Park Workers Find Bound Body On Elders West Island In Jamaica Bay

The  remains of a caucasian male fully clothed, his feet bound  were found in a brown laundry bag about noon yesterday by New York City Parks Department workers conducting a survey of Elders West Island in Jamaica Bay. (Photo: Todd Maisel) 

Brooklyn

A dead man was found stuffed into a laundry bag with his legs bound on an island in Jamaica Bay, a police source said Monday, according to the New York Daily News. 

The remains were found in a brown laundry sack about noon by New York City Parks Department workers conducting a survey of Elders West Island, the source said.  The man, who wasn’t immediately identified, was described as white and fully clothed, the source said. 

The medical examiner was investigating, cops said.

Read More:

Man’s body found in laundry bag left on Jamaica Bay island: NYPD source

New York Daily News - August 4, 2014 - By Tina Moore   

New Food & Recreation Concessions Could Be Coming To Jamaica Bay

The city Parks Department and the National Park Service are putting the finishing touches on a request for proposals to place concessions at several locations around Jamaica Bay in Queens and Brooklyn. They posted a map of the area that showed several locations where concessions could be created.  (Image: via Queens Crap)

Queens/Brooklyn

Jamaica Bay, a hidden jewel in New York City for nature lovers, could become a destination complete with food stands and rental stands for kayaks and bikes.

The Parks Department and the National Park Service are putting the finishing touches on a request for proposals to place concessions at several locations around the bay in Queens and Brooklyn, according the New York Daily News.  

The new concessions are part of a larger plan between the two agencies to cooperatively manage the 10,000-acre site, which is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. 

“We’re excited about the future plans for Jamaica Bay,” said Dan Mundy Jr. of Jamaica Bay Eco-Watchers. “People will have greater access to the bay and we will also be able to keep up with restoration programs.” 

Parks officials unveiled the plan at the Community Board 14 Parks Committee meeting last Thursday. They posted a map of the area that showed several locations where concessions could be created. But the agency declined to discuss the proposal until the RFP is released next week. 

Dan Hendrick, who is making a film about Jamaica Bay, said the area has been a “Rorschach test” of sorts for each generation. 

“In the 1930s, they talked about making it the world’s largest port,” he said.

“People are still trying to figure out what the bay should be.” 

Hendrick said he thinks the concessions should include amenities that would both lure in visitors and serve local residents. The large area surrounding Jamaica Bay includes Rockaway and Broad Channel as well as Bergen Beach, Canarsie and the massive Floyd Bennett Field. 

Birdlovers have long appreciated the varied wildlife that lives and travels through the different portions of the bay. 

But Hendrick said many area residents have a “disconnect” with the bay because they consider it polluted. He hopes by opening it up to different kinds of recreation — such as camping in areas such as Floyd Bennett Field — they will develop a connection. Mundy said the plan, accompanied with the existing or additional ferry service, could also help bring more people to Rockaway. 

Food concessions and surfing beaches sparked a resurgence in Rockaway in recent years. But the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy has left many people wondering what this summer will bring.

“People could take a ferry down, rent a kayak or surfboard and stay for dinner,” Mundy said. 

“Maybe these are baby steps.”  

Read More:

New food and recreation concessions on tap for Jamaica Bay

Kayak and bike rentals could be part of a new plan to create a destination spot

New York Daily News - February 26, 2013 -  By Lisa L. Colangelo    

Oil Released Into Jamaica Bay

Paerdegat Basin Park/Paerdegat Basin Creek. Paerdegat Avenue North and Seaview Avenue. 

A yellow oil boom was placed around a storm sewer between the Midget Squadron Yacht Club and Sebago Canoe Club, two of the Parks Department's five maritime concessions which were impacted by the spill. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

At least 1100 gallons of petroleum were released into Paerdegat Basin Creek - part of Jamaica Bay - when a power company's abandoned pipe line ruptured.

National Grid was working on filling in an old gas main pipe with cement when it ruptured spewing oil into the much improved creek.   Dozens of concerned Canarsie residents called 911 and 311to report the noxious smell which began on Thursday and could still be detected blocks away over the weekend.

Some people complained of headaches and nausea.  Boaters where worried if dangerous PCB's were released into the area.

"You could taste oil in your mouth" a boater said at the Midget Squadron Yacht Club. 

