New York City Transit
Coney Island Rail Yard Boiler Plant Upgrade
Draft Public Participation Plan
Introduction
New York City Transit (NYCT), an agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is proposing to replace three existing boilers located at the Coney Island Rail Yard in Brooklyn, New York. The existing dual-fuel fired boilers (natural gas and #2 fuel oil) are old and beyond repair. In fact, two of the three existing boilers have failed as they are beyond their useful life, and are inoperable. As a result, the boiler plant is currently being supplemented by a temporary portable boiler. NYCT would replace the existing boilers with three new factory-built dual-fuel fired 24.5 million BTU/hour rated boilers (2 operating, 1 spare). The proposed new units have higher energy efficiency, lower emissions and higher reliability.
The goals of the project are supportive of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s goals for New York City outlined in PlaNYC, and include:- Decreasing CO2, particulate, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
- Improving local air quality; and
- Achieving energy efficiencies and cost savings.
The project is currently in the process of finalizing the construction contract for the installation of the new boilers. During the construction period, a 24.5 million BTU/hour rated temporary boiler and a 32.7 million BTU/hour rated temporary portable boiler would be used to provide the heat and steam needed at the yard. Once the permanent boilers are installed and being operating, the temporary and portable boilers would be shut down and removed from the site. Construction and equipment installation is slated to begin in mid-2012 with the startup of the new replacement boilers targeted for the Fall of 2012. This Public Participation Plan (PPP) is part of NYCT’s permitting application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to modify the existing Title V Facility Air Permit to include the operation of the three new permanent boilers as well as the temporary and portable boilers to be used at the Coney Island Rail Yard boiler plant during the construction and installation of the new permanent boilers. In accordance with Commissioner Policy-29 Environmental Justice and Permitting (CP-29), NYSDEC requires the permit applicant to develop and execute a public participation plan targeting the local community, and conduct outreach as part of the environmental permit review process.
In contrast to the existing boilers, which do not have an NOx permit cap, the potential NOx emissions from the new replacement boilers would be capped to 24.5 tons/year. In addition, the new boilers will be equipped with low- NOx burners and will comply with all applicable air quality regulations and requirements. Total CO2 emissions from the new boilers will be less than the 25,000 metric tons per year GHG reporting threshold, and much less than the 100,000 tons per year Prevention of Signification Determination (PSD)/Title V threshold.
Public Participation Plan
The draft PPP for this permit application includes a number of activities and tasks that will be undertaken to inform stakeholders about the proposed project and the Title V Permit Modification being sought from NYSDEC. This will provide stakeholders access to information about the project and permit and encourage dialogue.
Task # 1 -- Identify Affected Area
Because of the project’s location (in the existing Boiler House, off of Shell Road within the larger NYCT Coney Island Rail Yard transit property in Brooklyn), a 1-mile radius from the proposed boiler replacement site has been selected in consultation with NYSDEC staff, to ensure that outreach to an appropriate area and interested entities (stakeholders) is undertaken. This is shown in Figure 1, attached. This area will serve as an initial component in identifying stakeholders. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying stakeholders representing the area’s minority and low-income populations for outreach during the public participation process. Within this 1-mile radius of the proposed project site lies the entire Coney Island Rail Yard facility, an approximately 1-mile section of the Belt Parkway, and portions of the following Brooklyn neighborhoods: Homecrest in the northeastern portion, Gravesend in the northwestern portion, Brighton Beach in the southeastern portion, and Coney Island in the southwestern portion. South of the Belt Parkway and west of Ocean Parkway, the Coney Island portion of the study area is largely characterized by auto-related and parking uses, and residential uses. The Luna Park Houses are in this area, comprising a 5-building Mitchell-Lama residential cooperative complex of almost 1,600 apartments, making it one of the largest Mitchell Lama developments in the state. Additional large tracts of residential uses are located in the southwestern portion of the study area, including housing operated by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). NYCT operates a subway along Stillwell Avenue. The communities of Homecrest, Gravesend, and Brighton Beach are largely residential.Task #2 -- Identify Stakeholders and Create an Outreach Contact List
Stakeholders who may be affected by the operation of the upgraded boiler plant at the NYCT Coney Island Rail Yard will be identified. This will be done in coordination with Community Board representatives and with input from NYCT. It is expected that the stakeholders for this plan will include, but may not be limited to:
- NYCT employees who work at or visit portions of the Coney Island Rail Yard facility,
- Residents/neighborhood groups who reside or are active in the vicinity of the proposed project
- Community boards, local community and civic organizations, environmental and business groups, and any entities recommended by these groups
- Neighborhood religious establishments
- Elected officials
- Other appropriate state and local government officials.
