On the Alert

•Defenseless: The Bush Administration is asking Congress to exempt the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other environmental laws on all Defense Department lands. The exemptions, already added to the House of RepresentativesÕ authorization bill for FY03 (H.R. 4546), would prohibit the US Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service from designating critical habitat on any lands owned or controlled by the military. These proposals threaten millions of acres of wildlife habitat and over 300 endangered or threatened species that are found on military installations. The Senate has not yet added similar language to its defense authorization bill, S. 2514. The ESA already provides an exemption from the lawÕs requirements if the Secretary of Defense finds an action must be carried out for national security reasons. The National Wildlife Federation urges you to contact your Senators and urge them to oppose the Readiness and Range Preservation Initiative. Visit: www.nwf.org/enviroaction, or call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121. For more information, email John Kostyack at kostyack@nwf.org.

•ItÕs a Zoo Out There: The Monroe County Legislature approved a zoo expansion plan in June that would destroy lower Seneca Park by building a parking lot near the Trout Pond. But the campaign to save this Olmsted-designed historic landscape continues. The city of RochesterÕs Preservation Board is considering an application to designate Seneca Park a city landmark. While this would not automatically stop the zoo expansion, it would underscore the importance of the park and could provide additional safeguards. Designation as a city landmark would require Preservation Board approval of the expansion plan before the county is allowed to proceed with its plan. The county would have to show that the expansion plan does not harm the park. A public hearing on the landmark designation is scheduled for July 1 (see Calendar). For information, call 716-546-7029 or email psiegrist@landmarksociety.org. Or visit the Save Our Seneca Park Alliance at www.sospark.org.

•Captivating Report: Governor Pataki has received a report from his Greenhouse Gas Task Force, but has not yet made it public or announced his plan to fight global warming. In the wake of President BushÕs do-nothing strategy, New Yorkers Ñ and others across the country Ñ are watching to see the GovernorÕs plan. Meanwhile, the Cap Carbon in New York Campaign continues to call for a statewide cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants as the most effective way to reduce global warming pollution. Fifty organizations have signed on to the campaign at www.capcarbonnow.com. Visit this site to learn more and sign on your organization. And visit www.eany.org to send a fax to Governor Pataki and read the latest developments in the campaign.

•For Whom the Bridge Tolls: The movement to toll New York CityÕs East River bridges is growing. Tolls would help reduce congestion and air pollution, as well as the cityÕs budget deficit. Contact your New York City council member and tell them to support East River bridge tolls now. To locate your representative, visit www.nypirg.org. For more information, email info@bridgetolls.org, or visit: www.bridgetolls.org.

For Your Information

Just the FAX: Nearly 4200 faxes have been sent to decision-makers by online activists since Environmental Advocates of New York launched EAdvocacy in early January. Over 300 were sent to Mayor Michael Bloomberg in opposition to his proposal to suspend New York CityÕs recycling program for metal, glass and plastic. The Mayor and NYC Council have since passed a budget that keeps metal recycling going. And now itÕs even easier to join EAdvocacy. Visit www.eany.org and enter your email address in the sign-up box. Once you hit the Sign Up button, youÕll be taken to a new page to enter your name and address.

Lead Around: According to Do You Know Where the Lead Is?, a new report by the NY Public Research Interest Group (NYPIRG), more than 6200 city children with lead poisoning at or above 10 pg/dl (micrograms per deciliter of blood) were newly identified by testing and reporting to the city Health Department in 2000. In addition, 94 percent of all children with lead poisoning ø over 11,500 ø are black, hispanic or asian. Lead is a toxic substance that affects childrenÕs health by undermining normal cognitive development, behavior, and growth. To view the full report, visit: www.nypirg.org.

Future Shock: In response to Mayor BloombergÕs proposed slashing of the New York CityÕs recycling program, a coalition of groups released a report this May with alternative actions. The NYC Solid Waste Prevention CoalitionÕs report, Why Waste the Future? Alternatives to the MayorÕs Proposed Waste Prevention, Composting and Recycling Cuts, includes recommendations that can be implemented without jeopardizing the development of a cost-effective, equitable, and environmentally sound solid waste management strategy. For more information, contact the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance at 212-239-8882 or own@nyceja.org. To view the complete report, visit: www.nyceja.org.

Summer Read: Tom Anderson, who used to write an environmental column for the Gannett Westchester papers and now works for The Westchester Land Trust, has written a new book about the fight to save Long Island Sound. This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound tells the story of one of North AmericaÕs most beautiful waterbodies. At bookstores or on the Web.

