On the Alert

•Talk Trash: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to trim $56 million from the City’s budget by suspending curbside recycling for metal, glass and plastic for at least 18 months, starting July 1. He also wants to eliminate the City’s waste prevention and composting programs. If he succeeds, NYC will be forced to export most of its garbage to out-of-state landfills. Suspending recycling would waste valuable natural resources and make the City more vulnerable to price hikes and changes in laws governing interstate transport of garbage. And once recycling is stopped, it will be very hard to restart. The Council will consider the Mayor’s proposal soon. So far, City lawmakers have stood firm on recycling, but they are faced with some tough decisions and need to hear from the public. Contact City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and urge him to include funding for the full recycling program in the final 2003 budget. Write or call: Speaker Gifford Miller, NYC Council, City Hall, New York, NY 10007, 212-788-7210. Also contact your own City Council member. If you don’t know who that is, call 212-VOTE-NYC. For more information, contact Susan Craine, NYPIRG, 212-349-6460, or visit www.nypirg.org.

•Be Quiet: The Adirondack Explorer news magazine is pushing for more quiet waters in the Adirondacks through the state’s Unit Management Plan (UMP) process now underway. One of the best opportunities to restore natural tranquility to some of New York’s loveliest waterways is in the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest, a key piece of the forever wild Forest Preserve. The UMP for this area is now being drafted and input from the public is needed. Send written comments to Steven Guglielmi, NYSDEC, PO Box 296, Ray Brook, NY,12977. Or email sjguglie@gw.dec.state.ny.us, or call 1-518-897-1286. Sign up to be included in a petition to Governor Pataki and to receive timely action alerts about who to write and when. Join the Campaign by emailing adkexplr@capital.net, calling 1-888-888-4790, or writing to Adirondack Explorer, 36 Church St., Saranac Lake, NY 12983.

•Cap Carbon: Last summer, Governor Pataki declared his intention to make New York a “national leader on the critically important issue of reducing greenhouse gases.” Power plants are the largest single source of carbon dioxide (CO2), the chief cause of global warming. Currently, there is no limit on the amount of CO2 that power plants may emit. A cap on carbon dioxide emissions is the best way to reduce global warming gasses. Contact Governor Pataki and urge him to cap carbon emissions from power plants. To learn more about the Carbon Cap Campaign, or to send a fax to the Governor, visit: www.eany.org.

•Take Credit: The Preservation League of NYS is supporting a tax credit that will assist in the renovation of historic homes while providing significant economic stimulus to local and regional economies. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Act of 2002, A.10490-A (Canestrari)/S.6523-A (Leibell), will provide up to a $50,000 state income tax credit or rebate for the rehabilitation of a qualified historic home. Visit www.preservenys.org to send a letter to your state legislators. For information, contact Daniel Mackay at 518-462-5658 ext. 18 or dmackay@preservenys.org.

For Your Information

Hearing Aid: A hearing on the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) draft regulations to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions for power plants has been rescheduled to May 20 in Albany at 1:00PM, and the new deadline for comments is May 27. Let the DEC know that while reductions of SO2 and NOx pollution are a step in the right direction, a more sensible approach is to regulate four major pollutants, including mercury and carbon dioxide. New York needs to cap carbon emissions from power plants in order to combat global warming. Send comments to Robert Sliwinski at rgsliwin@gw.dec.state.ny.us or to DEC Division of Air Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233. For more information, call Mr. Sliwinski at 518-402-8396, or Anne Reynolds, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 238.

Line of Site: A proposal by Besicorp-Empire Development to site a power plant and newsprint mill on the shores of the Hudson River in the City of Rensselear has opened another controversy: the cleanup of the 80-acre site, currently owned by BASF. Recent investigation reveals high concentrations of several contaminants, including arsenic, chromium, lead and mercury. Community groups and citizens have formed a coalition to monitor the cleanup and stop the power plant/paper mill. The Coalition Against Riverfront Pollution (CARP) will hold a public forum to provide background, reveal current research findings and address residents’ concerns on May 17 at 7:00PM at the Community Center, 62 Washington Street, Rensselaer. For details, contact Eric Daillie at 518-273-8970 or daillie@nycap.rr.com.

Ride On: The NY Bicycling Coalition is hosting a series of workshops on bicycling and pedestrian safety across the state. The Better Roads for New York State workshops will run from 2:00PM-8:30PM and include presentations by government, industry and specialists, a bike ride, and discussion with clubs, enthusiasts and advocates. Workshops are scheduled for Albany County (Albany, SUNY Albany Assembly Hall — 5/2), Monroe County (Rochester, Cornell Cooperative Extension — 5/22), Suffolk County (Hauppauge, Suffolk County Office Building — 6/6), and Kings County (Brooklyn, TBA — 6/19). Visit: www.nybc.net/calendar for updates and more details. Email jesse@nybc.net or call 518-505-9499 to RSVP.

