For Immediate Release: March 8, 2001

Contact:

Laura DiBetta, Environmental Advocates: 518-462-5526 ext. 221

Jeff Jones, Environmental Advocates: 518-462-5526 ext. 233

Annual Earth Day Lobby Day Event Set for

Monday, April 23, 2001

State Capitol, Albany, New York

Energy conservation, refinancing the state Superfund, a moratorium on planting genetically modified seeds and more funding for open space are among the issues headlining this year's Earth Day Lobby Day. The annual Earth Day event brings hundreds of citizen advocates to Albany to lobby for an agenda of environmental reforms. This year's EDLD agenda also includes proposals for healthier school environments and increased data about emergency room admissions to help better understand the relationship between pollution sources and public health.

"The environmental movement has an important message to deliver," Environmental Advocates Executive Director Val Washington said. "We will be lobbying on a range of issues important to all New Yorkers." Earth Day Lobby Day participants will attend morning issue briefings and how-to-lobby workshops before dividing into lobby teams. As much as possible, participants in the Earth Day program will lobby their own elected officials, in addition to meeting with other members of the Legislature.

This year's keynote speaker will be long-time Hudson River activist Cara Lee. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno have been invited to address the morning session. A noon rally focusing on Superfund and the Hudson River PCB cleanup is also planned.

"Every year, our environmental lobby day grows bigger--last year over six-hundred people attended," says Chris Meyer, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. "This year we expect the largest group yet." Attending Earth Day Lobby Day will help the environmental movement and be a wonderful learning experience for those who would like to learn more about state government.

More than 200 high school students participated in last year's lobby day. Students interested in the environment and government are encouraged to attend this year. EDLD 2000 was also a notable success in that several important initiatives on last year's agenda became law, including a bill giving neighbors the right to more information about their exposure to toxic pesticides. Bills giving local communities the right to control nuisance jet skis on lakes and rivers, and to remove MTBE as a threat to drinking water were also successful.

For registration and information, contact: Laura DiBetta, Earth Day Lobby Day, 353 Hamilton Street, Albany, NY 12210. Phone: 518-462-5526. Fax: 518-427-0381. Email: edld@envadvocates.org. Web: Earth Day Lobby Day page.

--30--