Congressional Lawmakers Work To Advance Nanotech Park Project At SUNYIT

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Congressional lawmakers are urging Mohawk Valley EDGE and the Army Corps of Engineers to continue to hammer out their differences on a major construction project at SUNY IT. The two sides say they plan to meet in Utica to discuss the issues that has stifled the work for 58-months, due to a lack of a permit from the Corps of Engineers, because the project involves removal of streams and other protected wetlands.

Steve DiMeo, President of Mohawk Valley Edge said the issue boils down to lack of common sense. He said, "We should be at a meeting because we can best articulate what our needs are, what our issues are, and how to resolve them and move forward here so, we look forward to meeting. We appreciate the efforts of Congressman Hanna, Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer, and what we really need to do is have common sense prevail here and that's what been lacking in this process up to this point in time."

He says so far they have been able to resolve other issues such as a water and sewer permit that's allowed for some construction to take place. DiMeo added that once the project officially gets off the ground--workers will be creating more wetlands than they will be disturbing. Senator Gillibrand, through her Press Secretary James Rham, says she hopes the two sides meet before the 60-day permit appeal period ends and said a representative from each congressional office will be at the meeting. DiMeo says he hopes the meeting takes place some time  within the next few weeks.

He says within a year, presuming they get through this obstacle, the future site of the nanotechnology park will be a reality. He said, "The industry is risk adverse, it's not about to make a site selection decision in a multi-billion dollar investment and then have hiccups, whether it's a protracted permitting process, or certain key improvements. There's so much front-end time associated to get those underway that it blows their schedule, in terms of their ability to get into the ground, and unfortunately the way this permit is constructed, that's the type of permit that's been rendered." Mohawk Valley Edge has 60-days to appeal the limited permit from USACE.