Environmental Reviews

Kensico - Eastview Connection

CEQR No. 21DEP020U

DEP proposes to construct a new tunnel between the Kensico Reservoir and the Catskill/Delaware Ultraviolet Light Disinfection (CDUV) Facility. The CDUV Facility is located on City-owned property (“the Eastview Site”) within the Town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The Proposed Action would be comprised of the following major components:

  • A new approximately 2-mile-long, deep rock tunnel between the Kensico Reservoir and the CDUV Facility and the construction of new shafts;
  • Subsurface utility easements along the tunnel corridor;
  • Construction of a new KEC Screen Chamber;
  • Construction of connection tunnels to the new KEC Screen Chamber and modifications to the existing Dike Grade Tunnel;
  • Consolidation of the electrical supply to the Kensico Campus and construction of a new electrical building;
  • Redevelopment of the Kensico Campus including the relocation of Westlake Drive, regrading of the overall site, a new DEP Police booth, and other security improvements;
  • Modifications to the chemical feed system at Delaware Shaft 18;
  • Modifications to the existing Catskill Upper Effluent Chamber (UEC) located within and adjacent to the Kensico Reservoir;
  • Construction of a new Eastview Connection Chamber and interconnection to the CDUV Facility;
  • Management of excavated material from construction;
  • Shoreline stabilization efforts along Kensico Reservoir south of the UEC; and
  • Mitigation as needed for the project.

The KEC tunnel would provide an additional means of conveying water between the Kensico Reservoir and the CDUV Facility. Completion of this project would enhance operational resiliency and redundancy for the water supply system.

The KEC Project (including its environmental review) must be completed prior to the construction of a cover over the Hillview Reservoir. The KEC Project is required by and must be constructed in accordance with the terms of the Hillview Consent Decree and Judgment entered by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on May 15, 2019. Completion of the KEC Project would increase flow to the CDUV Facility and improve DEP’s ability to maintain Hillview Reservoir water surface levels within normal operating limits during single-basin operations at Hillview Reservoir.

The Draft Scope of Work for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was issued on March 3, 2021. A public meeting was held on April 7, 2021 via Zoom. Written comments on the Draft Scope of Work were accepted until April 21, 2021.

The Final Scope of Work was issued on December 17, 2021 and takes into consideration feedback from the public review process and includes responses to the comments received. The DEIS was issued on October 19, 2022.

A public meeting to obtain oral testimony on the DEIS was held on December 7, 2022 in person at the Town of Mount Pleasant Town Hall and via Zoom. The period for submitting written comments remained open until January 3, 2023. The DEIS was made available for review by the public at the repositories (see below) and on the DEP website.

Completion of Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

The FEIS was issued on August 16, 2023, and it evaluates the KEC project and responds to comments received on the DEIS.

Copies of the FEIS are available for review at the repositories listed below. The FEIS is also available via the web links in the “Documents” section of this website (scroll down), and hard copies are available upon request at eiscomments@dep.nyc.gov.

Repositories

DEP
Phil Simmons
465 Columbus Avenue
Valhalla, NY 10595

DEP
Phil Simmons
59-17 Junction Boulevard
Flushing, NY 11373

Town of Mount Pleasant Town Hall
Town Clerk – Emily Costanza
One Town Hall Plaza,
Valhalla, NY 10595

Town of Mount Pleasant Branch Library
Library Director – John Fearon
125 Lozza Drive
Valhalla, NY 10595

Town of Greenburgh Town Hall
Town Clerk – Judith Beville
177 Hillside Avenue
Greenburgh, NY 10607

Town of North Castle Town Hall
Town Clerk – Alison Simon
15 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504

Contact

Phil Simmons
Environmental Impact Assessment and Technical Review
Bureau of Environmental Planning and Analysis
New York City Department of Environmental Protection
59-17 Junction Boulevard, 11th Floor
Flushing, New York 11373
(718) 595-4471, eiscomments@dep.nyc.gov

Findings

Documents