Senator Avella Announces Extension of Public Comment Period for MacNeil Park Storm Water Outfall Application

Queens, NY – Today, Senator Tony Avella announced the extension of a public comment period for the application to install a storm water outfall pipe in College Point’s MacNeil Park. A representative from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) informed Senator Avella’s staff that DEC, at his request, “will be extending the comment period for this permit approximately 30 days, through December 5^th.”

 The plan proposed by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would install a new 4-foot, 6-inch by 3-foot, 6-inch storm water outfall to the East River at College Point’s MacNeil Park. This outfall would be spilling directly onto a salt marsh oyster reef that has shown successful oyster and ribbed mussel growth over recent years.

“This plan was another attempt by the City to pull a fast one on a neighborhood they thought wasn’t paying attention. With this public comment period now being open for a longer period of time, College Point has an opportunity to save their community from a plan that would destroy years of restoration that has turned the wetlands at MacNeil Park into a thriving ecosystem,” said Senator Avella.  

DEC’s representative went on to say, “The Commissioner has also asked staff to reach out to NYC DEP regarding the Senator's concerns about the location of the outfall.”

DEC officially opened up the public comment period on October 20^th, and planned to close the period on November 3^rd. Now, the community can submit comments until December 5^th.

Comments on this project must be submitted in writing to:

Christopher Lang

NYSDEC

47-40 21^st Street

Long Island City, NY, 11101