The Coast Guard sent out pollution responders. The FDNY, and NY State DEC also responded.   Miller Environmental Group, an environmental waste crew was quickly dispatched and sent two large vacuum trucks, and a tanker truck.

The containment and clean up included laying down oil booms and blue absorbent pads in the water. The clean up is expected to last days. 

Both NYFD and the Coast guard personnel were out over the weekend surveying the area and warning boaters about the spill.   The public is advised to avoid fishing and recreational activity in the area.


Oil. Blue absorbent pads were placed in the spill area.

In addition to what got discharged into Paerdegat Basin National Grid contractors were seen filling up multiple 55 gallons drums along Seaview Ave in front of Canarsie Park. 

"Our whole club filled with gas," said Mike Keller from the Diamond Point Yacht Club, one of five Parks Department maritime concessions in the spill area.

He said he was entering the club's driveway on Paerdegat Avenue North on Thursday when he was hit with the oder.

"My car completely filled will the smell of methane gas to the point where I was gagging.   This whole area was filled with methane gas, waves of gas," he said pointing to Yacht Club grounds.

Mr. Keller  who has been coming to the club for 25 years said the spill was helped by the outgoing tides on Friday. He brought up the information on his cell phone which showed that from 7:35am-1:32pm on Friday the tides were going out to Jamaica Bay.

"That took a bulk of it out to sea. It's disbursed into the bay.  We've been through it all out here."

Gianni Lopez, 52, experienced the unpleasantness first hand when his Kayak tipped over into the putrid waters.

"It was my first time out here. You could smell the stench as soon as I got out here, I didn't go out very far," said the Park Slope resident wiping down his Kayak at the Sebago Canoe Club.

"I went under, I wasn't too happy about that. I'm going to wash very well today."

A number of boaters thought the 1100 gallon estimate was "conservative."

"This is an unfortunate environmental incident as our waterways are a local treasure,"  Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Swanson, Coast Guard spokesman in New York said in a statement.    

"Coast Guard pollution responders, working closely with city and state partners, will ensure the responsible party performs a proper and complete cleanup of the spill site."

"On Sept. 27 National Grid and its contractor were working on filling in an old gas main that is no longer in service with cement, the energy company said in a statement.  

"During the process an oily water residue spilled from the exit pipe into a valve box. An odor from the residue was released, resulting in a number of odor calls. We were onsite with crews throughout the night investigating and did not find any gas leaks. We immediately notified the appropriate agencies and we and our environmental contractors are working under the direction of the Coast Guard and the NYS DEC to clean up a spill in Paerdergat Basin."

FDNY investigating the scene.

Oil on the water.

Coast Guard personnel inspects the conditions with a boater at the Sebado Canoe Club. 

A yellow oil boom was placed around a storm sewer between the Midget Squadron Yacht Club and Sebago Canoe Club. 

Read More:

Oil spill in Brooklyn waterway 

Metro NY - September 30, 2012 - By Jesse Greenspan 

Coast Guard Overseeing Clean-Up Of Brooklyn Oil Spill 

CBS - September 30, 2012 - Alex Silverman

B’klyn oil-spill cleanup

New York Post - September 30, 2012 - By Dan Macleod

Coast Guard Cleans Up Spilled Oil, Cement From Brooklyn Waterway

NY1 News - September 30, 2012

BREAKING: Oil Spill In Paerdegat Basin, Authorities Say Stay Away

Sheepsheadbites -  September 29,  2012 - by Ned Berke

Cleanup of Brooklyn Oil Spill Is Under Way

The Associated Press - September 29, 2012

National Grid: Gas odor in Brooklyn caused by oil spill

WABC - September 29, 2012

USDA Bird-Strike Prevention Killing Plan Could Wipe-Out Half-Dozen Species In Jamaica Bay

Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposal, Wildlife Services staffers at the Kennedy Airport would be authorized to kill a half-dozen birds within a 5-mile radius. The intent is to reduce the number of bird strikes on planes. The plan has heavily criticized by environmentalists and animal rights groups who say the plan is mis-guided as the plan targets resident birds which are generally not involved in the aviation accidents here. Public comments on the plan will be accepted until June 13. (Photo: Christie M. Farriella for the New York Daily News)

Queens

The new plan to control bird strikes near Kennedy Airport flies in the face of a multimillion dollar federal effort to restore nearby wetland habitats for migratory birds, critics say.

Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposal, Wildlife Services staffers at the Queens airport would be authorized to kill a half-dozen birds within a five-mile radius of JFK, according to the New York Daily News.

The program, proposed to combat the growing number of potentially deadly bird strikes, has drawn the ire of conservationists and animal rights groups, who say it’s uncertain how culling the population will effect other species in the sensitive area.

“Would someone say we were going to kill every bear in Yellowstone?” asked Ida Sanoff, chair of the conservation group consortium Natural Resources Protective Association.

The plan would enable Wildlife Services at JFK to enter the Gateway National Recreation Area and kill all Canada geese, mute swans, double-crested cormorants, blackbirds, crows, rock pigeons and European starlings.

Proponents of the culling point to Federal Aviation Administration statistics that show 257 bird strikes at JFK last year compared with only 127 in 2005.

The most recent bird strike forced an emergency landing in Westchester April 24th. Environmentalists and animal rights groups have repeatedly pointed out that these plans target resident birds and not migratory ones which are generally involved in area aviation accidents. (Image: NBC New York)

Environmentalists say while there’s a need for safety at the massive airport, they think the measures outlined need to be examined more carefully.

“I understand the need to manage some of these species, but I would like to see an equal amount of effort put into preservation,” said Don Riepe, director of the local chapter of American Littoral Society and a member of the airport’s bird taskforce.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has proposed legislation that would bypass the environmental impact review process for the plan and allow the USDA to kill all Canada geese within a 5-mile radius of the airport during their molting season this summer.

Gillibrand, the USDA and Gateway, which helped craft the plan, have all said such measures are needed to ensure safe airways.

“We can take steps necessary to protect millions of air passengers every day while preserving the natural beauty of this national park for future generations,” the senator said in a statement.

Public comments will be accepted until June 13.

CANADA GEESE: The largest of the native waterfowl in Jamaica Bay, Canada geese are considered one of the biggest threats to planes landing and embarking from nearby Kennedy Airport. They feed mostly on grass and can be seen grazing on lawns and golf courses. They are both large — male geese can weigh up to 10 pounds — and abundant.

MUTE SWANS: A nonnative species, mute swans were first introduced to the Northeast coast from Europe in the 1800s. They are beautiful but aggressive birds that can cause damage to local ecosystems. A male swan can weigh up to 25 pounds.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS: This black fish-eating bird nests on islands in the New York harbor. The population of the native species has remained relatively small and stable in New York. They can grow to almost three feet tall.

BLACKBIRDS: The red-winged blackbird is one of the most common small birds that nest in marshes. A single blackbird would likely not do much damage to an airplane, though they tend to congregate in flocks during the winter. The tiny bird can weigh just a few ounces.

EUROPEAN STARLING: This bird was first introduced to America in Central Park in the 1800s. They are urban birds that are found in just about every city habitat and are most abundant in city parks. Most grow to between 7.5 and 9 inches tall and weigh between 2 and 3.5 ounces.

CROWS: These native New York birds can flock in large numbers. Their numbers are recovering after the population declined due to West Nile virus in the 1990s.

ROCK PIGEONS: The familiar pigeon, rock pigeons pose a risk to planes because they can form large flocks. They tend to congregate in places where they are fed by people.

Read More:

USDA bird-strike prevention plan would cull half-dozen bird species in Jamaica Bay Plan could have a ripple effect in sensitive Gateway National Recreation Area

New York Daily News - May 26, 2012 - By Vera Chinese

Critics: Bird-Culling Plan Near JFK Goes Too Far Environmentalists say the plan to kill a half-dozen bird species near Kennedy Airport in order to reduce bird strikes on planes need to be examined more carefully

WNBC - May 27, 2012

Majority of Jamaica Bay Designated “No Discharge Zone”

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (l.) and Mayor Michael Bloomberg sign new agreements to improve Jamaica Bay.

