THE GREEN SHEET

Vol. 8 - No. 6
June 2003

Lead Story: Rally Caps
On the Alert
For Your Information
Activists' Corner
The Month Ahead
Contact Information

Rally Caps

It has been two years since Governor George E. Pataki pledged to make New York a national leader in reducing greenhouse gases and established his Greenhouse Gas Task Force to examine and recommend initiatives to reduce the pollution that causes global warming. In April, task force consultants released Recommendations to Governor Pataki for Reducing New York State Greenhouse Gas Emissions (online at www.ccap.org).

Chief among the report’s recommendations is a limit — or cap — on carbon dioxide emissions from New York’s power plants, set at 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2010. Based on the task force’s analysis, a carbon cap for power plants is the best way to guarantee maximum reductions in the pollution that causes global warming, and it won’t increase electricity bills. According to the report, nearly half of the pollution reductions possible through implementation of its recommendations will result from the power sector carbon cap and a set of transportation efficiency measures. In fact, the report states that, “In the 2010 timeframe, it appears impossible for New York to meet its goal for carbon emissions reduction without adopting these key measures.”

Environmentalists lauded the carbon cap recommendation, and urged Governor Pataki to implement it through a Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) rulemaking. However, following release of the report, the Governor contacted ten other Northeast Governors to assess their interest in a regional mandatory cap on carbon pollution for power plants. He directed DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty and Department of Public Service Commissioner Bill Flynn to report back to him by late July on the other governors’ responses and progress on this initiative. A regional carbon cap would be excellent progress in the fight against global warming. But environmentalists believe the best way to achieve a regional approach is to establish a cap in New York and invite other states to follow.

DEC can establish an in-state cap under existing law. By capping carbon emissions, New York would realize a cleaner, more modernized, and more efficient fleet of power plants. At the same time, New Yorkers will get both cleaner air and the public health benefits of reducing coincident pollutants that contribute to acid rain, mercury contamination and smog. For more information see www.capcarbonnow.com.

[Back to Top]

On the Alert

♦Sulfur Showdown: Smog and acid rain are serious environmental problems in New York, and reducing sulfur in diesel fuel and heating oil will clean the air and improve public health. The NYS Assembly recently passed a bill requiring all diesel fuel and home heating oil sold in New York to have very low sulfur levels. Now the state Senate is considering the same bill. Urge your state Senator to cosponsor S.1697-a and to vote for the bill when it comes to the floor. To send a fax to your Senator and for more information, visit: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/cleanfuelsny/.

♦Fishing for Comments: The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) are developing new fish community objectives for Lake Ontario. Fish community objectives are broad-based goals that will guide DEC and MNR in managing the lake’s fish populations. Anyone with an interest in the health of Lake Ontario is encouraged to comment. Copies of the existing fish community objectives and a summary of recent changes in the Lake Ontario ecosystem and its fish populations – such as changes to food webs due to invasive species – are available for review at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/lkontfco03.html or by calling the DEC Cape Vincent Fisheries Station at 315-654-2147. Send comments to the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station, PO Box 292, Cape Vincent, NY, 13618, or via email: srlapan@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Great Lakes United (GLU) has collected recommendations to strengthen fish community objectives for Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior, and work towards the goal of sustainable lake fish populations and ecosystems, many of which are pertinent to Lake Ontario. For more information, contact GLU at 716-886-0142 or glu@glu.org, or visit: www.glu.org.

♦No New Nukes: The US Senate is debating energy legislation (S.14) that would provide loan guarantees for construction of up to 8,400MW of new nuclear electricity generation, which would mean 6 to 10 new nuclear reactors. New nuclear plants will produce more radioactive waste for which there is no safe depository, and will put the public at risk from accidents or terrorist attacks at the plants for decades to come. This bill ignores the current availability of clean energy sources that enhance energy security. Call Senators Clinton and Schumer and urge them to oppose S.14 and to support a filibuster, if necessary. Visit www.nirs.org for a Nuclear Information Resource Service fact sheet, or call 202-328-0002.

♦Car Parts: Over 30 percent of New York’s greenhouse gas emissions are from motor vehicles – an amount that is increasing as SUVs become more popular, people drive more and fuel economy gets worse. But New York has an opportunity to help lead the nation in reducing global warming pollution from autos. The Clean Cars Act, now being considered by the state Senate, would cut greenhouse gas pollution from non-commercial vehicles sold in the state. The auto industry will be fighting hard to defeat this bill. To send lawmakers a fax urging passage of S.4044 (Marcellino) in the Senate, go to http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/Clean_Car_Bill.

[Back to Top]

For Your Information

♦Counting Loons: The 2002 Loon Census results are in and plans are underway for this year’s census. Last July, 300 observers spent an hour on lakes throughout the Adirondack Park looking for loons. A total of 451 were observed on 121 lakes. The annual census is organized by the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program (ACLP). The full results of the census can be found at www.adkscience.org/loons. To volunteer for this year’s census on July 19, or for more information, contact ACLP at 518-891-8836 or aclp2@juno.com.

♦Hot Stuff: The Ecological Society of America and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) have released a new report, Confronting Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region: Impacts on Our Communities and Ecosystems. The report is designed to provide residents and policymakers with the most up-to-date scientific assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on the region’s diverse natural and managed ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. Download the report from www.ucsusa.org/greatlakes, or contact UCS for a hard copy. For more information, contact Jason Mathers at 617-547-5552 or greatlakes@ucsusa.org.

