ROCKAWAY PARK — A study that shows the new citywide ferry service could increase air pollution at 12 sites around the city is based on a "worst case scenario," and the operator will work to improve its air quality, according to an official with the Economic Development Corporation.
The environmental impact study conducted by the EDC and released on its website predicted that nitrogen dioxide emissions from the ferry engines could exceed the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency at 12 docking sites.
The ferry operation "could potentially result in significant adverse impacts on air quality in some locations," the report said, specifically for New Yorkers with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
But James Wong, the director of ferries for the EDC, said at a meeting in the Rockaways Wednesday night that the city-issued report offered a glimpse of the "worst case scenario," and was based on estimated ferry emissions prior to the city selecting Hornblower as its contracted operator.
"It's looking at often this reasonable 'worst case scenario,' which for us before we had picked Hornblower, certainly involved us having to fill in certain things in order to understand our best guess at the worst case scenario was," he said Wednesday at a conference on the citywide service, sponsored by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.
Wong said the study didn't show was the "tangible elements" that come from an operator "to solve things that are not always captured" in the study.
Maureen Koetz, an environmental lawyer and principal partner with the consulting firm Koetz and Duncan LLC, was surprised the city released an environmental study on a theoretical situation, and not the actual boats.
"So you're saying the DEIS did not analyze this project using the operational parameters that you plan to use? That somehow, what you're going to do when you actually drive the ferries around, is different?" she asked Wong.
He reiterated they used the "worst case scenario" for their study.
Cameron Clark, the vice president and general manager of Hornblower's New York port, said the company is dedicated to cutting its emissions wherever it can.
While the boats will be burning diesel, they will work on design and other factors to limit emissions, he said.
"The best way to reduce emissions is by not burning the fuel in the first place," Clark said. "And so having the most fuel efficient vessels, engines that are the most fuel efficient, and emissions reducing that you can't buy is a critical key component to that."
He went on to further explain how modifying schedules and making sure boat docking is efficient is one way to reduce fuel emissions — to ensure the boats will spend as little time idling as possible.
In addition, an EDC spokesman said Wednesday that the ferry would be a net gain for city air quality because it would be a more environmentally-friendly alternative to other more-polluting forms of transportation, and that in the time since the East River Ferries were introduced in 2011, the city's air quality has improved.
On Thursday, the city released renderings of the docks that will be placed at locations throughout the city.
The EDC will host the following public hearings regarding the environmental report:
► May 19, 6 p.m., 110 William Street (between Fulton St. and John St.) in Manhattan
► May 23, 6 p.m., Queens Borough Hall
► May 24, 6 p.m., St. Francis College (at Remsen St. and Clinton St.) in Brooklyn
► May 25, 6 p.m., P.S 47 John Randolph (at East 172nd St. and St. Lawrence Ave.) in the Bronx
The EDC will accept comments on the environmental report through 5 p.m. on June 5. Comments may be submitted in person at the public hearings or in writing to the following:
►Lead Agency Contact: Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
Attn: Denise Pisani, Senior Project Manager
253 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10007
Telephone: (212) 676-3290
Email: dpisani@cityhall.nyc.gov
►NYCEDC Contact: New York City Economic Development Corporation
Attn: Dina Rybak, Assistant Vice President
110 William Street,
New York, New York 10038
Email: citywideferryeis@edc.nyc