(Photo courtesy Bloomberg administration)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2011

No. 384

www.nyc.gov<http://www.nyc.gov/>

MAYOR BLOOMBERG, U.S. INTERIOR SECRETARY SALAZAR, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ANNOUNCE NEW AGREEMENTS TO IMPROVE PARKS AND WATER QUALITY AT JAMAICA BAY

Advances PlaNYC and Waterfront Vision & Enhancement Strategy Goals

Grants From the Rockefeller Foundation and National Grid will Support the Planning Process

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck today announced new agreements to improve the Federal and City parklands around Jamaica Bay and improve overall water quality in the Bay. The Mayor and Secretary Salazar signed an agreement committing to a joint planning process that will devise a new, unified governing model and new, common objectives for the 10,000 acres of publicly-owned land in south Brooklyn and Queens. The Rockefeller Foundation and National Grid have generously agreed to support the design of a conceptual master plan for the Jamaica Bay Parks. As part of this effort, at the request of the City and the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection will designate the majority of Jamaica Bay a “No Discharge Zone,” which bans boats from discharged sewage into the bay, improving water quality.

“The agreements with our Federal, State and philanthropic partners will have with far-reaching benefits for what may be the greatest natural treasure lying within the borders of any city in the nation – Jamaica Bay,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The partnership with Secretary Ken Salazar and the Department of Interior will allow us to be bolder, more innovative, and more cooperative, by managing these extraordinary public lands around the bay as one great urban park. And with the new ‘No Discharge Zone’ enforced by the EPA, we are going to improve water quality throughout the bay. It’s all in keeping with PlaNYC and our ongoing transformation of New York City’s waterfront as a place for New Yorkers can live, work, and play.”

“One of the primary goals of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative is to work with local communities to reconnect people with nature and outdoor recreation,” said Secretary Salazar. “By coordinating more closely with the City of New York, we will create a seamless network of urban parks that are easily accessible to people who live in nearby communities.”

The Mayor and Secretary announced that joint projects would begin with the development of a jointly-managed vision and governance structure to establish where Federal and City lands and programs could better connect and be more efficiently managed. The Rockefeller Foundation and National Grid have agreed to fund part of the development of the Jamaica Bay Parks master plan particularly related to research projects on resilience to climate change in coastal environments and improving park access for the surrounding communities.

The Mayor and Secretary Salazar also were joined at the announcement at the Salt Marsh Nature Center by New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability Director David Bragdon, National Parks of New York Harbor Commissioner Maria Burks, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck. The philanthropic and advocacy community was represented by Marian Heiskell, founder and board chair, and Marie Salerno, Executive Director, from the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy, the official cooperating partner of the National Parks Service under Federal law.

“It's so encouraging that the National Park Service, City of New York and Harbor Conservancy are endeavoring on this new partnership as it has been my passion for nearly 40 years for Gateway to provide a national park experience for those who can’t afford a trip to our other, more distant national parks,” said National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy Chair and Co-Founder Marian S. Heiskell. “I believe that Gateway can be the envy of America's great national urban park system, and now both the Mayor and Secretary Salazar stand ready to help us achieve its greatness.”

“As coastal cities throughout the world continue to grow and are increasingly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, the restoration of Jamaica Bay provides an incredible opportunity to build our understanding of resilience in urban coastal areas,” said Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation. “Jamaica Bay is a beautiful, but often overlooked pocket of our City’s landscape, and The Rockefeller Foundation is thrilled to help give back to the community parkland that will serve as both a recreational and educational space. I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg and Secretary Salazar for all their efforts to make today possible.”

“Today we’ve taken an important step towards making Jamaica Bay safe for local residents, who will no longer have to worry about harmful sewage pumped out by boats in the area,” said Senator Charles Schumer. “I applaud the Department of the Interior, the EPA, and New York City for agreeing to establish this no-discharge zone that will mean cleaner and clearer waters for Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island residents.”

“The parks in and around Jamaica Bay are natural and recreational treasures, all the more so because of their location right in the heart of the Nation’s largest metropolitan area” said Robert D. Yaro, President of Regional Plan Association. “We congratulate Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Mayor Michael Bloomberg for establishing the framework that was needed to make this area a premier regional destination.”

At the same time, the US EPA announced that it was issuing a no discharge regulation for Jamaica Bay

“If you don’t have clean air, land and water, you can’t enjoy the great outdoors and banning boat sewage from Jamaica Bay stops one source of pollution that is both harmful and completely unnecessary,” said EPA Regional Administrator Enck. “This action will improve water quality in this magnificent bay that is right in the backyards of millions of New Yorkers.”

