PRESS RELEASE

Adirondack Council * Adirondack Mountain Club * Agricultural Stewardship Association * Alliance for Clean Energy New York * American Farmland Trust * Aquarium of Niagara * Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks * Audubon New York * Citizens Campaign for the Environment * Clean New York * Coalition of Living Museums * Columbia Land Conservancy * Environmental Advocates of New York * Federated Conservationists of Westchester County * Friends of Brook Park * Genesee Valley Conservancy * Hudson Highlands Land Trust * Land Trust Alliance * League of Women Voters of New York * The Long Island Pine Barrens Society * The Long Island Drinking Water Coalition * The Long Island Environmental Voters Forum * Mohonk Preserve * Natural Resources Defense Council * New York Farm Bureau * New York-New Jersey Trail Conference * New York Public Interest Research Group * New York State Urban and Community Forestry Council * North Shore Land Alliance * Orange County Land Trust * Peconic Land Trust * Preservation League of New York State * Scenic Hudson * Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter * Teatown Lake Reservation * The Nature Conservancy – New York * Trout Unlimited * Trust for Public Land * Wave Hill * West Branch Conservation Association * Wildlife Conservation Society


April 3, 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CELEBRATE GREEN BUDGET
 

Environmental Fund Protected, State’s Bottle Deposit Law Updated to Match Consumer Trends

(ALBANY, NY)—New Yorkers from Montauk to Massena and from Buffalo to Binghamton celebrated the recent passage of the state budget, which reaffirms New York’s commitment to provide clean water, conserve open space, protect agricultural resources, maintain critical environmental programs, and ensure municipal recycling by allocating $222 million to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).  In addition to funding the EPF, the budget maintains its stable and proven funding source and does not allow resources to be swept into the state’s general fund. The agreement on the Fund was a result of the Senate, Assembly, and Governor working together to reach a compromise to support essential environmental programs.   

Groups thanked Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Robert Sweeney, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Antoine Thompson, members of the Assembly and Senate and the Governor for their support of the EPF and the Bottle Bill expansion included in the budget.”

“The Nature Conservancy is thankful that in these difficult economic times, environmental funding was not disproportionately reduced,” said Kathy Moser, Deputy State Director for The Nature Conservancy in New York.  “We are especially thankful to Environmental Conservation Committee Chairmen Senator Antoine Thompson and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney for acting as champions for the EPF in their respective houses.”

“The Nature Conservancy is thankful that in these difficult economic times, environmental funding was not disproportionately reduced,” said Kathy Moser, Deputy State Director for The Nature Conservancy in New York.  “We are especially thankful to Environmental Conservation Committee Chairmen Senator Antoine Thompson and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney for acting as champions for the EPF in their respective houses.”

For more than 15 years, New York has invested in the environment and quality of life in New York communities through the EPF.  The budget agreement continues the historic connection between the Real Estate Transfer Tax, a fee paid for real estate transactions, and funding for environmental programs. 

“In both good and bad economic times, the Real Estate Transfer Tax has provided a strong and sustainable source of funding for the EPF to support critically important projects for restoring our water, land and air resources and keeping New Yorkers working,” said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York.  “Audubon New York thanks the Legislature, especially Assemblyman Robert Sweeney and Senator Antoine Thompson, for recognizing the importance of the EPF, and protecting the Fund’s integrity for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”

Lawmakers also agreed to eliminate language that would have raided the Fund of $45 million for general fund relief.  The agreement ensures that funding is available for critical programs that protect open space, farmland and clean water, combat invasive species, enhance local waterfronts, create municipal parks, and support local recycling and solid waste programs.

"New York's Environmental Protection Fund was dangerously close to bankruptcy," said Robert Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. "By maintaining a stable funding stream of Real Estate Transfer Tax revenue and stopping this year's proposed raid on the Fund, the New York State Legislature acted responsibly in a tough budget year and recognized that protecting the health of our air, land and water is critical to the health of the state's economy."

“The vital support that EPF funds provide for living museums in every corner of New York State allows us to continue educating millions of New Yorkers through innovative ecological literacy programs and provide economic stability to local communities,” said Lois Carswell, Chairman of the Coalition of Living Museums. “The Coalition thanks Governor Paterson, Chairman Robert Sweeney, and Chairman Antoine Thompson for their heroic effort to keep the Environmental Protection Fund viable so living museums can stay open and do what they do best - educating and inspiring a new generation of conservation stewards.”

Funding received by the EPF not only protects the environment, it enhances the economy of our state.  For example, solid waste programs help support an industry with $1.3 billion in revenue and 30,000 jobs.  Wildlife watchers in the state contributed an estimated $1.6 billion (and $250 million in State Sales Tax revenue) to the state economy in 2006.  The EPF supports state parks, forest preserves, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquaria, all of which contribute heavily to New York’s tourism industry.

“Our state leaders responded to the overwhelming public outcry articulating that our environment is not a luxury,” stated Leslie Wright, New York State Director for the Trust for Public Land.  “In addition to providing clean water to drink, open space to play, and clean air to breathe, the EPF is an economic engine funding local government programs and projects and keeps people working building a cleaner, greener New York.”

"Protecting and enhancing our environment provides a local stimulus plan for New York communities," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.  The Environmental Protection Fund creates jobs and offers ‘staycation’ options to keep needed dollars in New York."

