March 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 9 Area The New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee recently approved bipartisan legislation that would create the Rockland-Bergen Bistate River Commission for a coordinated flood management and prevention plan between the neighboring New Jersey and New York counties. The legislation’s prime sponsors are Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk and Assemblyman Bob Schroeder, both R-Bergen. “We have been fighting flooding problems along our streams and reservoirs for years,” Vandervalk said. “While we respect geographic boundaries, overflowing water does not. We started this process years ago when I held meetings with representatives from our Pascack Valley towns. We Bill would create commission on flood management provided the towns with a ‘one-stop’ number at the Department of Environmental Protection to help them with the necessary permitting to keep these waterways free from obstruction, but we also recognized that we needed a coordinated approach to stream management and flood mitigation. We need to include all the communities in Bergen and Rockland counties that face the same flooding problems. Our streams originate in New York. The private dam that broke during Tropical Storm Floyd was in New York. Our bill will get everyone working together on a comprehensive plan to mitigate flooding problems of these regional waterways.” The bill, A-2440, which has bipartisan support, would create an 18-member Rockland-Bergen Bistate River Commission to facilitate the cooperation of governments in New Jersey and New York to protect the streams flowing south from Rockland County into Bergen County, including the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River and their tributaries, and the communities that are prone to flooding. “This is a common-sense approach to managing waterways that will protect the environment and homes,” Schroeder said. “One town’s flooding solution may make things worse for another. Now, our communities can work together to resolve flooding issues in an inclusive, holistic way.” The commission would be selected by elected officials of both parties from both states. Its duties would include coordinating a comprehensive plan to remediate existing hazards, assessing potential development that could impact the waterways and coordinating environmental cleanup, maintenance, and protection efforts. “It makes no sense for a community to de-silt and desnag its streams only to have an upstream neighbor literally ‘muddy the waters’ by cleaning out their section of the stream a year later,” explained Vandervalk. “Silt and debris just flow downstream negating much of the good work done by the first town. What happens upstream in New York affects us downstream here in New Jersey.” Schroeder added, “Stream management and flooding mitigation are ongoing problems that require ongoing efforts, and they can’t be done piecemeal. We need a regional approach if we are truly going to get a handle on the problem. This bill will put us a long way toward that goal.” PSE&G has reported that its crews remain on schedule with the upgrade of the underground electric transmission facilities from the Waldwick Switching Station to the South Mahwah Substation. According to PSE&G, this project will help ensure safe and reliable electric service for residents and business owners in the area. PSE&G advises residents, business owners, and local commuters of the remaining timeline for the project. The following is an overview of the remaining project activities taking place within roadways that impact travel activities: The new cable circuit installation process is currently underway at each manhole location. This is generally a two- to three-day job. Installation of new cable in Allendale is scheduled to conclude on March 14. New cable installation will take place in Ramsey from March 12 through 28 and in Mahwah from March 26 to April 6. Subsequent cable installation, the splicing process, will be in each manhole with a splice vehicle located over the PSE&G provides update local project manhole for approximately seven days. Splicing is scheduled within Allendale from now until March 22, in Ramsey from March 16 to April 12, and in Mahwah from April 8 to April 28. After splicing, additional project tasks will be completed within the electric stations so the circuit can be returned to service. Once this is complete and the circuit is returned to service, workers will need to enter each manhole one more time to apply protective tape to the pipe. This is expected to take one to two days per manhole, and is anticipated to take place during the third and fourth weeks of May. At this point, the project will be complete. Many of these activities are weather sensitive and scheduled dates are subject to change during the construction process. Even with this year’s winter weather, which caused delays and affected many local businesses and area residents, the project remains scheduled for completion in May thanks to the combined efforts and cooperation with local municipalities and area residents, PSE&G reported. REPORT CARD We can tutor for class grades in English, Math, and U.S. and World History along with SAT Verbal, Writing, and Math. Many students go up 100-plus points. A+ WANT THE A? 201-445-1343 3-9-11 janine JohnKostner2x2(3-9-11) 2 x 2”