Park Agreement

The agreement establishes a formal a partnership between the National Park Service and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for the agencies to collaborate in four areas: effective management of park lands; science and restoration of Jamaica Bay; access and transportation to park lands around Jamaica Bay; and engagement of New York City youth with hands-on science programs and fun public service projects to promote recreation, stewardship and “green” careers.

The four key components to the park management agreement are:

* Effective management through collaboration: The National Park Service and New York City Parks manage contiguous lands with overlapping missions. Through effective land use and program planning that ignores boundaries, they can create a seamless and interconnected network of natural, historical, and recreation spaces urban park that all New Yorkers can visit, with or without a car.

* Science and restoration: Through better coordination of research, data gathering restoration efforts and pilot projects, government agencies, non-profit organizations and academic institutions can work closer together to restore and conserve the health of Jamaica Bay.

* Access and transportation: The city and the Park Service will work to improve public access to Jamaica Bay and within Jamaica Bay through existing and new transportation choices, and through better public information about those options.

* Youth and education: The city and the National Park Service can jointly develop a series of programs in which urban youth can learn the values of stewardship through service activities.

The agreement may also be expanded in the future to include federal and city park lands on Staten Island.

Jamaica Bay No Discharge Zone

The new Jamaica Bay No Discharge Zone agreement between the City, the EPA and State Department of Environmental Conservation bans all boats from discharging sewage into a designated 20,000 acre area of Jamaica Bay. The area has adequate facilities for boats to pump out their sewage and boaters must now dispose of their sewage at these specially-designated pump-out stations. The new Jamaica Bay No Discharge Zone is part of a joint EPA, Department of Environmental Conservation and City effort to eliminate the discharge of sewage from boats into the State’s waterways. Discharges of sewage from boats can contain harmful levels of pathogens and chemicals such as formaldehyde, phenols and chlorine, which have a negative impact on water quality, pose a health risk and impair marine life.

The Jamaica Bay No Discharge Zone encompasses 17,177 acres of open water and 2,695 acres of upland islands and salt marshes in Brooklyn and Queens.

The northeastern and southeastern parts of Jamaica Bay reach Nassau County, while the northern shore of the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens forms the southern boundary of the bay. The bay is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Rockaway Inlet, and eight tributaries empty into Jamaica Bay: Sheepshead Bay, Paerdegat Basin, Fresh Creek, Hendrix Creek, Spring Creek, Shellbank Basin, Bergen Basin and Thurston Basin. The final affirmative determination from EPA of adequate pump-out facilities means that New York State may proceed to ban the discharge of boat sewage into Jamaica Bay and its tributaries.

Read More:

U.S. and N.Y.C. Unite to Aid Jamaica Bay

New York Times - October 27, 2011 - By Lisa W. Foderaro

City, fed agencies team up to create plan for Jamaica Bay

Times Ledger - November 3, 2011 - By Ivan Pereira

Filling In Jamaica Bay For JFK Expansion Not Going To Fly - Environmentalists/Community

....nothing in this section shall authorize the expansion of airport runways into Jamaica Bay - 1972 H.R 1121 Section 3 (D)

The Jamaica Bay Task Force Group hosted its first meeting last week in response to the Regional Plan Association's (RPA) highly controversial report. More than 150 people turned out on Thursday, April 7, at the American Legion Hall in Broad Channel. Representatives from environmental and civic groups from around the bay as well as numerous fishing clubs and kayak groups came out and strongly opposed the plan. (Photos: © Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Although the RPA report outlined several options to ease area airport congestion, the idea of filling in 400 acres of Jamaica Bay in Gateway National Park to create additional runways at JFK clearly received the most criticism. An act of Congress would be required to make this unprecedented change to a National Park. The report, Upgrading to World Class – The future of the New York Regions Airports, was funded by the Port Authority and developed by a consortium of major federal, state, city and county government stakeholders. No local environmental input was sought.

Such an expansion of JFK would have unacceptable adverse impacts on Jamaica Bay environmentalists and community activists assert, irreversibly harming what is not simply New York City’s ecological crown jewel but a wetlands and estuarine area of national importance.

