Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale Formation
We are particularly concerned about the potential environmental dangers of natural gas drilling, or "fracking," in the Southern Tier and Catskills regions. Click here for more information about drilling dangers and what Environmental Advocates is doing to protect New York's air, land and water. 

Water Withdrawals
New York's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has limited authority to regulate ground or surface water withdrawals, leaving a gaping hole in the state's water quality protections. The agency will likely propose changes during the 2010 Legislative Session to clarify authority in this area, and Environmental Advocates will make it a priority to work with the DEC, Governor’s office and lawmakers to improve any such legislation.

Protecting the Great Lakes
Environmental Advocates is working to protect Lakes Ontario and Erie through our support of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to limit large-scale and harmful water withdrawals from the lakes.

Signed into law in 2008, the Compact ensures that New York will be an equal partner in water management decisions throughout the Basin. Environmental Advocates will continue to fight for additional measures, both at the state and federal level that will protect, preserve, and restore the health of the Great Lakes.

In addition to our work to keep Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes Basin, we support efforts to improve and restore the lakes for the use and enjoyment of all New Yorkers. We want to end the practice of dumping untreated sewage into the Great Lakes, to clean up hotspots that spill toxins into the lakes daily, and for restoration projects that will provide New Yorkers with jobs while improving ecosystems.

Watchdogging Water Quality 
Environmental Advocates is also working to ensure that the state's water pollution permitting program—the method used to regulate pollution discharged into state waters—is enforced.

New York currently rubber-stamps and renews thousands of water pollution permits without substantive review, endangering the health of our waters. Environmental Advocates continues to expose the state’s flawed approach to issuing water pollution permits as part of a larger effort to protect New York’s water quality.