The NYS Canal Corporation has extended the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) public comment period on the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for its Earthen Embankment Integrity Program until October 15, 2021. Canal Corp’s program is targeted at approximately 125 miles in western New York between Lockport and Lyons and may affect residents, boaters, and trail users.
For 200 years, the integrity of earthen embankments has remained critical to maintaining an operationally safe waterway. Embankment failure could result in massive flooding, causing loss of life and property. The Earthen Embankment Integrity Program involves removing trees and other vegetation from canal banks to facilitate inspection and maintenance. At issue is just how much vegetation needs to be removed and how to balance safety, management, aesthetics, and environmental quality.
“The Canal Corporation is committed to a public engagement process that provides meaningful ways for members of the community to contribute to the final design of the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “To that end, the Canal Corporation is extending the comment period to ensure that the public has the opportunity to fully understand and weigh in on the program, especially with regard to plans for public relations and community outreach for maintenance projects, which will be handled on a project-by-project basis when the program is implemented.”
With public input through the SEQRA process, the Canal Corporation is developing a guidebook to establish policies and procedures for the management of approximately 125 miles of earthen embankments along the entire 524-mile canal system. This new guidebook will set forth protocols for safety, inspection, maintenance, community outreach, and related environmental concerns, including a procedural approach as to where vegetation will be removed from these engineered embankments in the future.
Members of the public wishing to register a comment may do so by emailing NYSCC-Embankments@bergmannpc.com.
In addition, community members and stakeholders may learn more about the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program by attending informational sessions being held Monday and Tuesday, September 20 and 21, between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Town of Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport.
Community members may also register to participate in virtual sessions to be hosted at 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 30, by emailing public.info@canals.ny.gov.
The Canal Corporation also plans to publish overview materials on its website to complement the DGEIS and to specifically break down the program elements related to future public relations and community outreach when projects are identified.
All comments must be received by October 15, 2021 and will be incorporated into the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement and associated guidebook for the Canal Corporation’s Earthen Embankment Integrity Program when they are adopted at the conclusion of the SEQRA process early next year.
For further information, visit the Canal Corporation’s website, https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/index.html.
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