Daniel Mundy, Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, Don Riepe, American Littoral Society, Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Captain Vinnie Calabro all gave powerful powerpoint presentations. The speakers, as well as audience members spoke passionately about the importance of preserving the area's vital ecosystem. The evening - which started off with Dan Mundy Sr - was chaired by his son Daniel and Mr. Riepe.

Another issue in the report that received major scorn was RPA's contention that Grassy Bay was a "Dead Zone." To refute this assertion, for twenty minutes boat captain and fishing columnist Vinnie Calabro showed image after image of enormous fish he said were caught in that area of the bay. Mr. Calabro, who said he's been fishing those waters for 40 years, was just one of dozens of attendees who represented the fishing community.

On March 17, leaders from 21 environmental, recreational, and civic groups signed and sent a letter to Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward voicing their opposition to the proposed plan.

Daniel Mundy, Jr. vice president Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers gave an impassioned and informative powerpoint presentation refuting many of RPA's findings. Among many other issues, Mr. Mundy took the report to task for RPA's many inaccurate air travel projections from prior reports beginning in 1947. “The nature of the proposal is outrageous," he said. — Geoffrey Croft

Brooklyn/Queens

A recent proposal to fill in about 400 acres of the Jamaica Bay wetlands for more runway space at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport is not flying well with environmental groups, local residents, and members of the local fishing and boating community, according to The Epoch Times.

The plan was one of six proposals made in the 2011 Regional Plan Association (RPA) report to manage increased demand in air travel and to remedy the current constrained airport capacity in the region.

Since the release of the RPA report, “Upgrading to World Class: The Future of the New York Region’s Airports” in January, controversy has been brewing and opposition to the proposal has been gaining momentum.

On March 17, leaders from 21 environmental, recreational, and civic groups signed and sent a letter to Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward voicing their opposition to the proposed plan.

The letter stated that the groups do not oppose efforts to increase the region’s aviation capacity, but urged the Port Authority to “consider other available alternatives for meeting the region’s airport capacity needs.”

It stated that permanently filling in a portion of the Jamaica Bay to accommodate JFK runway expansion would have an adverse impact on the bay. NYC Park Advocates, a parks advocacy group, describes the bay not only as the city’s ecological crown jewel but a wetland and estuary of national significance.

The letter highlighted the escalation of intrusive commercial jet noise, wildlife conflicts with aviation safety, and water pollution from the airport. It cited the likelihood for an increase in the runoff from the millions of gallons of toxic de-icing fluids used each winter that are currently being discharged directly into the bay.

On Thursday, April 7, the Jamaica Bay Task Force Group (JBTF) hosted its first town hall meeting in response to the RPA proposal.

The event, attended by nearly 150 individuals, provided city officials, scientists, and numerous community and advocacy group leaders with the opportunity to express their reasons for refuting the runway expansion into the bay.

“One of the major shortcomings of the report was that actual users, including environmentalists and civic organizations were not consulted,” said Geoffrey Croft, president, NYC Park Advocates.

“This would require an act of Congress and I am not going to let that happen,” Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn) said at Thursday’s meeting referring to filling in parts of Jamaica Bay. He stated that he had spoken with both the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward and expressed his opposition to that plan.

At Thursday’s meeting, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn) stated that he had spoken with both the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward.

Details of the conversation were unavailable, as Weiner’s media spokesperson did not respond as of press time.

However, Weiner was quoted as saying, “This would require an act of Congress and I am not going to let that happen.”

Likewise, Councilman Erik Ulrich opposes the plan. “There is no way we are going to let this happen in this community or in any other community. We cannot let this move forward,” said Ulrich.

The groups’ claim that the report overstated projections for future air travel demand, fails to address the airport land access issues, fails to seek the use of other airports such as MacArthur and Stewart, fails to recognize the impact on the surrounding environment, and fails to acknowledge previous studies, including the RPA 1973 report that rejected a proposal to fill in portions of Jamaica Bay.

Many were particularly upset that the report described a portion of the bay that borders JFK as a “‘dead’ section called Grassy Bay.”

Filling in the bay for runway expansion is not an option, said John Tanacredi, chairman of the Department of Earth & Marine Sciences at Dowling College, Kramer Science Center.

