Governor’s Executive Order Could Dam up Safety Regulations
An executive order signed by Governor Paterson last week has Albany insiders concerned that it could be used to roll back regulations that protect our air, water and land. Executive Order #17 requires all state agencies to assess how all current and future regulations could impact municipal property taxes.
These are the taxes that fund things like drinking water and sewage treatment plants, not to mention schools, libraries, and fire and police departments.
According to Crain’s New York Business, Executive Order #17 (click here for the press release from the Guv’s office and here to read the order) one regulation that may have already been caught by the Executive Order are the state’s new dam safety regulations, which are three years in the making.
New York’s dam owners are required by law to inspect, and if necessary, fix their dams. Seems pretty reasonable, given the flood of problems that result when a dam fails. Inspections and repairs cost money and more than one-third of the state’s dams are owned by local governments and municipalities according to the D.C.-based group American Rivers.
New York is home to more than 5,500 dams statewide and has few inspectors charged with ensuring dam safety. And now even those staff may be in danger thanks to continued staff cuts at the agency, which will likely lose more than 400 people this year. Click here to read our report on the negative impact of DEC staff cuts on New York’s environmental health.
Click here to read more in Crain’s New York Business.
Stop-Gap Plan for MTA
Over the weekend, Governor Paterson called on the state lawmakers to take action and address the looming Metropolitan Transportation Authority crisis in order to avoid a big fare hike and service cuts.
But the stop-gap plan he proposed doesn’t address the long-term infrastructure needs of the MTA, and it's left some transportation advocates scratching their heads. Avoiding MTA service cuts and keeping fares low for New Yorkers, per the stop-gap plan, will keep cars off the road and has big environmental benefits.
The State Legislature may act soon. We'll keep you posted.
Is Specter the Ghost of Climate’s Future?
Now that Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) has gone from red to blue (much like his constituents), some environmental groups are wondering if the switch will have an impact on climate change legislation currently being debated in Congress.
Maybe not. Specter doesn’t have an especially green record. And let’s not forget that he represents Pennsylvania, a major coal producing and coal burning state. But it’s a new year and a new Senate, and we’d wager that if his constituents let him know it’s important to them, he will listen. And maybe even act.
Click here to read more in the Daily Green.
Half a Billion $$ for Climate Change Programs
With very little fanfare, last month the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Board of Directors approved an Operating Plan for the use of funds raised as a result of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as the “RGGI.” The RGGI is the 10-state effort to cut global warming pollution from power plants.
The funds raised from RGGI are the result of auctions of carbon dioxide emissions allowances; the Plan explains how the money will be spent.
Click here to read the details.
The Plan includes funding for both short- and long-term initiatives, including energy efficiency, as well as a host of other projects. And it provoked some unease among NYSERDA board members. Most notably, a few questioned if the Plan’s scope was too big or if resources would be better targeted to help ensure immediate reductions in greenhouse gases. Environmental Advocates shares these concerns.
Check out this link to watch the NYSERDA board meeting. It's a long meeting. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis' take on the plan starts a couple of minutes in.
Stay tuned for more information about what kinds of projects will be funded and how much money is at stake.
Earth Day Awards
On Earth Day, April 22nd, Environmental Advocates of New York and representatives from dozens of environmental, conservation, civic, recycling and other groups from across the state gave awards to a few of New York’s leaders for their roles in securing the green victories in this year’s budget. Click here to see a few photos from the event on facebook.
Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Senator Antoine Thompson joined the groups to receive their awards. Assemblyman Sweeney, chair of his house’s Environmental Conservation Committee, could not join us for the ceremony.
If you’re pleased with the green victories in the budget, Click here to thank your representatives in Albany.
CLICK here to send a letter to the editor of your local paper about New York’s bigger and better bottle deposit law.
Last Chance! Join Us For Earth Day Lobby Day on May 5th!
It’s not too late to sign up for Earth Day Lobby Day. Join hundreds of environmentalists from across New York State to fight for measures to protect our water, air, land and health. No lobbying experience needed!
WHEN: Tuesday, May 5th, 2009, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
WHERE: The Well, Legislative Office Building, New York State Capitol, Albany, NY
Earth Day Lobby Day is New York’s largest annual environmental event, bringing together people from across the state to hear from government and environment leaders, learn about current legislation, and lobby elected officials on the issues that matter to you.
Click here to sign up for Earth Day Lobby Day.
For more information, contact Bill Mahoney at mahoney.w@gmail.com
Bills on the Move
Every week during the State Legislative Session, Environmental Advocates of New York looks at the measures that will impact the environment for good or ill. Here are this week’s Bills on the Move.
SUPER BILL. Three trees for E-Waste Reduction. This bill would remove tons of toxic e-waste from landfills by requiring manufacturers to collect and recycle at least one-quarter of annual equipment sales (by weight), and increase that collection rate to 45 percent by 2017.
SUPER BILL. Three trees for Global Warming Pollution Cap. This bill would reduce New York State’s climate change pollution from all sources—including homes and buildings, cars, schools and factories—until total greenhouse gas emissions are 80 percent less than emissions for the year 1990.
One tree for Solid Waste Management Facilities. This bill would require private solid waste facilities that apply for permits to demonstrate consistency with local solid waste management plans. Consistency with such plans is already required for municipal facilities.
Three trees for the Climate Change Solutions Act & Fund. These complementary bills would require that auction proceeds that result from New York’s role in the regional effort to cut power plant pollution be directed to clean energy and energy efficiency programs. Keeping these climate change-fighting monies clean will strengthen the plan to cut the state’s global warming pollution.
Three trees for Healthy Green Procurement. This bill would establish protocols for the purchase of services, commodities, and technologies by state agencies in order to minimize adverse impacts on the environment and public health.
Two trees for Diesel Generator Ban. This bill would prohibit the use of diesel-powered engines to produce power in areas of the state that do not meet health-based air quality standards for ozone and particulates set by the EPA.
One tree for Deca Flame Retardant Ban. This bill would add decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE) to the list of brominated flame retardants whose manufacture, process or sale is prohibited due to documented health risks.
Two trees for Phosphorus Ban. This bill would prohibit household cleansers from containing more than trace amounts of phosphorous, prohibit the sale of dishwashing detergents that contain more than five tenths percent phosphorus, and prohibit the sale of cleansing products used in food and beverage processing equipment that contain more than eight and seven-tenths percent phosphorus.
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