| Vol. 6 - No. 7 |
| July 2001 |
| GREEN SHEET |
| Environmental Advocates' Statewide Bulletin Board |
| Summer Jobs |
| State lawmakers left Albany in late June, about the time the legislative session was scheduled to end. Although they have little to show for their efforts, and no state budget, several important environmental bills have passed both houses. And with the budget temporarily extended only until mid-July, they will be back soon. Although the list of bills that can still pass both houses and become law has been reduced by the change in the nature of the session, it still contains some significant measures, including new brownfields legislation, nuclear plant whistleblower protection and several energy conservation bills. If these can be added to the legislation that has already passed - expansion of the SPARCS health care data collection system, a dark skies bill to reduce nighttime municipal lighting and energy use and an important reform of the power plant sighting law to favor plants that replace existing power generators and achieve significant reductions in air emissions - this could still be a remarkably productive off-year session. |
| Until Superfund is refinanced, no new cleanups can begin. The Governor has already proposed a $138 million annual expenditure and the Senate and Assembly have shown no indication they will support less. It may not be enough, but the program will survive. With the introduction of comprehensive brownfields legislation in the Assembly in late June (see On the Alert), however, there are now three comprehensive brownfields reform bills on the table, creating an unprecedented opportunity to address both the worst contaminated (Superfund) sites and the mostly-urban, abandoned (brownfield) properties that are so devastating to inner-city redevelopment efforts. What lawmakers need to hear now is that environmentalists want the state Superfund refinanced and comprehensive brownfields legislation passed. One without the other is not good enough. |
| With control of New York’s nuclear plants being transferred to out-of-state owners, passage of the Nuclear Whistleblower Protection Act is more important than ever. A.528a (Brodsky) has already passed the Assembly. S.521a (Morahan) is locked up in the Senate Energy Committee. Calls to Energy Committee Chair James Wright, 315-785-2430, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, 518-455-3191, are particularly important now. For updates on these and other important environmental bills still active, visit www.eany.org.*
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On the Alert
• Beach Bash: The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee recently deleted a $400,000 federal budget appropriation for the National Park Service (NPS) intended to purchase condemned property at the Fire Island National Seashore. The land is currently partly or completely underwater. Some private property owners support an Army Corps of Engineers plan for a beach replenishment project that would allow them to either build or rebuild on the beach. The plan, which is being challenged in court, will lead to increased erosion rates and more damage to vital breeding and feeding grounds for fish, sea turtles, birds and other wildlife. Write Senators Clinton and Schumer and urge them to help ensure the money is allocated to the NPS. For more information, contact the Fire Island Environmental Coalition at info@firei.org or visit: www.firei.org. Or contact Ben Krass at Environmental Advocates at 518-462-5526.
• Hearing Loss: A proposed rule change by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would drastically reduce the public’s right to participate in nuclear licensing proceedings, including initial licensing for new reactors and license extensions for aging plants. For the first time in regulatory history, all reactor licensing proceedings could be conducted under expedited hearings rules, threatening the public’s ability to legally challenge reactor issues, such as nuclear safety. Send comments by September 14, 2001 to: Secretary, NRC, Washington DC 20555. Contact your Congressional and state representatives and tell them the public is entitled to full and meaningful participation in a hearing process that provides for a complete record, and that the nuclear industry should be required to defend its proposals in formal public hearings. To read the actual proposed rule and model comments, visit www.nirs.org. For more information, contact Paul Gunter at Nuclear Information and Resource Service, 202-328-002 or pgunter@nirs.org.
• End in Site: Three brownfield bills supported by Environmental Advocates (EA) remain on the table: the Brownfield Coalition bill, A.7498a (Lopez)/S.4788 (Marcellino); A.9265a (Brodsky, et al); and A.9203b (Lopez, Schimminger, Brodsky). Despite the apparent political chaos surrounding this issue, EA is optimistic that legislation can pass this session. Senate and Assembly leaders, as well as the Governor, have made legislation addressing the cleanup up of contaminated industrial sites a priority and it is possible that a new law can be achieved this session. Now is an important time to contact your legislators. Call Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (518-455-3791) and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (518-455-3191) and tell them that you want a brownfields bill this session. For more information or a copy of EA’s Brownfields Primer, visit www.eany.org or call Sarah Gardner at 518-462-5526 x242.
• Apple Turnover: Help the Albany County Land Conservancy save Indian Ladder Farms. The campaign to purchase development rights to the beloved 317-acre apple orchard is underway. Visit www.albanylandtrust.org for more info and to make a contribution.