Activists' Corner

Guerillas in Our Midst: Green Guerillas has helped thousands of people realize their dreams of turning vacant rubble-strewn lots into vibrant community gardens since 1973. Each year they work with hundreds of grassroots groups throughout New York City to strengthen underserved neighborhoods through community gardening. With their help, people grow food, plant flowers, educate youth, paint colorful murals and preserve their gardens as vital community centers for future generations. Green Guerillas will be at the Health Fair at the First Quincy Street Green Thumb Community Garden in Brooklyn on Saturday, July 20 from 10:00AM-3:00PM. TheyÕll also be at the ACGA Annual Community Gardening Conference at Columbia University from July 25-28. To contact the Green Guerillas email them at ggsnyc@interport.net or visit their website at www.greenguerillas.org.

July

1: Public Hearing on Seneca Park Zoo expansion. City Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall, 30 Church Street, Rochester. 6:00PM. (See On the Alert.)

6: Invasive Marsh Plants: A Talk and Walk with Hudsonia Executive Director Erik Kiviat. Bard College Field Station, Annandale. 9:00AM-12:00PM. Adults only. Call 845-758-7053.

7-14: Cycling the Erie Canal An 8-day, 400 mile, supported bicycle tour from Buffalo to Albany along this historic and scenic canal. For more information see www.nypca.org, or call the NY Parks and Conservation Association, 518-434-1583

9: Summer 2002 Farm Tour, sponsored by the Regional Farm & Food Project (RFFP). Roxbury Biodynamic Farm, Route 9H, Kinderhook (Columbia County). 6:30PM-8:30PM. Also 7/19 at Brovetto Dairy and Cheese House, a farmstead cheesemaking and cow dairy operation. 1677 County Route 29 near Harpersfield (Delaware County). 1:00PM-3:00PM. Call RFFP at 518-427-6537.

10: Pollution Prevention and Recycling Task Force, Hudson River Remediation Meeting, sponsored by The Environmental Business Association of NYS. Saratoga Technology & Energy Park, Malta. 11:00AM-3:00PM. Members $25; non-members $45. RSVP by fax to 518-432-1383 or email: info@eba-nys.org no later than July 8. Call 518-432-6400.

11: Arm of the Sea theater performs The City That Drank the Mountain Water, a play about New York City drinking water. 1:00PM and 7:00PM. East River Park Amphitheater (near Delancey & FDR Drive). Call Lower East Side Ecology Center, 212-477-4022.

11-14: Reinventing New YorkÕs Forest: Creating Greener Communities, 10th Annual NY Releaf Statewide Urban and Community Forestry Conference. College at Mount St. Vincent, Bronx. Call Nancy Wolf at 718-834-4589.

13: Northern Westchester Butterfly Count, sponsored by the Teatown Lake Reservation and part of a national butterfly census conducted by the North American Butterfly Association. Call Ruth Rubenstein at 914-762-2912 ext. 17.

13: Restoration Workshop, sponsored by Protectors of Pine Oak Woods. High Rock, Great Moulton Tract, Staten Island. 10:00AM-2:00PM. Meet at Nevada Ave. parking lot. Gloves, tools and refreshments provided. Call Dick Buegler at 718-761-7496.

25: How to Turn a Place Around, a training course based in Lower Manhattan. Participants will learn strategies for improving public spaces to strengthen security, accessibility, and comfort while increasing the level of public use and contributing to the livability of the city. Call Harriet Festing at 212-620-5660.

25: Concert to Benefit the Regional Farm & Food Project (RFFP). An evening of contemporary folk, traditional music, and eclectic fun. Buhrmeister Barn at the Pruyn House, 207 Old Niskayuna Rd., Colonie. 7:00PM. $10 adults, $7 students. Barn and lawn seating available. Call 518-427-6537.

27: The Downtown Bronx PeopleÕs Environmental Bike Tour. Join TimeÕs Up for a unique view of what used to be called the South Bronx that ends in Bronx Park. Meet at Hostos Community College, 149th St. & Grand Concourse. 10:00AM. Call 212-802-2222.

August

9-11: Northeast Organic Farming AssociationÕs (NOFA) 28th Annual Summer Conference. Hampshire College, Amherst, MA. Fees vary. Contact Dennis or Audrey Cronin at 508-799-2278 or nofareg@juno.com.

17: A Day in the Country, the Western NY Land ConservancyÕs annual benefit featuring a wet art sale, bicycle tour, storytelling, pot luck dinner and music. Olmstead Camp, 12820 Benton Road, Sardinia. Call 716-687-1225.