| NYCT BOILER RELACEMENT TITLE V | Public Participation Plan Outreach Area Figure 1 |
A preliminary outreach contact list of stakeholders is being assembled, including names, addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses (if available) of individuals and organizations (as described above) with a possible interest in the proposed project. This list will be updated regularly to include new stakeholders identified as the public participation process continues. The preliminary outreach contact list that has been developed to date for this plan is included in Attachment A.
Task #3 -- Prepare Written Information
Written information on the proposed action and the environmental permit review process will be prepared for posting and distribution. The following written materials will be prepared and made available to the public as part of this outreach effort:Task #4 -- Establish Document Repositories/Distribute Project InformationPrepared materials will be written in clear, concise language, avoiding legal or overly technical terminology. Materials will be prepared in English; translation into Spanish will be undertaken if necessary, to the extent possible and practical.
- Project Fact Sheet (An outline of the contents of the Fact Sheet has been developed, and is included in the draft PPP as Attachment B.)
- Information Availability Notices
- Title V Permit Modification Application
- Draft Title V Modification Permit
- Environmental Justice Analysis
- Draft Public Participation Plan
Task #5 -- Conduct Public Information Meeting/Informational BriefingsEasily accessible public Document Repositories will be established at locations close to the proposed project and easily accessible to stakeholders. It is anticipated that these will include local Libraries and Community Board offices in or near the outreach area (defined above), as well as at the Coney Island Rail Yard facility office, and postings on the MTA-NYCT website (http://www.mta.info/nyct). The proposed locations of these repositories are shown in Attachment C. The availability of any additional public Document Repositories, if they are established, will be noted on NYCT website, when they become active.
The repositories will contain a copy of the written information prepared for the proposed project’s PPP, (as outlined above in Task #3) as well as copies of the permit applications, and draft permits, once they are available. The contents of the repositories will be checked and updated regularly to ensure that no documents are missing. A list of document contents will be prepared and updated, to help keep the repositories organized.
The locations and web address of the physical and web-based Document Repositories will be included in the Project Fact Sheet and in any project notices and/or flyers distributed publicly.
It is envisioned that information will be distributed or made available to NYCT staff by the following means: i) an official memorandum would be circulated at the Coney Island Rail Yard facility containing a brief explanation of the project to provide information to on-site staff; and ii) flyers could be posted in employee meeting and notice areas. With the implementation of these measures, adequate notification would be provided to NYCT Coney Island Rail Yard staff to learn about the proposed project, and thus afford them the opportunity to provide comments.
Where answers to any questions or comments submitted will be made available, and approximately by when, after the comment period has concluded.One Public Information Meeting will be held at a publicly accessible location in the outreach area to provide information about the proposed boiler replacement and upgrade project, and the associated NYSDEC permitting process. In addition, project information will be sent to elected officials and the Brooklyn Community Boards, to provide information about the proposed Coney Island Rail Yard Boiler Plant Upgrade project and the associated NYSDEC permitting process. Stakeholders will also be invited to the Public Information Meeting and will be invited to provide comments on project materials and the draft PPP, in writing to a specified NYCT representative. NYCT and consultant team staff members will be available to receive and answer questions about the project at the Public Information Meeting and/or at any project briefings held.
