Riverhead to hold public forum Wednesday on proposed water authority pipeline

Riverhead will hold a public forum Wednesday at Town Hall on a Suffolk County Water Authority pipeline that would run through the town.

The 6 p.m. forum will “communicate and share information” about the North Fork pipeline and “how it may impact” Riverhead and its residents, according to a notice from the supervisor’s office. The event will be accessible through Zoom and livestreamed on Channel 22. (Click here for Zoom link.)

The water authority plans to install a 8.5 mile long, 24-inch transmission line through Riverhead Town to deliver drinking water from Flanders to customers in Southold Town. SCWA officials say the project is a long-term solution to water supply issues in Southold, where infrastructure is under increasing strain during periods of peak demand. 

The forum was scheduled in advance of a public hearing at the Aug. 19 Town Board meeting, during which the board will conduct a “Monroe Balancing Test” for the pipeline project. The test is applied when one government entity’s actions encroach on another government’s authority, and helps determine whether, and to what extent, a project serving the public interest can be exempt from local regulations.

Environmental review documents prepared by the water authority state that activities associated with the pipeline are immune from local land-use review. The SCWA’s draft environmental impact statement for the project will include its own Monroe analysis of the project, the documents state.

The town disputes that position. According to a resolution setting the Monroe hearing, the project requires road-opening permits and easements from the town, review by the town’s Conservation Advisory Council, and the construction of a booster station in Northville — which would require permits and other town approvals.

The resolution objects to the SCWA’s attempt to “circumvent authority and responsibility” of the town by conducting the Monroe test through its draft environmental impact statement. The Town Board is “vested with jurisdiction” to conduct the test and decide whether, and to what extent, the project is exempt from local land-use laws.

SCWA declined to comment Monday on Riverhead’s intent to conduct its own Monroe test.

It is unclear what the town ultimately seeks to accomplish through hosting the Monroe test. In past cases, the Town Board has used its determinations to impose conditions on projects. The most recent example came in December, when the town required a cell tower at the Wading River Fire Station to include communications equipment for other emergency service agencies.

Town Attorney Erik Howard did not return emails seeking comment.

Riverhead officials have voiced concerns about the route planned for the pipeline, which will run along County Road 105 in Flanders to Northville Turnpike, and then east on Sound Avenue to the Southold Town line. Supervisor Tim Hubbard has previously said the pipeline’s construction could disrupt traffic on Sound Avenue.

Riverhead has also objected to being designated as an “interested agency” rather than “involved agency” in the project’s environmental review. Involved-agency status would give the town a greater role in the review process.

Scheduled to participate in the forum are Council Member Bob Kern; Water District Superintendent Frank Mancini; Town Attorney Erik Howard; Economic Development, Planning and Building Administrator Dawn Thomas; Senior Planner Matt Charters and environmental consultant Jeffrey Seeman.

The forum may be viewed live on Cablevision Channel 22 and online at:

https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/BjiipOg61Ac-YpNM5RFZy8f49fIMR7Kq/home

Those who wish to participate in the forum remotely may do so via Zoom with the following credentials:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84208060311?pwd=JD0B67cgpGIkfCehTdDe2YhSawFkMn.1

Webinar ID: 842 0806 0311 Passcode: 035046 Telephone: (929) 205-6099

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information about viewing and participating in the event remotely.