipal Authority or some entity we don’t even know of yet, as long as they meet state Department of Environmental Protection requirements for a withdrawal permit.”
Dowling urges those wishing to offer comment in connection with the study to first review the report at any local library or on the corps’ Web site at www.lrp.usace.army.mil/
Letters should be sent to the attention of Bob Waigand, project engineer, at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh, William S. Moorhead Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222-4186.