United Water Desal Project Public Hearings Pushed Back to October

The Public Service Commission (PSC) pushed back its scheduled public hearings regarding United Water's proposed desalination plant project yesterday to Oct. 1 and 2.

The move comes after multiple public officials called for the change due to conflicts with the original dates Sept. 9 and 10, including Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern), Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) and Harriet Cornell, Chair of the Rockland County Legislature. 

"I thank the PSC for ordering the public statement hearings ont he proposed desalination project and for responding so swiftly to my request to reschedule these important hearings," said Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) in a press release Wednesday. "The new dates will ensure transparency, maximum public participation, and that the voices of Rockland ratepayers and experts are heard."


Sept. 9 is the first day of school and primary elections are scheduled for Sept. 10. The PSC announced those hearing dates Aug. 16, prompting Jaffee to speak with Kathleen Burgess, Secretary to the Commission. Jaffee and State Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) sent a letter to PSC Chairman Garry Brown Aug. 19 calling for the change in the dates. 

Cornell pointed out that the dates in September did not allow the public a 30-day period to review documents related to the hearings, which is standard. 

"Furthermore, these dates coincided with back-to-school 'Meet the Teacher' evenings already scheduled in several school districts, Sept. 10 primary elections and the dates fell in between the two most important holy days observed by Rockland's Jewish population," said Cornell, making reference to Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur. 

Cornell also mentioned the large number of residents signing petitions opposing the plant and public officials  questioning the need for it.

"The unanimity across municipal and party lines has arisen from a collective demand and urgency for an impartial adjudicatory procedure," Cornell said. "Rockland residents want assurances that the PSC process will offer them the same opportunity as UWNY to present evidence. They wante assurance that their well-researched and documented arguments and expert testimony will be given a fair hearing and careful consideration by impartial administrators who are knowledgeable in the subject area."

Jaffee and Cornell have also questioned the locations for the hearings. The first was originally set for Clarkstown South HIgh School in West Nyack, with the second at Haverstraw Elementary School in Haverstraw.