White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Not Enough in FEIS:Boykin. Gerrard Advises Set Guidelines in Findings

WPCNR Morning Sun. By John F. Bailey. June 25, 2002. 8:00 AM E.D.T. Prior to voting to accept the New York Presbyterian Hospital draft Final Environmental Impact Statement early this morning, Councilpersons Benjamin Boykin and Rita Malmud were strong in their assertion that not enough clarity had been provided by the hospital in their supplmental information provided last Thursday.

Prior to entering into historic Executive Session, Common Council President Benjamin Boykin and Councilperson Rita Malmud said the hospital supplemental information on the nature of research and the number of trees to be destroyed on Site 8 was not detailed enough.

Boykin was blunt, commenting on Section 2 of the supplemental information on the business structure: “I was very clear. I said I wanted to know what it was to be done and who it was to be done with. To be quite frank about it, this doesn’t get the job done. I don’t know what it means. I don’t think this (the FEIS) provides the appropriate information I need.”

Gerrard says detail not needed in FEIS for it to be accepted.

Michael Gerrard, of Arnold & Porter, the environmental law advisor agreed, saying – “This (the Section 2 answer) is not quite adequate.”

However, Gerrard said it was not enough reason to reject the FEIS as incomplete. He suggested instead that it gave the city cause to create “a procedure for the city to review the research,” as the hospital developed potential research projects for the biomedical complex. “This is not needed to be in the FEIS,” Gerrard concluded.

When Councilman Glen Hockley asked for clarification, Gerrard said, that as part of the Findings statement,

“The Common Council shouls set guidelines for what ancillary means, and what research you will allow to go forward.”


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