PRESS RELEASE

March 30, 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG CALLS ON NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS TO PASS "GREEN" BUDGET

IF PASSED, STATE BUDGET WILL UPDATE BOTTLE DEPOSIT LAW, KEEP ENVIRONMENTAL FUND SOLVENT, & ENCOURAGE POLLUTERS TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT

(ALBANY, NY)—Environmental Advocates of New York is calling on state lawmakers to pass what may be a very green budget by the March 31 deadline. The budget being considered by the State Legislature would add a nickel deposit to plastic water bottles and reclaim more than $100 million in unclaimed bottle deposits, as well as maintain the Environmental Protection Fund’s stable funding formula. The budget would also increase fees on air and water pollution permits.  

“The New York State Legislature should pass what amounts to a very green budget during this fiscal crisis,” said Robert Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. “If state lawmakers pass this budget and update the state’s bottle deposit law, keep our environmental trust fund up and running, and make polluters pay to foul our air and water, New York is taking positive steps to protect our natural resources during challenging economic times.”  

The budget proposal under consideration would expand New York’s bottle deposit law to include bottled waters and drive millions of dollars to the state’s General Fund—rather than bottlers and beverage giants. The original bottle deposit law was passed in 1982. Updating the bottle deposit law to match consumer drinking habits will remove millions of bottles from the waste stream, as well as our parks, roadways and waters.  

The budget would also maintain the Environmental Protection Fund’s stable funding formula by keeping its current revenue source—Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) revenue. The Fund is slated to receive approximately $200 million in RETT revenue in the year ahead, dollars that will go to support projects statewide that generate big economic benefits. For example, solid waste programs help support an industry with $1.3 billion in revenue and 30,000 jobs. New York’s wildlife watchers contributed an estimated $1.6 billion (and $250 million in sales tax revenue) to the state’s economy in 2006. State parks, beaches, zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums—all supported by Fund dollars—play a leading role in New York’s travel and tourism industry.

In addition, the proposed budget will update the Title V air pollution permit program, by raising the program cap to 7,000 tons and changing the flat $45 per ton fee to release contaminants to a sliding scale based on the amount of pollution. Raising the cost to pollute will encourage polluters to reduce overall emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, as well as other contaminants. Environmental Advocates called on Governor Paterson and state lawmakers to fix outdated air pollution fees associated with the program earlier this year. Updating these fees and caps will mean that polluters, and not New York taxpayers, will pay the cost of regulatory oversight for the state’s air pollution permitting program, as required by the federal Clean Air Act.

The proposal also updates water pollution discharge fees to support the Department of Environmental Conservation. Environmental Advocates of New York has voiced concerns about the agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Water Act because of inadequate pollution discharge fees and lack of staff.

On a less promising note, state lawmakers have not come to an agreement regarding support for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which is facing a critical budget shortfall. The MTA has already voted to raise fares and cut services in the absence of a rescue agreement from the State Capitol.

Environmental Advocates remains concerned about the affect of Governor Paterson’s plan to layoff nearly 9,000 state workers and the impact this downsizing will have on the Department of Environmental Conservation.

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Environmental Advocates of New York's mission is to protect our air, land, water and wildlife and the health of all New Yorkers. Based in Albany, we monitor state government, evaluate proposed laws, and champion policies and practices that will ensure the responsible stewardship of our shared environment. We work to support and strengthen the efforts of New York's environmental community and to make our state a national leader.

The tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization is also the New York affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. For more information, visit www.eany.org