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Two More Filter Suits Dismissed

Two suits aimed at stopping the construction of the water filtration plant in Van Cortlandt Park were dismissed last month by two Queens Supreme Court justices.

The suits were brought by Bronx Environmental Health and Justice (BEHJ), a group of Norwood residents opposed to the plant, and the Westchester town of Eastchester.

BEHJ had argued that the city engaged in environmental discrimination by not properly studying the health impacts of the plant on the densely populated community surrounding the park.

But Justice Marguerite Grays said the study was sufficient for residents to understand how the plant would impact the community.

The town of Eastchester sued the city because it said the city didn’t consider the fact they would have to build their own smaller plant if the Croton plant was built downstream from them. But Justice James Dollard said the city was not required to consider the impact on Eastchester in its Environmental Impact Statement.

Both the town of Eastchester and BEHJ are considering appeals.

The rulings on the two suits follow the decision of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park not to continue with legal action after their suit was dismissed late last year.

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.

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