Activists' Corner

Making A Point: The Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC) is a broad-based coalition of over 40 community- based and environmental groups including Communities United For Responsible Energy, Environmental Advocates of NY, Citizens Awareness Network, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Riverkeeper, Sierra Club, Scenic Hudson, Waterkeeper Alliance and Greenpeace to name a few.
    IPSEC was formed in response to concern about the safety of the Indian Point nuclear power plants, including the danger of a terrorist attack. The groups are calling for an immediate shutdown of the two Indian Point nuclear reactors. They also want the on-site pool used to store spent fuel rods secured and an independent review of the safety of future plant operations. IPSEC also opposes certification of the ineffective and unworkable evacuation plan.
    For more information, visit IPSEC online at: www.closeindianpoint.org.

May

2: Better Roads for New York State, workshop sponsored by the NY Bicycling Coalition. SUNY Albany Assembly Hall, Albany. 2:00PM-8:30PM. Call 518-505-9499. (See FYI for more dates and locations.)

4: Earthfest 2002, sponsored by Rogers Environmental Education Center (REEC). Activities, entertainment, displays, environmental awards, and tree give-aways. REEC, 2721 State Hwy 80, Sherburne. 12:00PM-4:00PM. Call 607-674-4017.

5: Blue Vinyl, free showing of a film comedy about the life cycle of plastic. WAMC Performing Arts Studio, 339 Central Ave., Albany. 7:00PM. Call Jackie Littell, NYPIRG, 518-436-0876. Visit: www.bluevinyl.org.

5: Trail Ride on the Stewart Buffer Lands to benefit the Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition and help save open space. Rain or shine. Stewart Buffer Lands, Ridge Road off Rt. 17K, Montgomery. Opens 8:30 AM. Call ahead ASAP to reserve. Call Linda at 845-895-3409.

9: Beyond September 11: Environmental and Public Health Policy, cosponsored by the NY Committee for Occupational Safety and Health and the Graduate Center, City University of NY (CUNY), Continuing Education & Public Programs. CUNY Graduate Center, Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets, Manhattan. 8:30AM-5:00PM. Suggested donation of $20. To register, call 212-817-8215.

11: Wonderful World of Wetlands festival, sponsored by The Izaak Walton League. 10:00AM-2:00PM. Lime Hollow Nature Center, Cortland. Call Leah Miller at 800-284-4952 ext. 219.

15: 2002 NY-NJ Metro Waterfront Conference, sponsored by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance (MTA). Hoboken Terminal, NJ (morning) and World Financial Center, NY (afternoon) To receive an invite by mail sign up at www.waterwire.net/GetInvolved.cfm or call the MTA at 800-364-9943.

17: Public Forum on proposed power plant/paper mill and site cleanup in City of Rensselear. Community Center, 62 Washington Street, Rensselaer. 7:00PM. Call Eric Daillie at 518-273-8970. (See FYI.)

20 & 21: Pesticides, Neighbor Notification and Schools, community meetings on health hazards and parent right-to-know. White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains. 7:00PM-9:00PM. Call the NY Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NYCAP) at 518-426-8246.

22: Conference on Native and Invasive Plants, sponsored by Federated Conservationists of Westchester County and the Westchester Parks Department. Pace University, Campus Center, Butcher Suite, Pleasantville. 7:30PM-9:00PM. Call FCWC at 914-289-0537.

26: 12th Annual Columbia Land Conservancy Shad Bake and Country Barbecue. Benefits rural land protection efforts in Columbia County. Music, hands-on environmental education programs and silent auction. 4:30PM-8:00PM. Clum and Patchen Farm, Route 9, Livingston. Ticket prices vary. Call 518-392-5252. 28-6/2: RiverWalk, a mass walk along the shores of the Hudson River from Poughkeepsie to NYC. Kick-off at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie with festival including workshops, speakers, music and on-site camping. Visit www.riverwalk2002.org.

June

2: Governors Island Flotilla (see lead story). New York Harbor. 11:00AM-12:00PM. Plus afternoon festival at the Battery. Call Carter Craft at 212-935-9831.

15-16: Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival. Over 90 performers on six stages powered by solar, wind and biodiesel. Music, environmental programs, plays, sails on the Sloop Clearwater and more. Croton Point Park. 10:00AM-Dusk. Ticket prices vary; reserve now at 1-800-67-SLOOP.