Rockland Lake State Park Master Plan Environmental Impact Statement
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Final Environmental Impact Statement For Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain, Nyack Beach and Haverstraw Beach State Parks July 10, 2013 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Rose Harvey Jim Hall Commissioner Executive Director Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain, Nyack Beach, and Haverstraw Beach State Parks Master Plan Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County Prepared by The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission Completed: July 10, 2013 Contacts: Jim Hall, Executive Director Bear Mountain State Park Palisades Interstate Park Commission Bear Mountain, NY 10911 845-786-2701 M. Pamela Otis, Director, Environmental Management Bureau NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Albany, NY 12238 (518) 474-0409 Fax: (518) 474-7013 Email: [email protected] SEQR NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF A FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Date of Notice: July 10, 2013 Lead Agency: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) Title of Action: Adoption and Implementation of a Master Plan for Rockland Lake, Hook Mountain, Nyack Beach and Haverstraw Beach State Parks SEQR Status: Type I Location of Action: Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County This Notice is issued pursuant to Part 617 of the implementing regulations pertaining to Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review) of the Environmental Conservation Law. A Final Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the proposed action has been prepared and accepted by OPRHP and PIPC. The Executive Summary of the Master Plan/FEIS describes the proposed action, the environmental setting, alternatives and potential environmental impacts and mitigation. Agencies and the public are afforded the opportunity to consider the FEIS. This consideration period ends on July 22, 2013. Copies of the Final Plan/FEIS are available for review at the offices of the agency contacts and at New City Library, 220 N. Main Street, New City, Nyack Library, 59 South Broadway, Nyack and Valley Cottage Library, 110 Route 303, Valley Cottage. The online versions of the Master Plan and DEIS are available at the following publically accessible web site: http://nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/master-plans.aspx Agency Contacts: Jim Hall, Executive Director M. Pamela Otis, Director Palisades Interstate Park Commission Environmental Management Bureau Bear Mountain State Park NY OPRHP Bear Mountain, NY 10911 Albany, NY 12238 845-786-2701 518-474-0409 The Rockland Lake Park Complex Master Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................................. i Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ iii Chapter 1 - Environmental Setting ............................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 11 Location and Access ...................................................................................................................... 11 Recreational Needs Assessment .................................................................................................... 11 Economic Contribution .................................................................................................................. 13 Park Boundaries ............................................................................................................................. 13 Surrounding Land Uses.................................................................................................................. 14 Partnerships .................................................................................................................................... 14 Programs ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Legal Considerations ..................................................................................................................... 15 Physical Resources......................................................................................................................... 15 Natural Resources .......................................................................................................................... 19 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................................... 22 Scenic Resources ........................................................................................................................... 24 Recreational Resources/Activities ................................................................................................. 25 Emergency Plans and Services ...................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 2 – Analysis and Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 33 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 3 – Selection of the Preferred Alternative ..................................................................................................... 57 Selection of the Preferred Master Plan Alternative ....................................................................... 57 Chapter 4 – Environmental Impacts and Mitigation .................................................................................................. 59 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 59 Environmental Impacts of Alternatives ......................................................................................... 59 Potential Environmental Impacts associated with Implementation of the Final Master Plan and Mitigation ....................................................................................................................................... 60 Supplemental Environmental Review ............................................................................................ 68 Coastal Zone Management Program Consistency ......................................................................... 68 Chapter 5 - Comments and Responses ........................................................................................................................ 71 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 71 Comments and Responses.............................................................................................................. 71 Persons / Organizations Who Provided Comments ....................................................................... 80 References ....................................................................................................................................................................... 81 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................................................... 83 Appendix A – Cultural Resource Review - Categorical Exclusion ............................................... 85 Appendix B – BCA Program - Management Guidance Summary ................................................ 89 Appendix C - Coastal Assessment Form ....................................................................................... 95 Figures - Maps and Plans .......................................................................................... 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Bookmark not defined. i The Rockland Lake Park Complex Master Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement List of Figures Figure 1 – Location Map Figure 2 – Park Boundary Figure 3 – Adjacent Land use Figure 4 – Bedrock Geology Figure 5 – Topography Figure 6 – Slope Figure 7 – Soils Figure 8 – Water Resources Figure 9 – Ecological Communities Figure 10 – Cultural Resources Figure 11 – Building Inventory Figure 12 – North Pool Area Figure 13 – South Recreation Area Figure 14 – Landing Road Trail and Cultural Resource Center Figure 15 – Bird Conservation Area List of Tables Table 1 – Priority Phases Table 2 - Recreational Index of Needs for the Service Area of the park complex Table 3 – Parking Fields Table 4 - Known and Possible Invasive Fauna and Insects ii The Rockland Lake Park Complex Master Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary An Executive Summary is provided below to conform to SEQRA requirements and provide a brief summary of the master plan and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). For additional information please see the EIS and master plan. Planning and Environmental Review The environmental review of proposed master plans for state park facilities is conducted in accordance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). Under SEQR, agencies consider environmental impacts along