Activists' Corner
Naturl High: Friends of the High Line (FHL) is a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation and reuse of an elevated rail structure on the West Side of Manhattan threatened with demolition. Built in the 1930s as an elevated passageway for freight trains, the High Line runs for 1.45 miles, from 34th Street, along the edge of the Hudson River, through West Chelsea’s tree-lined blocks and art galleries, into the heart of the meat packing district. FHL believes this neglected landmark offers the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind recreational amenity: a grand, public promenade that can be enjoyed by all residents and visitors in New York City. FHL is currently working on Reclaiming the High Line, a Design Trust study to investigate feasible reuse initiatives for the structure. FHL is also hosting a benefit art auction and cocktail party at the Mary Boone Gallery on July 18th. Contact Friends of the High Line at 212- 606-3720 or visit: www.thehighline.org.
| The Month Ahead |
July
6: Critical Mass Ride. Promote means of transportation not requiring gasoline- bikes mainly but rollerblades or skateboards are also welcome. Email: criticalmassalbany@hotmail.com.
6: People and Nature: Our Future is in the Balance, talk hosted by the National Wildlife Federation.Hamilton,NY.7:00AM-8:30AM. (See FYI.)
8: 3rd Annual Cycling the Erie Canal. 8-day Bicycle Tour from Buffalo to Albany. Contact New York Parks and Conservation Association at 518-434-1583 or canaltour@nypca.org.
10: Economic Realities of the Rainforests, a forum presented by Rainforest Relief discussing the economic hardships of rainforest inhabitants whose land is now occupied by foreign companies. Wetlands Preserve’s downstairs lounge, 161 Hudson Street, NYC. 7:00PM. Call 212-966-4831.
11: Governors Island Tour. Walking tour sponsored by the Regional Plan Association and the federal General Services Administration. Call 212-253-2727 x393 or email: petra@rpa.org.
12: It’s Not Easy Being Green: How Do We Preserve and Improve New York City’s Parks?, forum part of the NYC Conservation Challenge presented by the NY Conservation Fund and the Columbia Earth Institute. 7:00PM-9:00PM. Location TBA. Call 212-361-6350 or email: lhanser@nylcv.org.
14: People’s Environmental Tour of the South Bronx. Tour of community gardens, the waterfront, hazardous sites and more. Meet at 3:00PM at the Cherry Tree Garden, 136th St. and Cypress Ave., Bronx. Call the Cherry Tree Association at 718-292-6443.
17: This Land is Your Land... Or is it? Join an environmental journalist for a video presentation about the state of our National Forests and what can be done to protect them. Wetlands Preserve’s downstairs lounge, 161 Hudson Street, NYC. 7:00PM. Call 212-966-4831.
18: Art auction and cocktail party to benefit Friends of the Highline (see Activists’ Corner). Mary Boone Gallery, 745 5th Ave., #405, Manhattan. Call 212-606-3720.
28-31: Great Parks, Great Cities, 6th annual conference run by the Parks Institute at the Project for Public Spaces. Join teams of public and private sector leaders from over 50 cities to examine how parks can become part of the debate on sprawl and public health. $225/ person for a City Team of 3 or more. $300/individual.NYC.Call212-620-5660.
August
4-5: 7th Annual Our Fragile Earth Event (formerly known as the Environmental Fair). This year’s theme is A Cleaner Greener Home. 10:00AM-5:00PM. Seneca Park Zoo, 2222St.Paul St.,Rochester.Call716-336-7200.
5: Music Festival at Indian Ladder Farms (ILF). 5 Bands/5 Styles: Bluegrass, Rock, New Age and More. Benefit for Albany County Land Conservancy’s Save ILF campaign. Noon-6:00PM. 342 Altamont Rd., Altamont. $10 per person/$25 per family. Call the Albany County Land Conservancy at 518-436-3646.
17-19: Encampment 2001: LivingEarth/Living Faith, aconference onfaith,ecology,spirituality and sustainable living. Speakers, workshops, natural foods in a rural setting. St.Bridget’s Church, Copake Falls, Columbia County. Call BruceGardinerat518-325-5546.
18-19: Anti-Nuclear/Sustainable Energy Conference/Action Camp. DePaul University, Chicago, IL. Call Nuclear Information and Resource Service at 202-328-0002.
Save the Date!
November 12: The 2001 Advocate Awards, Environmental Advocates’ annual gala. 5th Avenue Ballroom, NYC. Details to follow.
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| Executive Chamber |
| State Capitol |
| * Albany, NY 12224 |
| 518.474.8390 |
| gov.pataki@chamber.state.ny.us |
| New York State Senate |
| Albany, NY 12247 |
| * 518.455.2800 |
| www.senate.state.ny.us |
| New York State Assembly |
| Albany, NY 12248 |
| * 518.455.4100 |
| www.assembly.state.ny.us |