New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and Attorney General Letitia James this week announced the convictions of Cross Tie Disposal, Inc. (Cross Tie), a Kentucky-based freight shipping and trucking company, and its Vice President, Harold Young, 48, for illegally dumping contaminated railroad ties treated with hazardous materials in Chenango County and creating fake receipts to conceal the illegal disposal. [Read more…] about Company Convicted of Illegally Dumping Railroad Ties
pollution
Air Pollution Spotlight: PFAS, Forever Chemicals
What do non-stick pans, firefighting foam, microwave popcorn bags, cleaning products, fast food containers and wrappers, cosmetics, and stain-resistant carpets have in common? They all may contain forever chemicals called PFAS. [Read more…] about Air Pollution Spotlight: PFAS, Forever Chemicals
Zero Emission Vehicles: Quieter Roadways and Cleaner Air
NYS is moving into a cleaner future by increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) on the road. ZEVs include battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid electric-powered vehicles. Governor Kayth Hochul recently directed DEC to propose the adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations. [Read more…] about Zero Emission Vehicles: Quieter Roadways and Cleaner Air
Migrating Birds, Light Pollution & Toxic Chemical Exposure
The journeys of night-migrating birds are already fraught with danger. Light pollution adds yet another hazard beyond the increased risk of collisions with buildings or communication towers. According to a new study, birds attracted by the glow of artificial light at night are drawn into areas where they are also exposed to higher concentrations of airborne toxic chemicals. The study has just been published in the journal Global Change Biology. [Read more…] about Migrating Birds, Light Pollution & Toxic Chemical Exposure
New Paint Recycling Program Launched
The New York State Postconsumer Paint Collection Program is underway, making it easier for households and businesses to safely dispose of leftover paint. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) oversees the program, which is operated by PaintCare to manage unwanted architectural coating products and provide for recycling or proper disposal. [Read more…] about New Paint Recycling Program Launched
A Bird’s-Eye-View of Air Pollution
Controlling air pollution is not just for the benefit of humans. Exposure to pollution can harm birds and other animals, just like it does people, while also harming the environment around them. Ground-level ozone pollution, for example, can contribute to habitat damage and food source loss for birds. In fact, habitat loss and degradation, on the whole, have resulted in an 80-99% decline in the abundance of grassland bird populations since 1966. [Read more…] about A Bird’s-Eye-View of Air Pollution
$4.5M for Buffalo Center for Plastic Recycling Research and Innovation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced $4.5 million is being awarded to the State University of New York’s University at Buffalo to create a new Center for Plastic Recycling Research and Innovation and support crucial work to reduce plastic waste.
This expanded academic partnership will improve plastics recycling by researching the development of secondary recyclable markets to ease the financial burdens on municipal recycling programs and streamline the recycling process, especially with certain types of lower-grade plastics. [Read more…] about $4.5M for Buffalo Center for Plastic Recycling Research and Innovation
New York State Issues 10th ‘Greening New York State Report’
The GreenNY Council has issued the tenth annual Greening New York State Report for 2020-21, documenting the continued progress made by New York State to reduce the environmental footprint of State operations.
Highlights of this year’s report include a record $300 million invested in green products and services, 4.4 trillion BTUs of energy saving projects completed or underway as part of the BuildSmart 2025 program, and a record 94 percent recycling rate. [Read more…] about New York State Issues 10th ‘Greening New York State Report’
Forever Adirondacks Campaign Celebrates Budget Victories
The coalition supporting the new Forever Adirondacks Campaign for clean water, jobs and wilderness – led by the Adirondack Council’s Aaron Mair – declared victory as state government moved to approve a budget that includes funding for a series of top campaign priorities.
The Forever Adirondacks Campaign is a coalition of advocates, government officials, business leaders, educators, college administrators, grassroots activists and not-for-profit organizational partners seeking clean water, jobs and wilderness. [Read more…] about Forever Adirondacks Campaign Celebrates Budget Victories
Adirondack Lake Survey Explores Merger with Ausable River Association
The governing boards of the Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation and the Ausable River Association have announced plans for a merger. The merger is hoped to advance their shared goal of deploying critical field and laboratory science in the Adirondack Park to inform the protection of waterways, lands, and air for the benefit of all stakeholders. [Read more…] about Adirondack Lake Survey Explores Merger with Ausable River Association