Commitment to continued and expanded community participation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released its Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) for the remediation of Onondaga Lake. The CPP identifies opportunities for citizen participation, provides multiple ways for the public to receive information on design and construction activities, and builds upon the extensive outreach already undertaken by Honeywell and the DEC.
“Public engagement and dialogue are very important to the successful remediation of Onondaga Lake,” said John McAuliffe, Syracuse Program Director. “We have already received valuable recommendations from the public during the initial design stages. Community input will play an important role in the final design and construction of the lake remedy.”
Over the past five years, Honeywell and the DEC have each made significant efforts to inform and involve community members in the Onondaga Lake remediation planning process. The DEC has hosted public meetings and issued fact sheets. Honeywell has met with and made presentations to many community leaders and groups and distributed e-newsletters and an Annual Report outlining key milestones.
Under the CPP, e-newsletters and DEC fact sheets will continue and are available to every member of the community.
The public is encouraged to attend availability sessions and roundtable discussions or request presentations to local groups. An Annual Summary of Activities, which will highlight restoration progress, upcoming events, and timetables, will be produced each year.
Members of the public are invited to participate in regularly scheduled working group meetings. The DEC will solicit applications until April 14 from interested community members to serve on a lead Community Participation Working Group (CPWG).
The volunteer-based lead CPWG will take a broad look at Onondaga Lake remediation activities and community outreach. It will recommend additional opportunities for the community to contribute and receive information including how many and what types of additional working groups should be formed. Interested citizens should contact the DEC if they wish to participate in the lead CPWG or click on the Fact Sheet link below to learn more on submitting letters of interest.
Anyone interested in additional information regarding the CPP should contact Stephanie Harrington or Diane Carlton, DEC Region 7, at 315-426-7403.
If anyone is interested in receiving a Honeywell presentation, please call 315-431-4443 ext. 3 for more information.
A factsheet on the CPP and the Remedial Design Work Plan can be found at the following link :
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup or to sign-up for e-newsletters, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.