Author Topic: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening (Read 169 times)

Michael Caswell · « **on:** June 27, 2022, 10:13:06 am »

Warriors eh? Have you ever heard of anything so wet?

But, it does look as if Eerie Agte is getting the message. I am frankly amazed she got any response at all from Ms Hughes. Why would the CC be even bothered to reply to her? Its pretty obvious Eerie has a screw or two loose; I mean 'warriors' indeed!

And it is also obvious the STCC are becoming more and more unraveled and even discussing 'chain saws'.

Just look at where this radical group has left us. Almost TWO FEET of water missing from the canal for the entire SHORTER season.

Why? Because the Canal Corp has been unable to inspect and repair the numerous leaks along the embankment dams. This work should have been done FOUR YEARS ago.

Shame on them.

Doug K · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2022, 04:09:51 pm »

Warriors? Like there is a war or battle going on along the Erie Canal right now?

https://ecna.createaforum.com/general-discussion/satire-on-the-battle-on-the-erie-canal/msg70/#msg70

If there is a war going on then that would mean the NY Canal Corporation is fighting on the "right" side, trying to improve public safety. After all, they are trying to repair the Erie Canal and it's hundreds of miles of aging earthen dams that are failing due to lack of proper maintenance for the past 100 years.

They are also trying to HELP communities along the Erie Canal like Brockport and Fairport deal with the changing dynamic on the Erie Canal, away from commercial use and more towards recreation, both on the water, and on the trail.

That would also mean that Ms. Agte and her Facebook group are fighting AGAINST that help, and against making the canal safer and against fixing those aging earthen dams... or better termed... "fighting on the wrong side".

But it's nothing new for this group who's only answer to the "public safety" side of fixing unsafe canal dams is to simply ignore the warnings from the owners & caretakers of this famous waterway, and say they are fear mongering as those earthen embankments crumble.

Sorry I'll chalk all this new "warrior" talk up to the same old WHINING this group does, and has done for 4 years now.

And that whining starts at the TOP, with the two co-founders of this Facebook group. They complain about lack of transparency, when they simply cannot find the answers they are looking for on Facebook. Here's the Trail Closure information that Ms. Agte says "wasn't given".

And now Ms. Agte believe that the Erie Canal waterway is lowered this 2022 Season due to the continued issue with weak & failing embankments, that her group is hoping will not get cleared. She didn't believe the message once again, when the NY State Canal Corporation was "ultra-transparent" last May.

Notice to Mariners

Western Erie Canal and Glens Falls Feeder Canal – Water Levels

May 17,2022

Mariners are advised that water levels in the Erie Canal between Lock E-30 (Macedon) and Locks E-34/35 (Lockport) will be approximately one foot lower than previous years as the Canal Corporation continues to monitor more than 200 known seeps along the canal’s earthen embankments. Levels may vary slightly depending on the location. The reduced water levels should not impact vessels transiting the canal within the navigation channel but may impact some docks and boat launches.

In addition, the Glens Falls Feeder Canal will be approximately two feet lower than previous years as seeps continue to be monitored there as well. Additional adjustments to the water levels, if required, will be communicated in a timely manner.

The Canal Corporation continuously monitors and inspects these earthen dams on foot via daily monitoring with our staff, as well as using advanced technologies like drones and thermal imaging.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience during this time and encourages all Canal users and stakeholders to register to receive updates through the "Notice to Mariners" notification program at www.canals.ny.gov.

https://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/tas/notices/ntm.aspx?id=1858

And she want to ignore all these other Embankment Integrity Issues from 2022

https://www.canals.ny.gov/news/pressrel/2022/2022.04.01-Canal-Embankment-Repair-Gaines.pdf

https://www.canals.ny.gov/news/pressrel/2022/2022.04.15-Canal-Sinkhole-Repairs-Little-Falls.pdf

https://www.canals.ny.gov/news/pressrel/2022/2022.05.26-Erie-Canal-Seep-Mitigation-Greece.pdf

And of course Ms. Agte is also wrong about the Lockport to Brockport Embankment Project that cleared 27 miles of Canal Embankments in 2018. Here's here Facebook statement about "dead trees" and the TRUTH is in the TWO pictures below it, those were taken this morning along the Brockport East Embankment Dam

Ms. Agte and her Facebook group members routinely post old pictures of tree stumps and logs on the ground to try and persuade themselves they are "fighting for nature". All they are really doing is showing Rochester and the Canal Corporation how utterly stupid people can become, by simply walking along the Empire Trail.

The Canal Corporation actually had to post an illustration of an earthen dam SPECIFICALLY for this Facebook group to understand what it looks like...and they still do not want to accept the truth, or believe they are standing in the way of "public safety" with their own brand of "public stupidity".

This is what the Canal Embankment Dam looks like without trees, and Ms. Agte, Ms. Maier, Ms. Calia, and a few "eastside" Mayors should get used to looking at it, or find somewhere else to go for a walk of ride your bicycle. This is what an Erie Canal Embankment dam looks like, and you have miles of them in Perinton

Doug K · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2022, 04:34:39 pm »

Keeping with that same theme...

