Latham Water Tower Replacement Program

Figure 1: Site Location Map for New Tank, 24" Pipeline & Ross Court Tank

Figure 2: Site Location Map for 36" Pipeline & Alternatives

Figure 3: Vicinity Plan

(Updated August 7, 2007)

Background

The Albany Country Airport Authority and the Town of Colonie continue to work together to design a replacement water tank for the two existing Latham water tanks located on Utica Avenue in Latham.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified the Latham water tanks as an “obstruction” to air traffic and has asked the Airport Authority to proceed with plans to remove them. The FAA has also provided the Airport Authority with grant funds to commence the replacement of the existing tanks and remove the obstructions.

The replacement tank was originally designed to be a 130 foot tall water tank located on what is known as the Sanderson Park Site, located in the Town of Colonie, contiguous and north of the Albany City Reservoir.

The initial environmental review and engineering studies of the project site revealed no significant environmental issues and the Airport Authority, acting as the lead agency for the project, issued a “negative declaration” in satisfaction of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) in 2006.

The Authority Board has since reopened the SEQRA process by rescinding the negative declaration to add the removal of the Ross Court Tower as part of the SEQRA process.

New Design

The new design calls for a replacement water tank that will stand at or below tree top level on the Sanderson Park Site. The new and preferred replacement tank alternative will be at or below the adjacent pine trees which are over 70 feet high.

The Authority’s engineers completed the new Draft Environmental Impact Statement based on the new design and took public comments on the design until June 18, 2007. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available here:

• App A - SEQR Lead Agency Reconfirmation Dated July 8, 2005 (612kb)
• App B - Supplemental Visual Simulation Report For Elevated Water Storage Tank Dated August 15, 2007 (17.3mb)
• App C - Final Environmental Assessment Dated August 8, 2004 (43.8mb)
• App D - Supplemental Draft Environmental Assessment Dated July 15, 2004 (15.1mb)
• App E - Engineering Report Dated February 2004 (9.3mb)
• App F - Visual Simulation Report Dated February 26, 2004 (8.6mb)
• App G - Joint Permit Application Dated June 17, 2004 (18.1mb)
• App H - FAA Finding of No Significant Impact Dated August 18, 2004 (2.5mb)
• App I - SEQR Negative Declaration Issued by ACAA Dated September 2004 (632kb)
• App J - Environmental Assessment Report Dated August 15, 2005 (22.3mb)
• App K - ACAA Correspondence Dated March 13, 2006 (7.7mb)
• App L - Town of Colonie Correspondence Dated December 18, 2006 (418kb)
• App M - Positive Declaration Dated February 5, 2007(89kb)
• R-DEIS 5 8 2007 with Ex Summ Complete (5mb)

On August 6, 2007, the Albany County Airport Authority adopted the Final Environmental Impact Statement for distribution to involved and interested parties. The final Environmental Impact Statement is available here:

• Final Environmental Impact Statement (6mb)

Questions or comments regarding the DEIS or FEIS can be directed to John S. Munsey, P.G. at C.T. Male Associates, P.C. (518) 786-7496, via fax at (518) 786-7299 or Stephen Iachetta, AICP at the Albany County Airport Authority at (518) 242-2222.