State, City Environment Agencies Agree on Green Infrastructure Plan for New York City

On March 13, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) agreed to modify their original consent order to use more green infrastructure. Overall, New York City will spend $2.4 billion on green infrastructure and $1.4 billion on traditional infrastructure to reduce the city’s combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The new green infrastructure plan will help save city taxpayers $1.4 billion and another $2 billion in deferred costs. It will also reduce CSOs by an additional 7.6 million m³ (2 billion gal) per year, compared to the all-traditional infrastructure plan. In sum, the city expects to reduce CSO flows by 5.7 million m³ (1.5 billion gal) by 2030. To do so, DEP will require that green infrastructure be used to control the first inch of rain from 10% of the city’s impervious areas. Read more.