News from the Environmental Finance Center

Real-Time Traffic Monitoring on I-87 Northway (Albany to Clinton Counties) $790,736.
Smart Roadside Inspection System (Rensselaer County) $373,490.
Community-Wide Ride Sharing Program (Tompkins) $179,000.
Advanced Traffic Control Signals (Nassau County) $325,818.
Traffic Management Study of I-87 Major Deegan Expressway (Bronx County) $143,722.

Each of the projects were selected competitively through NYSERDA's Program Opportunity Notice process and are funded with federal and state DOT funding and NYSERDA Transportation R&D Funds. More information is available at http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1554pon.pdf

DEC's Environmental Remediation Annual Report

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) tackled 15,000 spills across the state, completed major cleanups of 39 large-scale contaminated sites and collected nearly $21 million in fines and reimbursements related to cleanups in the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to a report recently released.

DEC's "Environmental Remediation Annual Report" also documents more than 5,000 petroleum and chemical storage facilities that were registered and licensed, expanded cleanups of former manufactured gas plants, and an initiative launched to clean up abandoned underground fuel storage tanks using federal stimulus money. The report covers sites under the agency's Superfund, brownfield, spill, vapor intrusion, manufactured gas plant, and other remedial programs.

Report highlights include:

Superfund Sites: Not only were cleanup actions completed at 27 sites, but also remediation progressed at another 123 sites in fiscal 2009-10. To date, New York has completed 1,490 Superfund cleanups, with 878 sites underway.
Brownfield Sites: Under this program, which works to encourage private developers to remediate and rehabilitate abandoned industrial sites, 12 major cleanup actions were completed. Another 50+ sites made significant progress, from conducting initial investigations to carrying out interim remedial measures.
More than 15,000 spills were addressed, with DEC compelling polluters to pay costs in 97 percent of the cases. To see a regional breakdown of the Spill Resource Program, visit the DEC website.
More than 5,000 petroleum and chemical storage facilities were registered and more than 6,000 inspected. Registrations and inspections are akin to preventive maintenance measures that help DEC stay on top of storage facilities to limit the damage from leaks and spills. To view the Bulk Storage Programs 2009/2010 Progress and Statistics please visit the DEC website.
Stimulus Funds for Cleanups: DEC began to utilize $9.2 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to remediate dozens of leaking underground petroleum storage tanks across the state.
DEC collected more than $16 million in reimbursements from parties responsible for contamination at Superfund sites, in addition to oversight costs collected for the administration of other remedial programs.

NYS Climate Action Plan Enters Public Input Phase

The New York State Climate Action Council outlined the process for the development of the State Climate Action Plan at meetings this month at the NYS Public Service Commission. Governor David A. Paterson signed an Executive Order setting a goal of reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent of their 1990 levels by 2050. The executive order created the Climate Action Council and directed it to prepare a draft climate action plan that will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, and identify the extent to which such actions support New York's goals for meeting energy demands.

The draft climate action plan is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 1. Release of the draft plan will be followed by a three-month public comment period.

More information is available at The NYS Climate Action Council webpage which includes a climate action plan list server to be notified of future meetings and other events.

New EPA Consumer Campaign

The EPA's WaterSense® program will kick off the new multi-year We're for Water campaign July 14, 2010 to educate consumers about water-saving behaviors and WaterSense labeled products.

We're for Water shows consumers that saving water can be as easy as check, twist, replace.

Check toilets for silent leaks, which can waste enough water each year to fill a backyard swimming pool.
Twist on a WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerator to save water and energy at the tap without noticing a difference in flow.
Replace old, inefficient showerheads with WaterSense labeled models that use less water and energy, but provide a shower with power.

Consumers are encouraged to adopt one or all of these water-saving behaviors and take the "I'm for Water" pledge on the WaterSense website.

Follow Flo, the We're for Water "spokesgallon," as she takes a road trip across the country to launch the campaign and educate people about water efficiency at www.epa.gov/watersense/wereforwater or www.facebook.com/epawatersense.

Sara Pesek
Director

Khristopher Dodson
Communications and Program Manager

Evan Newell
Program Manager

Melissa Young
Program Manager

Kathy Forrest
Administrative Assistant

Interns: Jon Davis Chris Duncombe Jes Eckerlin Paul Goldner
Joe Palumbo Lisa Ruggero Mandy Westerdahl

Please visit our website: efc.syracusecoe.org or contact us at efc@syracusecoe.org