PRESS RELEASE

July 2, 2010

GREEN WATCHDOG Recognizes environmental victories of 2010 nys legislative session  

CallS on Legislature TO TAKE ACTION to PROTECT NEW YORKERS FROM THE DANGERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE & HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

(ALBANY)— At the close of the 2010 New York State Legislative Session, Environmental Advocates of New York applauded many of the actions made by state lawmakers to protect the health of our air, land and water.

“We commend state lawmakers for their efforts to protect New York’s natural resources this year,” said Robert Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. “But there is still work to do when it comes to reducing the pollution that causes climate change, protecting New Yorkers from the dangers posed by hydraulic fracturing, and establishing a regulatory program to protect New York’s waters from overuse.”  

Among the environmental victories of the 2010 New York State Legislative Session are:   

• Electronic Waste (E-waste) Recycling Act: A 2010 Super Bill, this legislation would remove tons of toxic e-waste from New York’s landfills by requiring electronics manufacturers to collect and recycle their products. State lawmakers passed the Act as part of the budget package in May.

• Updating Heating Oil Standards: This bill requires residences, commercial industry and businesses to use ultra-low sulfur heating oil beginning January 1, 2012. The Senate and the Assembly passed this bill in June. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

• Smart Growth Infrastructure Policy Act: This bill makes sure state infrastructure funding is targeted to projects that meet specific “smart growth” criteria. Support for the measure was overwhelming in both houses of the legislature. This awaits signature from the Governor.

Still, the Legislature should come back and take care of unfinished environmental business. In the weeks ahead, the State Legislature and the Governor should make sure several bills come to the floor for a vote including:

• Global Warming Pollution Control Act: Another 2010 Super Bill, this legislation would set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets at 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050 and calls for the state to create a plan for how to adapt to the anticipated effects of climate change. The State Assembly passed this bill as part of their Earth Day package and the measure awaits action in the Senate.

• Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing Permits: Among the top priorities for the environmental community this year was to slow the rush for natural gas drilling in the Southern Tier and Catskills regions. The Senate and Assembly are poised to take action on a bill that creates a much needed “time out” for drilling until the legal framework is updated to provide New Yorkers with adequate protections from drilling.

• Water Withdrawals: This bill would require entities with the capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day from ground and surface resources to first obtain a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The bill passed the Senate on the final day of session and awaits action in the Assembly.

Super Bills, or high priority legislation, are identified by the Green Panel, which includes the leaders of more than a dozen of New York’s environmental organizations.

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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.