Referred to:  The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee (Chairwoman Petit and Legislators Fabiano, Greene, Litts, and Nolan), and The Energy and Environment Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Eckert, Heppner, Wawro, and Woltman)

Chairwoman of the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, Laura Petit, and Deputy Chair Dean J. Fabiano offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the Acting County Executive on behalf of the Department of Public Works; and

WHEREAS, the County of Ulster is the owner of the Mount Pleasant Bridge (the “Bridge”), which connects Mt. Pleasant/Risely Road on the west bank of the Esopus Creek with New York State Route 212 on the opposite bank in the Town of Shandaken, and which is currently closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and

WHEREAS, in December 2016, the Ulster County Legislature adopted Resolution No. 549, which supported a grant application to the Catskill Watershed Corporation (the “CWC”) for the removal of the Bridge (the “Project”); and

WHEREAS, Ulster County was awarded the grant and entered into a Contract with CWC in 2017 to begin the Project; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Project includes the removal of the Bridge, and Ulster County determined that the Project constitutes an Unlisted Action as defined under NYCRR Part 617.2(al) [SEQRA]; and         

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 165 passed on April 16, 2019, Ulster County declared its intent to serve as lead agency for the Mount Pleasant Bridge removal; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has conducted a Coordinated Review as provided for under SEQRA; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has examined the proposed action consisting of the bridge removal and completed the Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) and Negative Declaration form that includes an analysis of impacts to historic and cultural resources, wetlands and water bodies, threatened or endangered species, and other environmental considerations as required under 6 NYCRR Part 617 of (SEQRA); and

WHEREAS, Ulster County pursuant SEQRA has evaluated the potential impacts and has made a determination of non-significance under SEQRA (“Negative Declaration”); now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617 et seq. of the Regulations of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law of New York State (SEQRA), the Ulster County Legislature hereby adopts and issues the Negative Declaration under SEQRA upon the vote thereupon and the signature of the Ulster County Legislature Chair herewith; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that Clerk of the Legislature shall file this Resolution and accompanying Negative Declaration with the Involved and Interested Agencies as enumerated in the Negative Declaration; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the adoption of the Negative Declaration shall constitute the SEQRA Decision of approval for the removal of the Mount Pleasant Bridge,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Public Works and Capital Projects on ______________.

Passed Committee: Energy and Environment on _____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE