Archive

The COUNCIL OF BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS (“CBN”) has developed a library of documents to help the public better participate in the environmental review process for the proposed Brooklyn Atlantic Yards project.

DEIS Response Writing Toolkit

To get you started we suggest you download and work with the DEIS Response Writing Toolkit. It's designed to give you some simple forms and methodology for using our other documents and information sources, organizing your thoughts, and later bringing them together into Oral and Written Testimony.

DEIS Guidebook, DEIS Summary, DEIS Handbook

CBN has commissioned the creation of the DEIS Guide and the DEIS Handbook to prepare the public how best to approach the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and to help the public understand how best to participate in the DEIS process. The materials have been designed by Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, the lead engineering consultants contracted by CBN.

“The DEIS Handbook has been very well thought out and is a great success,” said Jim Vogel, Secretary and Steering Committee member for CBN. “It really explains the Environmental Review process simply and gives a ‘heads up’ on where to find information in the DEIS that you may want to respond to. Feedback has been very positive!” The Handbook is available for download from this page.

Downloading, Printing and Assembly

Below you'll find copies of the DEIS Handbook (2 files, 40 pp total, 359 kbytes ) and the larger DEIS Guide (99 pp, 2.7M). The Handbook is a distillation of the Guide. They are both in PDF format and should open beautifully on all computers. We are also providing the DEIS Guide Summary (22 pp, 1M) which provides much the same information as the Handbook but may be easier to print.

Handbook Printing Note

The Handbook file is designed to be printed on both sides of paper and makes a great little booklet, but if you don't print it carefully, reading it can be confusing. We suggest you print it this way:

1. Open the file Handbook Cover

2. Print page 1

3. Turn over and print page 2 on the back

4. Open the file DEIS Handbook

5. From the menu bar, select File/Print

6. From the print box, select "Print Odd pages only"

7. After printing stops, print on back, selecting "Print Even pages only"

You should then be able to just place the cover on, staple the center, and enjoy your booklet!

We are also providing a single side version called "Easy Handbook." NO special printing required!

The Comment Period has now closed.

CBN would like to thank all of you who submitted comments to the ESDC about the Atlantic Yards proposal. If you haven't already done so, please send a copy of your comments to:

The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods

201 Dekalb Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11205

or by email to:

cbrooklynneighborhoods@hotmail.com

Here's the final CBN Report!

Large file, 13.6 mgs.

Enjoy! Let us know what you think!

If you downloaded an earlier version you'll want to download this supplement with an additional 6 chapters.

CBN Project: Report Card Results

Thank you to all of you who sent in your Report Cards! The results were extremely well thought out and expressed.

Overall DEIS Evaluation

A surprising number of individuals reported their comments were not included or acknowledged in the FEIS at all. By definition, that was an Overall Grade of "F".

No one gave the FEIS a grade of "A" in the Overall Grade.

Most people gave the FEIS a grade of "D" in the Overall Grade.

Individual Concerns

There were very many concerns that were brought up by the public. The ESDC grouped them together into similar concerns and paraphrased the Comments. In both versions of the FEIS there were hundreds of concerns contained in the Comments.

Many people reported that their concerns were paraphrased inaccurately.

In the CBN Response we noted that several of our concerns were paraphrased in a way that directly contradicted the Comment's intent.