Jamaica Bay has one of the most bio-diverse marine ecosystems, said Tanacredi, who was a research ecologist with the National Parks Service at Gateway national recreational area for 24 years.

Tanacredi expressed three concerns with the RPA’s proposal to fill in the bay for the runway expansion.

The first touched on what Tancredi described as RPA’s “poor planning” and their failure to investigate existing robust research that was conducted on Jamaica Bay.

The second concerned the filling of the large single borrow pit in Grassy Bay, as this will lead to other proposals to fill in the other borrow pits in the bay. Borrow pits are holes in the bottom of the bay when sand was removed many years ago to build JFK airport, said Tanacredi.

The third concern involved recreational and subsistence fishing. “The bay is not only a major economic stimulus for the community but the fishing community at the bay fish for their families,” said Tanacredi.

He also cited the issue of bird hazards and the dangers of the laughing gulls being sucked into the engine of airplanes.

“The nature of the proposal is outrageous,” said Daniel Mundy Jr., president of Broad Channel Civic Association.

Currently, the water in the bay is at its cleanest in recent years due to a number of restoration projects, such as the $16 million salt water marsh restoration and another ongoing project to reintroduce oysters into the bay, said Mundy.

The failure to include the RPA 1973 report and the other significant studies indicated a bias on the part of the RPA, stated Mundy.

Port Authority Representative Edward Knoesel, manager for environmental services, at the Aviation Department of JFK Airport, and Natural Resources Protective Assocaition's Ida Sanoff, and one of the Jamaica Bay Task Force's dogged advocates. (Photo: ©Vivian R. Carter)

“The Port Authority has no plans to fill Jamaica Bay,” Mr. Knoesel repeatedly said. “This is a study. We have not made the decision yet. We view this report as a start in the conversation."

Read More:

Proposed JFK Expansion Stirs Controversy with Environmentalists

The Epoch Times - April 13, 2011 - By Margaret Lau

Extending JFK runways meets opposition

The Queens Courier - April 12, 2011 - By Shiryn Ghermezian

Local residents fighting plan to extend JFK runways into Jamaica Bay

New York Daily News - April 7, 2011 - By Lisa L. Colangelo

A House of Cards Faces Into the Winds of Jamaica Bay

Rockviv - April 12, 2011 - By Vivian Carter

Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers

JFK Expansion Plan Unsettles Residents By Jamaica Bay

NY1 - March 23, 2011 - By Mari Fagel

Environmentalists Speak Out Against JFK Runway

Expansion

Into Gateway National Park

Who: Representatives from dozens of environmental, recreational, civic groups, agency and elected officials as well as members of the fishing and boating community.

What: Town Hall Meeting Speaking Out Against Port Authority Proposal

Where: American Legion Hall - 209 Crossbay Blvd. Broad Channel (718) 474 -5029

When: 6:30 p.m.

The Jamaica Bay Task Force Group is hosting its first meeting to respond to the highly controversial report by the Regional Plan Association (RPA) which calls for the destruction of up to four hundred acres of wetlands in Gateway National Park located in Jamaica Bay to accommodate runway expansion at JFK Airport. An act of Congress would be required to make this unprecedented change to a National Park.

Such an expansion of JFK would have unacceptable adverse impacts on Jamaica Bay, irreversibly harming what is not simply New York City’s ecological crown jewel but a wetlands and estuarine area of national importance. Hundreds of acres of the Bay would need to be permanently filled in something currently prohibited by federal law.

Jamaica Bay encompasses more than 25, 000 acres of water, marsh, meadowland, beaches, dunes and forests in Brooklyn and Queens, all accessible by subway. It contains a federal wildlife refuge the size of 10 Central Parks. It provides nursery and foraging, habitat for the region’s fisheries and other marine life. Bay waters adjacent to JFK are renowned for some of the region’s best fishing for bluefish and striped bass — and is a critical bird habitat area that is visited annually by what is estimated to be nearly 20 percent of North America's bird species. It is also home to various endangered and threatened species – from sea turtles to peregrine falcons. Intrusive commercial jet noise would potentially increase Wildlife conflicts with aviation safety. Water pollution from the airport - which currently discharges run-off from the millions of gallons of toxic de-icing fluids used each winter directly into the Bay - would likely increase.