In addition to preserving the EPF, lawmakers included an expanded Bottle Bill in the budget.  The expansion, which will increase recycling and clean up our beaches, riverbanks and neighborhoods by adding a nickel deposit on water bottles, will also generate $115 million in new revenue to help close the state’s budget deficit. 

"We applaud Governor Paterson and state legislative leaders for their commitment to funding environmental protection in New York, in good times and in bad, and for passage of landmark legislation to update New York's Bottle Law," said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate with NYPIRG.   "This is truly one of the bright spots of this year's budget, and a tremendous environmental victory."

“The EPF has been a vital funding tool to help our farmers protect water quality on the farm and in their community and preserve farmland for generations to come," said Dean Norton, President of New York Farm Bureau. "The fund has helped our farmers become national leaders in environmental stewardship. We are greatly appreciate the support for the EPF from the Legislature and Governor."

"State leaders have acted decisively in restoring the Environmental Protection Fund to a level, without sweeps, that will allow the program to successfully continue to invest in land and ocean preservation, clean water protections, and funding for vital community programs like zoos and parks over the next fiscal year, " said Richard Schrader, New York Legislative Director for Natural Resources Defense Council.

“Not only does the EPF providing funding to buy land and conservation easements, it also provides money DEC desperately needs to maintain 4.5 million acres under its jurisdiction," said Neil Woodworth, executive director of the Adirondack Mountain Club. "The $7 million in the EPF Public Access and Stewardship category will pay for maintenance of backcountry trails and other projects to make these wild lands more accessible to New York residents and visitors.”

"In challenging economic times, New York State's commitment to the Environmental Protection Fund and to modernizing the Bottle Bill is commendable.  Land Trust Alliance and the many communities served by New York's 90 land trusts applaud Governor Paterson and the Legislature for this investment in our clean air and water, our farms, and New York's natural heritage,"  said Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager

“We are extraordinarily grateful to our elected officials for understanding that investing in our environment today is critical to a healthy tomorrow for our children and grandchildren,” said Lisa Ott, President of North Shore Land Alliance.

“Whether it’s funding for municipal parks or waterfront revitalization projects, this budget reflects the importance of the EPF in the lives of all New Yorkers,” said Tim Sweeney of Parks & Trails New York.  “The Governor and Legislature should be commended for crafting legislation that not only protects the environment, but will also stimulate economic activity across the state.”

"The $60 million set aside for land acquisition in the EPF is urgently needed in the Adirondack Park, where the state has committed to the protection of 161,000 acres of former Finch, Pruyn & Co. forests and to the purchase of legendary Follensby Pond, at the edge of the High Peaks Wilderness," said Adirondack Council Executive Director Brian L. Houseal.  "There are also more than 100,000 acres fragile and ecologically priceless low-elevation boreal forests that are at risk from fragmentation and development.  They contain habitat for some of the state's rarest and most vulnerable plants and wildlife." 

“New York State’s actions on the EPF during this recession send a very positive signal throughout the country. Thanks are owed to members of the legislature who recognized a grassroots groundswell for investing in environmental programs in their communities, programs which return hundreds of millions of dollars to local, county and state coffers,” said David Gibson, Executive Director for The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks.

Andy Bicking, Director of Public Policy for Scenic Hudson stated, "The Hudson Valley's economy will be strengthened, thanks to Governor Paterson, Majority Leader Smith, Speaker Silver and the entire Hudson Valley's legislative delegation's support of the Environmental Protection Fund. This investment will help ensure that working farms continue to provide healthy food and that the Hudson Estuary and our waterfronts are restored as a public and natural resource."

“We greatly appreciate the leadership demonstrated by the Legislature and Governor in insuring that New York invests in the EPF and programs within it that help farmers protect land and water”, said David Haight New York Director for the American Farmland Trust.  “These investments are critical in helping to strengthen the agricultural economy and insure that farmers can produce the healthy foods and renewable energy wanted by New Yorkers.”

“The New York legislature deserves tremendous thanks for recognizing that when it comes to our environment, elimination of vital programs would have been penny wise but pound foolish, and that investment in a healthy and beautiful world is what will help New York get through these difficult economic times,” says Glenn Hoagland, Executive Director of Mohonk Preserve. “Continued funding for the Environmental Protection Fund makes it possible for the Preserve and other organizations to provide the public with environmental education through the Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquaria (ZBGA) Program, assist towns with open space planning through the Hudson River Estuary Program, and carry out vital land protection work supported by the Land Trust Alliance.”

“The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter applauds the Legislature for pushing to preserve the Environmental Protection Fund’s primary funding source and providing $17 million over the Governor’s proposal for the EPF,” said Susan Lawrence, Chapter Chair. “EPF programs contribute billions of dollars to the State economy in jobs, taxes, tourism, and other revenues, while simultaneously protecting New York’s irreplaceable resources and wilderness areas for generations to come. Today our elected leaders demonstrated they understand how essential it is to consider environmental protection as having a vital role in economic recovery.”

“This is a step towards a better economics and environment in our South Bronx community, but we must have a bottle deposit policy in the near future that covers all beverages,” said Harry Bubbins, Director of Friends of Brook Park.

"We are glad to see portions of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill included, which brings millions in from water bottles and continuance of the EPF increases for environmental protection." Ron Urban, Chairman of Trout Unlimited. 

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