Here is more whining about "trees" as Facebook shows some members of Stop the Canal Clear-cut what happened "4 years ago today".

And I have to give Mr. Neale credit, he did correct this new group member, telling her that the pictures were "old" and that "clover and a 1000' barrier" were planted, once trees were removed.

I bet the Canal Embankment Barrier Planting in Holley NY is also "very green", just like the one in Brockport.

And Mr. Neale's most profound statement: "I understand that they (NYCC) are RESPONSIBLE for the INTEGRITY of the canal embankments."

Sadly the leaders of the Facebook group Mr. Neale belongs to, still REFUSE to have that same "understanding" about what drives public safety along an aging NY Canal System. That tactic being used by Ms. Agte and Ms. Maier is known as "willful blindness" and it is NOT a defendable position in any court of law.

Making a personal choice to NOT accept the science, facts or truth, regarding NY State Dam Safety is "willful blindness".

Too bad other's in this group don't live along the Erie Canal, they just might see how their "dam blindness" might be changed when they see a 60 foot tall earthen dam appear once the tress are removed, roots are pulled and turf grass replaces a dangerous & invasive mass of trees and weeds.

Doug K · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2022, 07:56:46 am »

Willful Blindness!

If you don't believe the ECNA, just go and look at the Stop the Canal Clear-cut website on Google. The Front Page of their online protest website says it all...

To date the STCC Facebook group has not provided ANY facts, any supporting data or any known EARTHEN DAM experts to support their claims or substantiate their beliefs.

Doug K · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2022, 04:41:36 pm »

I had to read this post yet again, Ms. Agte is reporting more and more inaccuracies to her Facebook group these days.

It appears that Ms. Agte somehow believes that there is a 6 month review of the "final" version of the SEQR Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Review and that "no work" will happen in 2022.

Nothing could be further from the truth, nothing new with this Facebook group leader.

There is a waiting period from the time the FEIS is "released" to when it is "accepted" by NYS... and the agencies involved. That time period is 10 days long, according the the SEQR Flow Chart

https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/seqrflowchart.pdf

Currently the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program SEQR process is at Step 9-10. We understand that the NYSCC, as Lead Agency in this action, is still busy answering "public comments", which delayed the release until now. It's the understanding of the ECNA that the Final EIS for Erie Embankment Integrity Program is due out any day now, and once it arrives we will share our comments, but please bear in mind, what is being discussed here is earthen dam SAFETY, even if those embankment dams run along a canal that is used for navigation & recreation.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...but there is NO SIX MONTH REVIEW of the Final SEQR Review, it's over.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/seqrhandbook.pdf

GO READ THIS POST

https://ecna.createaforum.com/the-stop-the-clearcut-argument/stcc-facebook-group-values-opinions-amp-beliefs-as-'truth'-while-ignoring-all-ea/msg2261/#msg2261

Doug K · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2022, 12:39:44 pm »

Fresh from the STCC Facebook page today... more nonsense by the group's TWO founders

And of course Ms. Agte is once again making up "her own" NY State Environmental Quality Review process here, now stating that the "final draft" of the guidebook is being released for "public comment".

And while Ms. Virginia Maier tries to correct her co-founder friend, she doesn't quite have all the correct information either. And Ms. Maier claims it's all a "maybe", like the FB group plans to continue it's fight against letting the Canal Corporation fix what's wrong with the NYS Canal System.

It's not a draft document at all... it is FINAL version.

What is being released are the FINAL Environmental Impact Statement/Review, the FINAL Embankment Maintenance Guidebook, and the FINAL Embankment Maintenance Best Practices visual guide.

No Drafts, just the final generic EIS to satisfy SEQR requirements, and final versions of all other pertinent documents needed to continue the work of clearing overgrown canal embankments for public safety.

And NO "public review or comment time period" is required to move forward to the final steps of the SEQR process. That public input step is over, all information collected will be part of the FINAL release.

The SEQR Final EIS & Guidebook, for the EEIP program, will be peer reviewed by other NYS agencies, like NYS DEC, and possibly the Army Engineer Corps, and after 10 days can be finalized and put into practice immediately, or at the discretion of the lead agency, the NYS Canal Corporation.

And the idea that a "grassroots" social media group, fighting against the improvement of Erie Canal public safety, using a "pseudo-environmental" platform to OPENLY protest canal embankment safety maintenance, will hopefully come to an end... and this Facebook group will quietly fade away.

And that day can't come soon enough.

Personally, it's quite sad watching a group of people, who are proven wrong again and again, still continue to dig themselves into a deeper and deeper hole using "denial, distraction and disinformation" as their shovel.

This Facebook group exemplifies all that is wrong in America today, groups of people, banding together for self-serving causes, making up their own "truth", and then creating their own "facts" to support their preposterous claims.

This group doesn't really care about "the environment", they seldom get involved with any other local tree clearing efforts. What they really care about is THEIR walk along the Erie Canal Trail, and the idea that they do not want that walk changed, even if it's for the good of the public and the safety of the community & canal.

