THE GREEN SHEET

Vol. 9 - No. 6
June 2004

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

Body Work

One hundred percent of nearly ten thousand people tested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have pesticides in their blood and urine, according to Chemical Trespass: Pesticides in Our Bodies and Corporate Accountability, a new report released in May by the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA). The CDC study looked at 23 different chemicals.

“Most, if not all, U.S. residents carry toxic pesticides in their body in many cases at levels above what the government considers acceptable, with children and women and Mexican Americans at greatest risk,” says report co-author Skip Spitzer. For example, children – the population most vulnerable to pesticides – are exposed to the highest levels of nerve-damaging organophosphorous (OP) pesticides. The CDC data show that the average 6 - 11 year-old sampled is exposed to the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos at four times the level the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers safe for long-term exposure. Chlorpyrifos, produced principally by the Dow Chemical Corporation, is designed to kill insects by disrupting the nervous system. It has been shown to disrupt hormones in humans and to interfere with normal development of the nervous system in laboratory animals. Although the EPA has restricted chlorpyrifos for most residential uses, it is still widely used in agriculture.

“Pesticides come to us in our food and in our drink,” Spitzer says. “This is the primary avenue of exposure. But they’re also in the air, they’re also in the water. They’re also on surfaces that we come in contact with. And eventually they get into the human body through our skin, or through inhalation or through actually ingesting them by eating something.”

The report found that women have significantly higher levels of three of the six organochlorine pesticides evaluated and that Mexican Americans carry dramatically higher body burdens of five of the 15 evaluated pesticides in urine samples, including DDT. Groups releasing the report in New York included EANY, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition and NYPIRG. They called on the EPA to take a precautionary approach to pesticides and require chemical manufacturers to prove that their chemical products pose no health risks before they are marketed. More information is available at www.panna.org.

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On the Alert

♦Brownfield Points: In May, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released its draft Brownfield Cleanup Program Guidance Document. Public comments will be accepted until July 12. The document will guide parties applying to the newly established Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) through the administrative steps necessary as part of cleaning up contaminated sites to levels that are protective of public health and the environment. The guidance is available at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/der/bcp/DraftBCPguide.pdf. Submit comments to: Robert W. Schick, NYSDEC, Division of Environmental Remediation (DER), Remedial Bureau C, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233, and Martin Doster, NYS DEC, DER, Region 9 - Environmental Remediation, 270 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203. For more information, contact Tim Sweeney at tsweeney@eany.org or 518-462-5526 ext. 235.

♦O West Canada: The public comment period is underway on the unit management plan (UMP) for the West Canada Lake Wilderness Area (WCLWA). Located in the southwestern portion of the Adirondack Park, WCLWA contains 168,920 acres of state Forest Preserve land. A UMP must be completed before significant new recreational facilities, such as trails, camping sites, and parking areas can be constructed. The plans involve an analysis of the natural features of an area and the ability of the land to accommodate public use. DEC will hold two public meetings to exchange thoughts, ideas, and suggestions regarding management of state lands within this particular unit (see The Month Ahead). For more information or to submit comments, write to Senior Forester Eric J. Kasza at NYSDEC, 225 North Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350 or call 315-866-6330. Written comments on any Region 5 UMP can be sent via email to r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us. For more information, contact David Higby, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 239 or dhigby@eany.org.

♦Background Check: As part of the ongoing effort to develop soil cleanup objectives for the newly enacted Superfund/Brownfields law, the NYS Department of Health (DOH) will be conducting a survey of background levels of soil contamination in the surface soils of rural areas of the state. The new law allows consideration of these background contamination levels when final soils cleanup objectives are established. The DOH will be accepting comments on the draft survey document through June 18, 2004. For more information, go to www.dec.state.ny.us/website/der/superfund/soil.html, or contact Tim Sweeney at tsweeney@eany.org or 518-462-5526 ext. 235.

♦Welcome Aboard: Following an extensive national search, EANY’s board of directors has announced that Robert J. Moore will be the organization’s new executive director. Before 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, the only statewide river conservation group in Illinois.

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For Your Information

♦Watch Out: Beginning with the next issue of GreenWatch, the NYS Comptroller’s environmental newsletter, regular reports featuring Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) funding and disbursements will be included. This information will detail program disbursements within each of the three EPF sub-funds. Quarterly summary data also will be available upon request. To receive this semi-annual newsletter electronically, email: EnvironmentalUpdates@osc.state.ny.us, or write: Office of Budget and Policy Analysis, Office of the State Comptroller, 110 State Street - 15th Floor, Albany, NY 12236.

♦ The Right Tool: Riverkeeper has put together an online toolbox to help citizens and advocates understand and use environmental laws to protect water quality and quality of life. Citizen Toolbox - Understanding and Using Environmental Laws currently contains information about the 1997 NYC Watershed Memorandum of Agreement, EPA’s Phase II stormwater program, the State Environmental Quality Review Act, trespass and wetlands laws, and more. Visit: www.riverkeeper.org.

♦ Sunshine State: New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and the state Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently announced the availability of $1.8 million for the installation of solar energy systems on government buildings. The funding results from the settlement of a Clean Air Act lawsuit against coal-fired power plants owned by the Virginia Electric Power Company. Counties, cities, towns or villages, or departments, agencies, educational institutions or corporations of those municipalities, are eligible for funding under this program. For more information, visit: www.nyserda.org, or call Jeff Peterson toll free at 1-866-697-3732.

