Guest Column: State Sen. George Winner

“Environmental Protection in 2008: Session Review”

ALBANY, Sept. 1 -- ALBANY, Sept. 1 -- There have been numerous success stories in New York government over the past decade. However, none have been more meaningful to the future than our achievements in environmental protection.

We have pursued an aggressive commitment to a more environmentally sound New York State. While much work remains ahead of us, the voters’ approval of the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Environmental Bond Act began a steady stream of state actions and investments that have advanced environmental quality projects absolutely essential to the health and well-being of future generations. Some of these successes have included the funding and expansion of the Environmental Protection Fund; landmark agreements to clean up so many of New York’s key waterways; the preservation of valuable open spaces; and bold, new steps to enforce
environmental laws and prevent pollution.

Here in the Southern Tier-Finger Lakes region, we fully appreciate the value and importance of our natural resources, and so we embrace the efforts to protect and improve them. The state Legislature continued these efforts in 2008, including the approval of the following new laws and
legislation:

-- Senate Bill Number 8717/Chapter 390 of the Laws of 2008 to modify the Brownfield Cleanup Program to encourage better cleanup results by offering enhanced credits to developers who undertake higher-standard remediation;

-- Senate Bill Number 6866/Chapter 185 to add the Canisteo, Cohocton, and Tioga rivers to the state’s list of designated inland waterways eligible for waterfront revitalization grants;

-- Senate Bill Number 6809/Chapter 59, as part of the 2008-09 New York State budget, funds the Environmental Protection Fund at $255 million, including $66.6 million for land acquisition, $30 million for farmland protection, and $10.8 million for municipal recycling;

-- Senate Bill Number 4324/Chapter 27, which enacts the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to promote improved management of the water resources of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin;

-- Senate Bill Number 8643, which has passed both houses (PBH) of the Legislature and will be delivered to the governor for final action, enacts the “Bag Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Act” to require operators of retail stores to establish at-store recycling programs that provide opportunities for customers to return clean, plastic, carryout bags;

-- Senate Bill Number 8481/PBH to expand the number of customers allowed to benefit from “net metering” for renewable electric generating systems;

-- Senate Bill Number 7560/PBH, which requires the state to develop and implement a public information program on the proper disposal of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications;

-- Senate Bill Number 8634/PBH, which would require property owners to provide notification of testing for contamination of indoor air to current and prospective tenants;

-- Senate Bill Number 8356/PBH, which would establish the New York State Greenhouse Gases Management Research and Development Program to promote new technologies and processes which shall avoid, abate, mitigate, capture, or sequester carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases;

-- Senate Bill Number 7558/PBH, which would create the Community Green Trails Initiative to provide a comprehensive statewide list of accessible and safe multi-use trails through a state-administered Web site;

-- Senate Bill Number 8544/PBH to add the town of Ithaca to the list of municipalities currently allowed to regulate the construction of boathouses, docks, and moorings;

-- Senate Bill Number 2324/PBH, which would establish a task force to plan for a comprehensive statewide system of multi-use trails in New York State;

-- Senate Bill Number 6835/PBH to initiate a blue-ribbon commission to examine issues surrounding the public ownership of outdoor recreational facilities and make recommendations regarding methods to promote fair competition in the outdoor recreation industry.

As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information, contact my office in Bath (776-3201) or Elmira (732-2765), or by e-mail at my website: www.senatorwinner.com

Photo in text: State Senator George Winner

Schuyler County Officials

Legislature Members:

Top row (from left): Thomas Gifford, Delmar Bleiler, Doris Karius, Glenn Larison

Bottom row: Michael A. Yuhasz, Dennis Fagan, Paul Marcellus, Stewart Field

Legislature Chairman

Thomas M. Gifford, 535-9517

Legislature Members:

Michael A. Yuhasz, 535-4967

Doris L. Karius, 546-5544

Delmar F. Bleiler Jr., 594-3437

Glenn R. Larison, 594-3385

Dennis Fagan, Tyrone

Paul Marcellus, Watkins Glen

Stewart Field, Reading Center

County Clerk: Linda Compton, 535-8133

Sheriff: William Yessman, 535-8222

Undersheriff: Breck Spaulding, 535-8222

County Treasurer: Margaret Starbuck, 535-8181

District Attorney: Joseph Fazzary, 535-8383

State, Federal Officials for Schuyler County

Sen. Charles E. Schumer

United States Senate
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3201
DC Phone: 202-224-6542
DC Fax: 202-228-3027
Email Address: http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton

United States Senate
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3203
DC Phone: 202-224-4451
DC Fax: 202-228-0282
Email Address: http://clinton.senate.gov/
email_form.html

U.S. Rep. John R. Kuhl

United States House of Representatives
1505 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3229
DC Phone: 202-225-3161
DC Fax: 202-226-6599
Email Address: None Currently Available
WWW Homepage: http://www.house.gov/kuhl/

State Senator George H. Winner, Jr. -- Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates, western Tompkins, Enfield, Ithaca (Town and City), Newfield, Ulysses(Trumansburg)

310 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2091
Fax: (518) 426-6976
www.senate.state.ny.us/

Assemblyman Tom O’Mara -- Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga
446 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: (518) 455-4538
Fax: (518) 455-5922

Assemblyman James G. Bacalles -- Steuben, Yates
439 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: (518) 455-5791
Fax: (518) 455-4644