If you don't believe it, just look at their campaign slogan - "Shade is Cool".

Sadly shade is "not cool" when it comes at the EXPENSE of public safety and the sustainability & safety of the Erie Canal.

Ms. Agte & Ms. Maier have tried very hard to turn a "blind eye" towards Erie Canal safety work, and the Canal Corporation has finally said "enough", here's the Environmental Impact stating unequivocally that if nothing is done to fix these earthen dams a FLOOD WILL RESULT.

"Thank you" to the New York Power Authority & New York State Canal Corporation for being "truthful and transparent".

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2022, 05:09:42 am »

Final? Does that finally mean its finally finished?

Really finally? Wow! What will everyone do now?

Is that our final word Doug?

Cripes!

Doug K · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2022, 07:37:09 am »

Done... as in reaching the finish line ahead of the opposition

And it's not Doug, Mike, or the ECNA making this "announcement", it's New York State

https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6189.html

Just a special note, there is NO 6 month review of the Final Environmental Review release

There is NO "public comment" time period to allow a certain social media group the opportunity to delay this public safety work any further.

As some might say... "Stick a fork in it, it's DONE!"

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2022, 10:24:31 am »

As some might say... "Stick a fork in it, it's DONE!"

OK! It is FINAL then! Better tell Ms Agte & Maier then!

Doug K · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2022, 02:02:57 pm »

Wishful thinging once again perhaps.

Done as in NYS "rests its case"...

There's still the the chance we might be entertained by this:

1) people being arrested after chaining themselves to trees, charge is leaving the designated trail, and carries a $100 fine.

2) people being "removed" from the trail for causing an obstruction to traffic & maintenance crews.

Either NYS Troopers will be involved, or the local County Sheriffs department. Just upholding the NYS Canal Law

Michael Caswell · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2022, 05:39:01 am »

Oh! Boy!

THIS is SO exciting! I can hardly wait to see them all dragged off in chains! Ha! Ha! Ha!

I hope they have a few padded cells set aside, isn't that where they put nut cases?

Doug K · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2022, 02:19:04 pm »

Which "nutcase" were you thinking of?, the first one?

It will be very interesting how this all turns out...

The release of the Final Environmental Statement will set the stage for what comes next and the big question:

What will MEMBERS of a Facebook group do, when faced with overwhelming evidence contrary to what their Leadership has stated, for the past 4 years?

Will their eyes be opened to the campaign of deception that was used, to convince them into believing unsafe canal dams were a hoax?

Will they realize that supporting a leader's ambition to have a "shady walk" stood right in the way of correcting dangerous Erie Canal Safety issues?

Will they rise up and send a message to the STCC group Leadership with a vote of "no confidence" and leave the group en masse, vowing never to be duped again?

Time will tell...

Doug K · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2022, 01:27:51 pm »

If you look at the NYS SEQR Review Process, using their Step by Step Guide, you can see how the Earthen Embankment Integrity Program environmental work has followed it "to the letter".

https://www.canals.ny.gov/Earthen_Embankment/Project_Timeline.html

https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6189.html

The new owners of the Canal System, NYPA, also opted to hold SEVERAL public hearings throughout the SEQR process, some of which were "optional". It was an attempt to be totally transparent about their work, and include as much public comment & review as possible in their Final Environmental Impact Statement... Step 11 of the 12 Step Process

But all that is "water under the lift bridge" as they say in the Canal Corporation...

It's now time to release the FINAL SEQR paperwork for Embankment Integrity and allow NYPA to get on with the monumental task of putting an Embankment Manual into use and start following the "best practices" Guidebook they created, for the safe and sane restoration of these 100 year old earthen water-impounding dams.

And for Erie Canal Neighbors, the repair of this huge public safety issue will finally get underway, and that can't come soon enough.

Hopefully it's also an end of social media opposition to the proper repair and maintenance of these 100 year old earth dams.

Maybe it will be the end to a group who's been whining about trail "shade" and trying to make trees more important than public safety along the Canal, more important than Trail Safety, and more important than the safety of hundreds of Erie Neighbors & communities living in the shadow of these overgrown, infested earthen structure.

Just maybe the release of the OFFICIAL "state required" Environmental Quality Review for the Canal Embankment Integrity Program will serve it's purpose and put an end to the naysayers who have ignored and dismissed the term "Unsafe Earthen Embankments" as a hoax, and "fear-mongering" by a NYS agency tasked with keeping the NYS Canal System operational & safe and also keeping the public safe from an aging 100 year old canal system.

News:

Author Topic: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening (Read 169 times)

Michael Caswell

They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching and whining, and still very wrong

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching and still whining about 4 years ago

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching, wallowing in "willful blindness".

Doug K

They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Michael Caswell

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Michael Caswell

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Michael Caswell

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Doug K

Re: They're waiting and watching for a SEQR REVIEW that will not be happening

Doug K

NYS Canal Integrity Program Milestones show the SEQR Review Phase is almost Complete