The meeting (and any briefings requested) will be scheduled after consulting Community Board calendars and with municipal and agency officials. This will help to avoid conflicts with important meetings or events that are regularly held or already scheduled within the community. The Public Information Meeting will be held after the draft permit application has been submitted to NYSDEC for review. Meeting logistics will be publicized approximately ten (10) days ahead of the meeting date, in order to give stakeholders reasonable notification.
A general mailing will be prepared for the project for delivery to all interested parties on the Contact List (see Attachment A). This mailing will include Project Notices announcing the project’s Public Information Meeting, as well as a copy of the Project Fact Sheet (written in English and Spanish), which will also be sent to the local organizations and all other stakeholders identified on the Contact List for posting at those locations. These Project Information Notices will include:
- the name of the project sponsor;
- the name and address of the proposed project;
- a brief description about the project information available for review;
- the description of why the project information is being sent;
- the comment period being provided for submitting comments on the project, and when the comment period will end;
- contact information for any questions about the project information, or how and where to provide comments (written or via website); and
An agenda will be prepared and distributed when the Public Information Meeting is held. Attendees will also be informed of where they can obtain answers to any questions they may have after the meeting has concluded. Outreach documents related to this boiler replacement and upgrade project will be available at the following website:Task #6 - Prepare Participation Plan Outreach Summary/Certification Documenthttp://www.mta.info/nyct
A written summary of the outreach conducted under the PPP will be prepared and submitted to the NYSDEC. This report will serve as the participation plan’s Certification Document, and will include:
- A summary of PPP milestones, outlining plan implementation;
- Methods used to engage the public and solicit outreach;
- Time and date of the Public Information Meeting;
- Time and date of project informational briefings undertaken (if any);
- Any substantive concerns/issues raised during outreach activities or received during the public comment period from stakeholders or the public at large:
- Descriptions of how the issues raised were addressed; and
- A description of any unresolved or outstanding issues.
The written Certification Document will confirm that the applicant has complied with the PPP, and will include a summary detailing the activities that occurred pursuant to the plan. The Certification Document will become part of the permit application and will be made available to the public at the document repositories. The Certification Document will also include several appendices as follows:
- Copies of written information such as notices, flyers, and briefing invitations;
- Copies of meeting agendas
- Meeting summary of the Public Information Meetings; and
- Names of attendees at the Public Information Meeting and at any other project informational briefings, if any are held (copies of sign-in sheets).
Preliminary Contact List
COMMUNITY BOARD OFFICES
Brooklyn Community Board #11
2214 Bath Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11214
Phone: 718-266-8800
Fax: 718-266-8821
Email: info@brooklyncb11.org
Chair: William Guarinello
District Manager: Marnee Elias-Pavia
Brooklyn Community Board #13
1201 Surf Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Phone: 718-266-3001
Fax: 718-266-3920
Email: churei@aol.com
Chair: Eddie Mark
District Manager: Chuck Reichenthal
Brooklyn Community Board #15
Kingsboro Community College
2001 Oriental Boulevard, C
Cluster
Room C124
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Phone: 718-332-3008
Fax: 718-648-7232
Email: bklcb15@verizon.net
Chair: Theresa Scavo
District Manager: Pearl Burg
NEW YORK STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS
Sixth Congressional District, New York Ninth Congressional District, New York New York State 10th Senate District Rosedale-Laurelton Satellite Office New York State 15th Senate District New York State 14th Senate District New York State Assembly District 31 New York State Assembly District 23 New York State Assembly District 46 |
New York State Assembly District 32 New York State Assembly District 29 8th Congressional District of New York 13th Congressional District of New York New York State 23rd Senate District New York State Assembly District 47 Seat is Currently Vacant Carl Kruger – resigned Seat currently empty District Office |
NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS & COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
Brooklyn Borough President New York City Council, District 31 Legislative Office New York City Council, District 28 |
Legislative Office New York City Council, District 32 Legislative Office |
RELIGIOUS & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation Meor Hachaim-L Sisters of St. Joseph Horizon Christian Fellowship Jehovah's Witnesses House of Prayer First Korean Church Marlboro Jewish Center Our Lady of Grace Church Congregation Shaare Zion Universal Foundation Ltd. 60th Precinct Community Council Astella Development Corporation Bensonhurst West End Community Council Comprehensive Care Management (CCM) Coney Island Board of Trade Coney Island Community Emergency Urban Neighborhood Services, Inc. PO Box #423 |
Coney Island Congregation Salt & Sea Mission Beach Haven Jewish Center Avenue Z Jewish Center Young Israel of Sheepshead Bay Congregation Beth El-Flatbush Trinity Tabernacle-Gravesend Congregation Beth Yosef Jewish Community Council Al Mustafa Islamic Center Coney Island Chamber of Commerce Friends of the Boardwalk Grace Gravesend Athletic Association Jewish Association for Services for the Aged
(JASA) P.R.I.D.E. Police Service Area #1 Youth D.A.R.E.S |
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
Amalgamated Warbasse Houses Inc. Brighton Towers Corporation Brightwater Towers Contello Towers 2 |
Harway Terrace Luna Park Housing NYCHA – Marlboro Houses Trump Village Co-Op Office |
GOVERNMENT AGENCY NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (NYSDEC)
Region 2 – Division of Environmental PermitsContact: Michelle Moore, Environmental Analyst 3
1 Hunters Point Plaza
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, NY 11101-5407
(718) 482-4900
Fact Sheet Outline
The following is an outline of the proposed contents of the Fact Sheet to be distributed for the boiler plant’s Title V facility permit modification, as part of the outreach materials for the project.
Title of Fact Sheet
We proposed to use:
New York City Transit
Coney Island Yard Boiler Plant Upgrade
Project Fact Sheet
The NYCT Coney Island Rail Yard
A brief description of the rail yard and boiler plant’s purpose will be provided under this heading.
Issues/Project Goals
This section would provide a brief outline of the issues with the existing boilers, the project’s overall goals, and how they relate to and support the city-wide PlaNYC goals.
The Solution/Project Benefits
This section will include a brief description of the proposed replacement boilers and any other related improvements, their proposed locations, and the benefits of operating them. There will be a graphic showing the proposed site plan.
Public Outreach
This section mentions that this is part of the permit review process, refers to the Public Participation Plan, indicates where project information is available.
Document Repositories
There will be a special “Information Box” on the Fact Sheet that shows the addresses and locations of the document repositories for the project. There will also be a line indicating a NYCT contact and web address for more information.
Proposed Document Repositories
LIBRARIES
Brooklyn Public Library–Gravesend Branch
303 Avenue X
Brooklyn, NY 11223-5933
718-382-5792
Brooklyn Public Library–Ulmer Park Branch
2602 Bath Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11214-5502
718-265-3443
Brooklyn Public Library–Coney Island Branch Library
1901 Mermaid Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11224-2507
718-265-3220
Brooklyn Public Library– Brighton Beach Branch
16 Brighton 1st Road
Brooklyn, NY 11235
718- 946-2917
COMMUNITY BOARD OFFICES
Brooklyn Community Board #11
2214 Bath Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11214
Phone: 718-266-8800
Fax: 718-266-8821
Email: info@brooklyncb11.org
Chair: William Guarinello
District Manager: Marnee Elias-Pavia
Brooklyn Community Board #13
1201 Surf Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Phone: 718-266-3001
Fax: 718-266-3920
Email: churei@aol.com
Chair: Eddie Mark District
Manager: Chuck Reichenthal
Brooklyn Community Board #15
Kingsboro Community College
2001 Oriental Boulevard, C Cluster
Room C124
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Phone: 718-332-3008
Fax: 718-648-7232
Email: bklcb15@verizon.net
Chair: Theresa Scavo
District Manager: Pearl Burg
ON-LINE WEBSITE
Outreach documents related to this boiler upgrade and replacement project will be available at the MTA NYC Transit website:
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