Public

Comments of Alicia M. Hunt DC Water Board of Directors Public Hearing May 8, 2013 My name is Alicia Hunt, and I am a resident of the 2200 Block of Flagler Place NW. I am here today to address the recently released Environmental Assessment for the First Street Tunnel in the Bloomingdale neighborhood. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. I would like to emphasize that I support the goal of the First Street Tunnel to alleviate flooding in Bloomingdale. I understand that DC Water and the city are trying to move quickly to solve this very serious flooding issue in our community. That is an important goal, and I support it. However, I have four concerns I would like to address. First, the proposed project would have severe, long-term community impacts on the 2200 Block of Flagler Place. Second, DC Water must consider reasonable alternatives that do not have such a severe impact on the community. Third, I do not believe that the community has been properly informed of this project. Fourth, I do not understand why this project is moving forward before community impacts are fully examined. Before I turn to those points, please let me tell you about Flagler Place. Flagler Place is a residential, narrow, one-way street. Our row homes are a mix of beautiful Victorians and Federal homes with front porches, built in the early 1900s. We have a diverse and strong community on our block. We have long-term residents who have lived here for 25 years. There are elderly individuals. There are children. And there are people like my husband and me, who are first-time homeowners. Because our street is so narrow,

we live close together, and we know each other. Flagler Place NW is a special place, and I am honored to call it home. First, the proposed project would have severe community impacts on the 2200 Block of Flagler Place. The proposed plan would place a drop shaft and diversion chamber immediately adjacent to our homes., as well as a large construction staging area. I only know what DC Water has told me, and not much has been put in writing, so I encourage you to look into the facts. But the construction impacts for our block is severe and long-term. This construction would take place not for one or two months. Were told it would take two to three years. Let me repeat, because it is important: extreme construction on our small residential street, for two to three years. Second, DC Water must consider reasonable alternatives. The Environmental Assessment fails to set forth alternatives. This is particularly baffling because a dense urban community does not surround Flagler Place. Instead, only one-half block away, exist acres upon acres of land owned by DC Water and the government. DC Water needs to consider alternatives to place this shaft on already existing industrial property, even if it is a more complex (or more expensive) project. Third, I am very concerned about the lack of notice to the community regarding this project. In an December 12, 2012, press release from the Executive Office of the Mayor, City Administrator Allen Lew described this project as follows: This project is colossal in size, scope and neighborhood impact and its going to require significant coordination among the agencies and ongoing communication with the community to make it work. Lew continued: Were going to treat it like the building of a stadium or a convention center and bring together everyone we need, as often as needed to get the job done. This

project is critical because it not only helps mitigate the flooding problem, but it provides much-needed additional capacity for future economic development opportunities in the area. Yet, despite being a colossal project with enormous community impact, the community has not been informed. DC Water held an open house on April 24, but it did not provide notice to blocks that would be directly impacted by construction for two-three years. I, for one, did not receive any notice. Yesterday, in response to our concerns, DC Water held a meeting specifically with my block. That effort was a step in the right direction. I request that DC Water properly notify the Bloomingdale community of this Environmental Assessment, and hold a public hearing in which DC Water describes the entire First Street Tunnel project, and its community impacts, for all to hear. Fourth, I do not understand why this project is moving so fast., with bidding for contractors before even conducting the environmental assessment or hearing from the community. While I appreciate efforts to solve the flooding expeditiously, due process should be permitted for environmental impact statements, listening to community concerns, and mitigating construction impacts. In sum, I respectfully request that DC Water make further efforts to engage the community. I request a public hearing with proper notice to the community, and I request that DC Water consider alternatives to placing the drop shaft on the 2200 Block of Flagler Place. I remain willing to help discuss solutions to these challenging issues, and working with DC Water for a positive solution that will help our whole community to thrive. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at aliciahunt@gmail.com.