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NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DEP Fax:718-595-3557 Aug 15 2000 17:10 P.02

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EXECUTIVE OFFICES 59-17 JUNCTION BLVD„ 19TH FLOOR, CORONA, NEW YORK 11369-5107

JOEL A. MIELE, SE., P.E, COMM (71 ) 95-656S FAX: (719) 595.3525 E-mail [email protected]

MEMORANDUM

To: Joseph J. Lhota, Deputy Mayor fo

From: Commissioner Joel A. Miele Sr., P

Re: Monthly Report - July 200K

Date: August 15, 2000

Emerging Issues

Surcharge After an initial surge of calls regarding the issuance of the surcharge for failure to install a water meter in residential properties, the volume of calls has dropped to normal levels, although we have seen an increase in letters and a-mails regarding this issue. The calls that are now being received include many whose water/sewer bills are paid through their mortgage company, In some cases, mortgage companies are now advising property owners that they have paid the surcharge and are requesting that their escrow be increased, In situations of this nature, because bills and prior warning notices were mailed to the mortgage company, we are canceling the surcharge and establishing a work order for the installation of a meter, based on the premise that the customer may not have received any prior notification of the surcharge. Conversely, due to the high volume of open work orders for DEP contractors, where a surcharge has been issued and the customer did not take any action to either install a water meter or request,that DEP make the installation, prior to July 1, 2000, the surcharge will remain until the property owner secures a licensed plumber to do the work under the Water Board's "Reimbursable Metering Program". As of August 2, 2000, a total of 40,021 properties are still subject to the surcharge. On July 1, 2000, the total number was 43,142. A breakdown of the number of properties, by borough, follows:

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NYC-WTC 000137648