Nassau County Illicit Discharge and Detection Hotline - 516-571-6863

"OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC"
May 16, 2006

Dear Friend:

The Incorporated Village of Floral Park is one of the many municipalities nationwide that are required to comply with expanding regulations governing the discharge of storm water runoff into the surface waters of the United States.  The new regulations fall under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit program, and require the village to obtain a permit to discharge storm water runoff into the surface waters of the United States.

As a requirement of permit coverage, the village is obligated to prepare and implement a Storm Water Management Program to reduce pollutants in the village's storm water runoff.  To assure that the surface water discharges of The Incorporated Village of Floral Park are among the cleanest in the nation, existing county and village storm water programs and activities will be supplemented with new Best Management Practices.

In order to accomplish these goals, fully implement the Storm Water Management Program and minimize duplication of services, the village has joined a coalition with Nassau County and other towns, villages and cities within the county to develop a coordinated strategy to achieve compliance with this mandate.  To this end, the village will follow Nassau County's lead as well as a coalition of local municipalities, who are now cooperatively working to improve the quality of our invaluable water resources.

At the county website, www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/dpw/stormwater.html you will find their 2006 Annual Storm Water Management Program report.  Please note that since there are no surface waters bordering the boundaries of the Incorporated Village of Floral Park, and the fact that all of the village's storm water runoff terminates into county owned and maintained storm basins, this plan has been developed to be used in conjunction with the storm water management plan prepared and administrated by Nassau County.  The document details a five year implementation schedule of activities to meet the requirements of the Phase II permit program.  I look forward to your comments and support on this important environmental initiative.

                                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                                      Phil Guarnieri
                                                                      Mayor