New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and State Department of Health (DOH) have issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the entire state of New York for Tuesday, July 20th. [Read more…] about Western Fires Spark Air Quality Health Advisory for All New York State
DOH
State Investigating Several Polluted Landfill Sites In Queensbury
New York State is committing resources to perform and/or oversee an investigation of emerging contaminants, namely 1,4-dioxane and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), detected in groundwater near a complex of inactive landfills between State Route 149 and Mud Pond Road in the Town of Queensbury, Warren County.
The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) say the levels may be a concern for nearby private wells and with the property owners’ consent are conducting testing of those wells. The Departments say that to date, PFAS have not been detected in any private wells above New York State’s public drinking water standards although 1,4-dioxane has. [Read more…] about State Investigating Several Polluted Landfill Sites In Queensbury
Road Salt Legislation Headed To Governor
The NYS Senate granted final legislative approval Thursday to a bi-partisan bill that is expected to help reduce road salt pollution and protect drinking water in the Adirondack Park. The Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act was passed in the NYS Assembly earlier this week and now heads to Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The Fracking Report In Historical Perspective
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision in December to ban the use of hydrofracking in New York State was politically astute. The governor asserted he is merely following the recommendations in a new report from the State Health Department, A Public Review of High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing for Shale Gas Development.
That report, based on four years of research, is also politically judicious. It avoids condemning hydrofracking or sensationalizing its potential health risks. Instead, it concludes that “the overall weight of the evidence from the cumulative body of information” studied for the report demonstrates that there are “significant uncertainties about the kinds of adverse health outcomes that may be associated with HVHF [High Volume Hydraulic Fracking], the likelihood of the occurrence of adverse health outcomes, and the effectiveness of some of the mitigation measures in reducing or preventing environmental impact which could adversely affect public health.” The 184-page report is buttressed by 74 references, mostly well-documented studies and reports from the past few years. [Read more…] about The Fracking Report In Historical Perspective