♦ Watershed Moment: The DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program offers approximately $1 million from the EPF annually in grants to municipalities and non-profits located within its Estuary Watershed Boundaries. Grants of up to $100,000 are offered in five categories: Community Education and Interpretation; Open Space Planning, Inventory and Acquisition; Community-based Habitat Conservation and Stewardship; Watershed and Tributary Conservation; and River Access: fishing, swimming and boating. Applications will be accepted through June 30, and can be downloaded and filled in at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/hudson/hrep.html, or contact Lorie King, NYSDEC, at 518-402-9240.

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Activists' Corner

Smart Alliance: Over the past decade, local groups have sprung up throughout Putnam County in response to proposed developments. Now a new alliance aims to take a broader look at these proposals and how they will affect the region as a whole.

The Putnam Smart Growth Alliance was formed by eight community activists from Carmel, Kent, Patterson, Putnam Valley and Southeast. The alliance hopes to encourage growth more in line with existing development and the natural landscape, and will work with both elected officials and developers. As a 501(c)(4), the alliance will also be able to endorse political candidates.

Current projects that the alliance will focus on include the widening of Route 22 in Southeast, affordable senior housing, and Patterson Crossing – a proposed shopping center. For more information, contact Lynne Eckardt at midfarm@bestweb.net or 845-279-5737.

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The Month Ahead

May

2: Healthy and High Performance Schools for New York City, seminar sponsored by the NY Power Authority, the Environmental Business Association of NYS, and Healthy Schools Network. HS for Environmental Studies, 444 West 56th St., NYC. Also: 6/8, Susan E. Wagner HS, 1200 Manor Rd., Staten Island; 6/10, PS 27, The Agnes Y. Humphrey School, 27 Huntington St., Brooklyn. Free. Pre-register by calling Kelly Bennett at 518-432-6400 ext. 233.

3: How to Go Solar, a seminar for building and home owners presented by NY Energy Smart, Solar Works, EANY and NYSERDA’s School Power...Naturally program. Shaker HS, Latham. 12:00PM-4:00PM. To register, call 518-439-3771.

4: Regional Cancer and Environment Forum of the Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Hagen Room, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Campus, Ithaca. 10:00AM-3:00PM. Call Carmi at 607-255-1185.

4-6: From Experience to Action: Lake Erie Dead Zone: Our line in the sand, Great Lakes United’s 22nd Annual General Meeting. Mercyhurst College, North East, PA. To register, call 716-886-0142.

8: Brownfield Cleanup Program public meetings. The Graduate Center, CUNY, Recital Hall, 365 Fifth Ave., NYC, 12:30PM-4:30PM. Visit: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/der/bfield/bcpmeet.html. Call Tim Sweeney, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 235.

11-12: 2004 New York Land Trust Conference, sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance and partners. Join land trust practitioners, public agency professionals and allied conservationists for two days of inspiring and educational workshops, speakers and field trips. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. Call 518-587-0774. Visit: www.lta.org.

11: How to Go Solar, workshop organized by NYSERDA’s School Power...Naturally program. Celebrate the dedication of Tompkins County’s first solar-powered school. Presentations for builders, architects, developers, homeowners, and others: 1:30PM-4:30PM. For general public: 7:30PM-9:30PM. Dryden HS, Route 38, Dryden. Free. Call Hal Smith at 607-655-2491.

15-16: Northeastern Regional Scrap Tire Conference, co-hosted by the Environmental Business Association of NYS, EANY and the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Wolfert’s Roost, 120 Van Rensselaer Blvd., Albany. $75 Government, $125 EANY, EBA/NYS or RMA Member, $175 Non-member. Registration fee must be received by 6/8. Contact Robyn Stewart at 518-432-6400 or info@eba-nys.org.

16: Creating Walkable Communities: The Next Steps, a statewide conference sponsored by the NYS Depts. of Health and Transportation, the NY Parks and Conservation Association, the NYS Bicycling Coalition, and the NYS Physical Activity Coalition. Clarion Riverside Hotel, Rochester. Call 716-851-4052.

17: Hummers and Hot Tubs for China: When will oil demand exceed supply and what will that mean for New York?, seminar sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Energy. Bronx Community College, Philosophy Hall, Room 11. 12:00PM-2:00PM. RSVP: Jim at 718-289-5334.

19-20: The Great Hudson River Revival 2004, sponsored by Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Featuring Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams, and more, plus dancing, crafts, children’s area and a Green Living Expo. Croton Point Park. Call 845-454-7673.

22 & 23: Public Meetings on draft Unit Management Plan for West Canada Lake Wilderness Area (see On the Alert). 6/22: Community Center, Piseco Lake. 6:00PM-9:00PM. 6/23: Town Hall, Inlet, 6:00PM-9:00PM.

23: Summer Solstice Trail Run, a benefit for Friends of the Shawangunks and Save the Ridge sponsored by The Shawangunk Runners. 15K carriage trail run or 1.6 mile walk on dirt carriage trails. Minnewaska State Park & Preserve. Check in: 5:00PM; race: 6:30PM. $8; $10 day of race; $7 parking. Contact Laurel at 845-224-7517 or laurelkrastel@msn.com.

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THE GREEN SHEET
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Environmental Advocates of New York.
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Managing Editor • Jeff Jones
Editor • Laura DiBetta

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