♦Corps Group: Since its formation in 1779, the US Army Corps of Engineers has had a tremendous impact on the nation’s rivers, coasts and floodplains. Corps projects have included 8,500 miles of levees and seawalls, more than 500 dams and 11,000 miles of inland waterway navigation channels. Many Corps projects have dramatically altered the nation’s most environmentally-sensitive landscapes. However, attempts to fix the ecological damage of Corps projects are proving costly. The National Wildlife Federation’s Greening the Corps of Engineers campaign is aimed at directing the Corps away from environmentally harmful projects while promoting projects that benefit people, conserve natural resources and save taxpayer dollars in the long run. Visit: www.nwf.org/greeningcorps/ or call Kate Costenbader at 202-797-6869 for more information and ways to get involved.

♦Plan Ahead: Make plans now to attend the 2003 Advocate Awards, Environmental Advocates of New York’s annual gala. This year’s event will be held on Monday, November 10 at the Yale Club in Manhattan. Contact Patti Kelly at 518-462-5526 ext. 224 or pkelly@eany.org for more information.

[Back to Top]

Activists' Corner

Polling Places: Long Island political hopefuls have a new force to reckon with. Local environmentalists interested in trying a new approach to get their message out, have formed the Long Island Environmental Voters Forum. The Forum is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization created to identify, recruit, endorse and actively campaign for pro-environment candidates for public office.

The Forum will help develop the environment as an issue, educate voters and advocate for the election of environmental champions. In the year ahead, the Forum can be expected to endorse in two or three dozen races, and actively campaign in a half dozen key county and town contests.

The Forum is looking for volunteers to help with campaigns. For more information, call: 866-733-VOTE (8683); email: linaturevoters@aol.com,/a>; or visit: www.lienvironmentalvoters.org (to be launched soon).

[Back to Top]

The Month Ahead

June

4: Public hearing on Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) proposed projects and request for federal financial assistance under the Transportation Equity Act for fiscal year 2004. MTA, 347 Madison Ave., Fifth Fl. Board Room, Manhattan. 4:30PM. Send written comments to Douglas Sussman, Deputy Director, Government and Community Relations, Federal Assistance Hearing, MTA, 347 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Call 212-878-7483 to sign up to speak.

6-8: Montauk Spring Weekend, organized by the American Littoral Society. Spend the weekend at the luxurious Manor House. Cost: $295 includes 2 nights, 5 meals, 5 field trips, 2 evening programs plus free pickup at LIRR station in Montauk. Call 718-318-9344.

8: 4th Annual Stewart Buffer Bike Tour, sponsored by SPARC (Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition). Enjoy bike rides for all skill levels and ages and support local charities. Call Ralph Grimaldi at 845-496-9487.

12: Hudson River Tributaries: the State of Our Knowledge, sponsored by the Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Hudson River Environmental Society. Preregistration by 6/7. HRES members: $50; non-members: $70; students: $15. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook. Visit: www.hres.org, or email: stephenwilson1@compuserve.com.

14: Symposium on the Health Effects of Depleted Uranium, sponsored by Nuclear Policy Research Institute. Internationally known experts Dan Fahey, Major Doug Rokke and Nobel Peace Prize winner Helen Caldicott will present. NY Academy of Medicine, Albany. 9:00AM. $30, students $10; lunch additional. Email: info@nuclearpolicy.org, or visit: www.nuclearpolicy.org.

18: Ad hoc discussion group on pesticides, health and reducing exposure, a meeting organized by Cornell Center for the Environment’s Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in NYS. Speakers include author Sandra Steingraber. Carlye on the Green, Bethpage State Park, 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale. 10:00AM-3:00PM. Email: breastcancer@cornell.edu.

21-22: Cleawater’s Great Hudson River Revival, the region’s premier music and environmental festival. Croton Point Park, Croton-On-Hudson. General advance tickets $25/day, $35 both days; members $20/$30. Call 1-800-67-SLOOP/845-454-7673.

26-29: Trail Link: Designing for the Future, International Trails and Greenways Conference. Providence, Rhode Island. Fees vary. Call 202-974-5152 or visit: www.railtrails.org.

27-July 29: Fifth annual BikeSummer, a month-long celebration of bicycling and bike culture featuring rides for all ages, workshops, competitions, exhibits, films, parties, lectures and more. Call 212-348-2601. Visit: www.bikesummer.org or email: gasiorcj@att.net.

28: A Day in the Country, an annual event to benefit the Western NY Land Conservancy. Day includes a wet art sale, bicycle tour, music and potluck dinner. $15 for non-WNYLC members; $10 for members. Olmsted Camp, 12820 Benton Road, Sardinia. Call 716-496-7561.

29: Annual Environmental Tour of the South Bronx, sponsored by Time’s Up! Meet at 9:00AM at Brook Park Nature Preserve (E. 141st St. and Brook Ave.). Call 212-802-8222.

July
20-21: 3-12: The Great Hudson River Paddle from Albany to NYC, sponsored by Hudson River Watertrails Association and the Hudson River Valley Greenway. Go along for all 10 days or just for a day paddle. Festivals at each stop-over location. Visit: www.hrwa.org/ghrp/index.html.

19: 2003 Loon Census. Help count the loon population in the Adirondack Park. Call 518-891-8836. (See FYI.)

[Back to Top]

THE GREEN SHEET
is produced monthly by
Environmental Advocates of New York.
Voluntary annual subscriptions of
$15 are encouraged.
Free subscriptions are available
via email and on the Web at: http://www.eany.org

Copy deadline is the 15th of each month.
Send calendar events, action alerts & available publication information to:
The Green Sheet
353 Hamilton Street
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: 518.462.5526
Fax: 518.427.0381
Email submissions to: gsheet@eany.org

Managing Editor • Jeff Jones
Editor • Laura DiBetta

To Contact Elected Officials:

Governor George E. Pataki
Executive Chamber
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518.474.8390
www.state.ny.us/governor

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

US Capitol Switchboard
202.224.3121