The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it will hold public statement hearings in West Nyack and Haverstraw to receive public comment on the continuing need for United Water New York (UWNY) to develop a new water supply source to satisfy Rockland County’s long-term water supply requirements.  The hearing will be preceded by a public informational forum.  

The informational forums and public statement hearings will be held as follows:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Clarkstown High School South, Auditorium

31 Demarest Mill Road

West Nyack, New York

6:00 p.m.  Informational Forum

7:00 p.m.  Public Statement Hearing

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

Haverstraw Elementary School, Auditorium

16 Grant Street

Haverstraw, New York

6:00 p.m.  Informational Forum

7:00 p.m.  Public Statement Hearing

During the public informational forums held before each public statement hearing, UWNY will provide a brief summary of its report, to be filed with the Commission on August 19, 2013, containing the most recent information relating to projected demand and the need to secure a new water supply source in Rockland County. Members of the public will also have an opportunity for informal discussion regarding the proceeding with the New York State Department of Public Service Staff and UWNY.   A copy of UWNY’s August 19, 2013 report, as well as other  documents related to this proceeding, will be available on the Commission’s web site at http://www.dps.ny.gov under Case Number 13-W-0303.

In compliance with an order issued by the Commission in 2006, UWNY developed a plan for meeting long-term demand, projected at that time to exceed supply by the end of 2015.  UWNY’s leading proposal is a desalination facility in Haverstraw, Rockland County.  The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is in the process of evaluating that request against other alternatives.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearing.  Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak.  Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number.  

Other Ways to Comment

Internet or Mail:  In addition to the formal hearings, comments may be sent electronically to the Acting Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathryn H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Your comments should refer to “Case 13-W-0303 – United Water New York, Inc.”

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments.

Formal comments are requested by September 27, 2013, but they will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding.  Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Written comments may be accessed on the Web site by searching Case 13-W-0303 and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access.  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.