Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced a critical milestone in the Bay Park Conveyance Project with the County Legislature’s unanimous approval of a design-build contract with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Western Bays Constructors. The approval of the $439 million Bay Park Conveyance Project is designed to restore the ecosystem and water quality in the South Western Bays by conveying treated effluent from the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant to the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant’s ocean outfall pipe through underground tunnels. The project will significantly reduce nitrogen loading from wastewater effluent entering the Western Bays each year to achieve significant resiliency benefits. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the selection of Western Bays Constructors as the design-build contractor selected for the construction of the New York State-expedited joint State-County project on Nov. 6.
“I thank Governor Cuomo for his commitment to Long Island’s environment and the Legislature for unanimously approving one of the most significant and innovative ecological projects in Long Island history,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “The Bay Park Conveyance Project will improve water quality and rejuvenate critical marshland and marine life in the bays, resulting in greater storm resiliency and revitalized recreational and economic activities for one of Nassau’s most treasured natural resources.”
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Improving Long Island’s water quality has been a priority for Governor Andrew Cuomo since Day One. With our Nassau County partners, New York has worked tirelessly to address the greatest ecological threat to the Western Bays through the Bay Park Conveyance Project, which will restore ecosystems, increase resilience, and support local economies. This milestone is a critical step in advancing this landmark project furthering the State and County’s ability to deliver this project expeditiously and at a lesser cost to taxpayers.”
Built in 1949, the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant serves more than half a million Nassau County residents and discharges an average of 52 million gallons of treated effluent into the Western Bays each day, adversely affecting some 10,000 acres of water and tidal marshland. The nitrogen contained in treated effluent breaks down and severely damages coastal marshes serving as natural storm surge barriers protecting hundreds of thousands of residents and millions of dollars in property along the South Shore of Long Island.
The design-build contract will next require the approval of the Nassau County Comptroller, Nassau County Finance Control Board and County Executive Curran before it is submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Attorney General and Comptroller for final approval. Construction of the project will take less than three years.
