Environment DEC
Welcome to Environment DEC, DEC's online newsletter. Each issue presents news about New York State's environment, natural resources and DEC's environmental quality programs. Look for a new Environment DEC at the beginning of each month. Subscribe to our free e-mail notification, and you will be notified when each new issue becomes available.
December 2008
Visitors will be able to bike the new 156-acre corridor in the northern Catskills.Groundbreaking Agreement Gives Public Easier Access to 13,000 Catskill Acres
Outdoor enthusiasts will no longer have to obtain a separate permit from New York City to engage in hunting, fishing and other forms of recreation in the area covered by the agreement.
Carbon dioxide from power plants can be compressed, transported and stored deep underground.Public Invited to Information Session on Carbon Capture Technology
New York State is exploring more ways to combat climate change, including storage or sequestration of carbon dioxide in depleted natural gas wells and other kinds of deep underground cavities.
The plan describes the role of each agency in achieving goals for native fish communities.Strategic Plan for Lake Champlain Fisheries Released
The plan includes a set of comprehensive guiding principles for coordination of fisheries management between the three members of the cooperative: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Several groups received grants to start, expand or improve a community garden.DEC Announces Environmental Justice Grants
More than $1.6 million was awarded to a wide variety of projects ranging from green roofs to an international climate justice conference.
Newtown Creek, the state's largest wastewater treatment plant, must be brought into compliance with environmental laws.State, NYC Announce Landmark Agreement for Newtown Creek and Other Sewage Treatment Plants
The agreement allows NYC to earn back fines by improving plant performance. It also provides the largest-ever ($10 Million) community benefits package.
DEC is working with the Natural Resources Defense Council and community groups to educate the trucking industry and neighborhoods about air pollution.Aggressive Enforcement Strategy Targeting Truck/Bus Pollution in Urban Neighborhoods Goes Statewide
DEC is specifically targeting its efforts at high traffic neighborhoods that are disproportionately impacted by pollution sources.
Mercury from coal-fired power plants in other states ends up in New York's waters.New York Joins New England States to Fight Out-of-Region Mercury Emissions
Seven states have petitioned EPA to begin a multi-state process aimed at reducing mercury contamination of natural resources caused by emissions from upwind coal-fired power plants in other regions of the country.
The majority of the violations concerned store owners refusing to accept returnable bottles and cans.Bottle Bill Enforcement Sweep Nets 127 Violations
In a coordinated, statewide sweep, officers brought redeemable bottles and cans to 652 stores, issuing 127 citations for violations of New York State's Returnable Container Act.
DEC recommends that people stop feeding geese before winter sets in and remove any food such as bread or corn that might become moldy.DEC Warns Against Feeding Waterfowl After Finding Dead and Dying Geese
Canada geese were sickened by a fungal disease after eating moldy grain.
There is no successful means to control or eradicate the spiny water flea, making it essential to prevent its spread.Spiny Water Flea Confirmed in First Non-border Water
Previously found only in the Great Lakes, the invasive species has now been found in Great Sacandaga Lake.PREVIOUS ISSUE: November 2008
- Deer Management Permits Being Issued; Applications for Leftover Permits Being Accepted - Resident hunters have enjoyed a proud legacy in New York State, and DEC looks forward to helping them have a successful season again this year.
- New Bird Conservation Area Designated - New York State's BCA Program is designed to safeguard and enhance bird populations and their habitats on selected state-owned lands and waters, to provide a model stewardship program and to develop interpretive and educational programs for bird conservation.
- DEC Cleaning Up Gasoline Facilities Downstate - Inspections uncovered non-compliance issues at certain Shell gas stations that must be addressed, not only to correct problems but also to prevent future oil spills.
- Record Number of Youth Attend DEC Environmental Camps in 2008 - At a time when youngsters are spending numerous hours in front of computers, video games and television, disconnected from the natural world, it's encouraging that so many took advantage of DEC's camps this past summer.
- State to Restrict Use of Bug Bombs - DEC has been in discussions with the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene regarding the hazards involved in using these products and has the authority to address them and protect New Yorkers.
- Grants Available for Projects to Improve Quality of Drinking Water in NYC Watershed - The critical work being done is essential for the future health of the region, its communities and the drinking water supply for one-half of the population of New York State.
- Tuberculosis Found in Captive Deer in Columbia County - Hunters or others who handle deer should wear protective gloves when field-dressing them and minimize exposure to their blood and other body fluids even if abscesses or other unusual lesions are not evident.
- Landowners Asked to Help Eradicate Invasive Vine Found in Cattaraugus County - Mile-a-minute weed threatens plant diversity and, in turn, could affect wildlife species by diminishing or eliminating native plants that they depend upon for food or habitat.
- Public Meetings Set to Review Drilling Proposals for Marcellus Shale - These meetings are designed to ensure that if the drilling goes forward, it is done in the most environmentally responsible way possible.
- Students Enjoy Learning about "A Day in the Life of the Hudson River" - Students find this hands-on experience inspiring, and they also begin to recognize the fact that cleaning up the river is a work in progress.
- DEC and SCA Celebrate Adirondack and Hudson Valley Stewardship - The service SCA members have provided demonstrates the benefits of stewardship, as they have formed a strong connection with nature, and their work enables others to enjoy nature with a minimum of negative effects on the environment.
- DEC Meets with Quebec Environmental Officials on Franklin County Landfill - The meeting provided a valuable exchange regarding the agencies' respective environmental review processes and programs and included a discussion on public involvement opportunities for new landfill activities in New York State.
- Draft Citizen Participation Handbook for Remedial Programs - Written public comments about the handbook, which provides details about how citizen participation activities are integrated into the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites, are being accepted until February 20, 2009.
- Belleayre Mountain Schedules Skiing Seven Days a Week - The Belleayre Ski Center is important to the local economy and, taking into consideration current financial pressures and energy costs, will offer a full and diverse season.
- Sections of Two Roads on State Lands Reopened to ATVs - ATV riders are an important part of the tourism community, and DEC had agreed to review specific requests to open roads to ATVs when compatible with provisions in the vehicle and traffic laws, such as in this case.
- DEC Partners with Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program - Invasive species have a devastating effect on the environment and the economy, and the challenges they pose are so varied that a regional approach is necessary.
- Pollution Being Reduced at Sites In and Near NYC - DEC has been acting to improve the environment around a sewage-sludge pelletization plant in the Bronx and at former utility company sites in New York City and Long Island.
