June 15, 2004
Robert Moore to Lead Environmental Advocates
Veteran Clean Water Activist Appointed Executive Director of New York’s Leading Statewide Environmental Advocacy Group

(Albany, N.Y.) – Environmental Advocates of New York Board President Oakes Ames has announced the hiring of Robert J. Moore as the organization’s new executive director following the culmination of an extensive national search.

"We are pleased to have Rob Moore join Environmental Advocates of New York as our next executive director," Ames said. "He joins an excellent staff who will achieve great things for the state’s environment under his leadership."

Prior to joining Environmental Advocates, Moore served as the Lake Champlain Lakekeeper for the Conservation Law Foundation’s Vermont Advocacy Center. Before that Moore was the executive director of Prairie Rivers Network, Illinois’ only statewide river conservation group. Under his leadership, Prairie Rivers Network rose to prominence as one of the most respected statewide river conservation groups in the country. For his work, Moore has been recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clean Water Network as one of the 30 Clean Water Heroes of the Past 30 Years. Moore is a nationally recognized expert on the federal Clean Water Act and its application to local and statewide pollution problems.

“Environmental Advocates is the premier environmental watchdog in New York and I am proud to be asked to lead this organization,” said Moore.

As the Lake Champlain Lakekeeper, Moore created a new program to protect and restore the lake through science-based policy advocacy. As a result of his efforts more than 520,000 pounds of pollution were eliminated from Lake Champlain and its tributaries. He also served as co-chair of the Conservation Law Foundation’s Water Issues Team, identifying regional strategies for protecting waters across New England.

At Prairie Rivers Network Moore led the organization’s transformation into one of the most respected statewide river conservation groups in the country. Both the staff and the organization’s budget tripled in size while effective programs were developed for scrutinizing Illinois’ enforcement of the Clean Water Act and restoring the state’s rivers. The organization’s accomplishments included watchdogging the establishment of water quality standards and the issuance of water pollution permits. During Moore’s 5 years at Prairie Rivers more than 6.5 million pounds of pollution was eliminated from the state’s rivers. Moore also created and achieved passage of state legislation that prohibits the clear-cutting of forested areas along Illinois streams and drafted legislation that required polluters to pay for water pollution permits which was adopted into Illinois law in 2003.

Moore has a Master’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Illinois State University.

As the new executive director, Moore will be involved with all aspects of Environmental Advocate’s efforts. Among the organization’s priorities for 2004 are pushing New York State to develop additional sources of renewable energy, adoption of limits on greenhouse gas emissions, discouraging urban sprawl, expanding the returnable container law and protection of the Great Lakes. Key legislation which Environmental Advocates is supporting in the closing weeks of the session include the Community Preservation Act and the Wetlands Protection Act.

“Environmental Advocates’ core mission is to monitor and evaluate environmental legislation in New York,” said Moore. “My goal is to continue this essential work and expand our watchdog activities to include oversight of decisions by state agencies which impact New York’s environment.”

Environmental Advocates of New York works independently and through coalitions to ensure that New York enacts and implements the measures needed to protect its natural resources and environmental health; and that the public is informed of, and participates in, important environmental policy debates. Last year the organization achieved two of its most important and enduring goals with passage of the Brownfield Program Cleanup Act and the Superfund Refinancing Act. As a result, New York has created and funded the nation’s most innovative contaminated lands redevelopment program. Now in its 35th year, EANY has some 5,000 members and over 130 affiliated member organizations.