Dozens of environmental, recreational, and civic groups are vehemently opposed to this plan. On March 17, a letter was sent to Port Authority Executive Director Christopher O. Ward to voice their strong opposition (see attached). The groups are asking that the Port Authority consider other available alternatives for meeting the region’s airport capacity needs. The letter was signed by 21 groups.

The report,"Upgrading to World Class – The future of the New York Regions Airports" http://www.rpa.org/pdf/RPA-Upgrading-to-World-Class.pdf (pages 150-154) was funded by the Port Authority and developed by a consortium of major federal, state, city and county government stakeholders. No local environmental input was sought.

Background:

The report proposes expanding JFK Airport further into the waters of Jamaica Bay as a means of accommodating anticipated growth in the number of passengers at the regions three airports. This radical plan calls for the filling in and paving over of four hundred acres of wetlands within the boundaries of Gateway National Park. The plan has been met with shock and outrage from leaders in the environmental and civic communities all of whom were not consulted during the two years of the report's creation. The destruction of protected lands within a National Park on such a scale are unprecedented and many feel the effects will ripple throughout the bay. Such critical ecological factors as: Tidal flow, salt marsh habitat, critical mud flat habitat, marine fisheries, and water quality will be impacted on a massive scale. In addition the report seems to have a number of inaccuracies and omissions that are in direct contrast to the facts regarding these impacted areas.

Thursday night's meeting will have four presenters who will respond to the report, speak to the impact these proposals will have and present documentation of the marine and bird life that is so abundant in this area. The meeting will have representatives of the various environmental groups working around the bay, agency representatives, and elected officials or their representatives as well as members of the fishing and boating community.

Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers - Statement

The Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers (JBEW’s) stand firmly opposed to the addition of new runways and/or the extension of new or existing runways into Jamaica Bay. This proposal would do irreperable harm to the fragile ecosytem of Jamaica Bay. As the only designated wildlife refuge in the National Parks System Jamaica Bay is host to over one third of all bird species in North America making it one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the Northeastern United States. In addition over 60 reptiles and dozens of species of fish can be found in this Bay.

The proposal by the Port Authority to fill in and destroy up to 400 acres of wetlands and shoreline area is ill advised and without recent precedent. The report, which is the basis for these plans, appears to be seriously flawed as it refers to the impacted areas as “dead” zones when in fact they are some of the most productive areas on the Northeast coast. Home to spring and summer runs of striped bass and blue fish which number in the tens of thousands this area is rich in natural resources. At a time when tremendous improvements, including marshland and oyster restoration, osprey revival , and water quality upgrades, have been achieved this proposal would serve to deliver an impact that may be fatal to the bay . In addition to the huge loss of habitat and impact to bird and fish populations the expansion would curtail tidal flow and inhibit necessary flushing action leaving a large hypoxic lifeless area in the entire northern section of the bay.

"The JBEW's recognize that the airports today have too little capacity for growing demands and have congestion and delays but the expansion of JFK Airport at the expense of the environment is totally unacceptable," said Dan Mundy Sr. founder of the JBEW'S.

These startling proposals were unveiled at a recent conference titled “Upgrading to World Class – The future of the New York Regions Airports." The meeting was hosted by the Regional Plan Association and attended by hundreds of representatives from the airport industry on January 27, 2011 . The report, see link http://www.rpa.org/pdf/RPA-Upgrading-to-World-Class.pdf (pages 150-154) was developed by a consortium of major federal, state, city and county government stakeholders. No local environmental input was sought and at a Q & A period, during the conference, Dan Mundy Jr. pointed out had that involvement been included the document produced may not have been so flawed.

The JBEW’s suggest that the federal government should fully fund the FAA’s NexGen 1 & 2 programs that will transform air traffic control from the present ground-based technologies to satellite-based technology. This action will produce capacity increases for each airport and enable the adjustment of flight schedules dynamically and provide for saver airline travel. Also the expanded use of outlying airports with improved transportation and managing demand at the present airports will solve many of the problems.

NYC Park Advocates Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan watchdog group dedicated to restoring public funding, improving public parks, increasing public recreation programs, expanding open space and accessibility, and achieving the equitable distribution of these vital services in New York City for all. We are the only non-profit park advocacy group dedicated to all City, State and Federal parkland in New York City. For more information please visit us at nycparkadvocates.org

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