RENewsletter April 25, 2010

RENewsletter | April 25, 2010

The Free environmental newsletter from RochesterEnvironment.com

“Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.”

[4/18/2010 – 4/25/2010]

* Need to vent? | Go to my blog: Environmental Thoughts - Rochester, NY

* Found an important Rochester environmental story from a credible source that you think needs attention? Or, an Environmental Event, Please, SEND ME THE LINK. If you think this newsletter, continually informing our community on our local environmental news, events, actions, is worthwhile, please encourage others to sign up.

*** The April 2010 Environmental Site of the Month Award goes to the”Rochester CARE Collaborative | Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) | US EPA”. | Go to Environmental Award.

[Hyperlinks work by CTRL + click to follow a link]

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Opening Salvo: “Genesee River – gauging success”

Using the Genesee River as a backdrop, New York State Environmental Conservation Commissioner (NYSDEC) Pete Grannis recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Grannis listed many of the accomplishment of the Genesee River clean up (see State Environmental Commissioner Celebrates Progress along the Genesee River - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation):

· More than $1 billion in federal, state and local funds has been invested to help replace outdated sewer systems with modern wastewater controls.

· An extensive combined-sewer-overflow abatement system, featuring deep tunnel storage and cutting-edge instrumentation, has worked to intercept and treat stormwater that previously poured straight into the river.

· Tighter regulations on industry have reduced improper discharges and better controls on construction and agricultural activities have reduced erosion and runoff.

· The formation of the Monroe County Stormwater Coalition has worked regionally to reduce stormwater pollution from various sources.

· An experiment to stock lake sturgeon in the river has thrived and grown. Trout and salmon stocking have helped make the river a popular fishing spot.

One has to be impressed that in 40 years this cash-strapped regulatory agency has done so much in so short a time. (Although one could say that it’s a sad commentary on our own character that we got the Genesee River in such a sorry polluted state in the first place.) But is it enough? Do we have we a clean river now? The commissioner admits that much remains to be done. But the larger question is whether the measure of the river’s health can even be determined by fish count and ‘normal’ oxygen levels, as the commissioner infers.

Fish can be stocked thereby masking a fish population that is not sustainable. Oxygen levels please scientists, but it must be that there is a lot more to a healthy river than what can be quantified and measured. At the end of the day, a healthy river is one that we can swim in, drink from, and where the bottom is not incubating dangerous manmade toxins in an experiment not even possible in the lab. The Genesee River may be “recovering”, but at what level? Have we made any progress in returning the river to true sustainability? To some semblance of the health it enjoyed five hundred years ago (brimming with fish, free of manmade concoctions)?

The Genesee River “clean-up” may also make us over-confident: If we can clean up our rivers after so much abuse, will it only make us more complacent towards our river in the future? In other words, do these high tech fixes for our environment (like “an extensive combined-sewer-overflow abatement system, featuring deep tunnel storage and cutting-edge instrumentation”) only encourage us to continue our wasteful ways? Food for thought around Earth Day: The real gauge of environmental success may not be our best rescue efforts, but how well we can sustain a long-term relationship with our environment so that rescue efforts are not needed.

FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com (Click on my email for feedback)

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NewsLinks – Environmental NewsLinks – [Highlights of major environmental stories concerning our area from the past week]

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Updates – Daily Updates – [Connecting the dots on Rochester’s environment. Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care? Clicking on -DISCUSSION – will take you to my blog “Environmental Thoughts, NY, where you can add your comments.]

4/24/2010 - Rochester Sierra Club’s Earth Day: Now, in its twelfth year and one of the longest running Earth Day celebrations in the Rochester, NY area, the Sierra Club forum had another excellent program on Thursday, April 22 - “Transitioning to Sustainable Communities.” I cannot give much of a report on this wonderful event because I was too busy networking with all the participants. So many groups, who have participated in the event over the years, are still working towards a clean, healthy, and safe environment and so little time to talk to them. I complement these groups in their effort to engage the public in the myriad of complicated environmental issues that don’t easily fit on a bumper sticker. In the 40 years from the start of Earth day, we have come along way from an almost dead Lake Erie and a much polluted Genesee River, but I’m not sure how much that means. Only a healthy, sustainable environment will do. Anything else, regardless of our attempts, will be an unsustainable environment.
4/24/2010 - Wind Farm Placement: The argument about the Cape Wind project of 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound will mark how seriously we take climate change. If for aesthetic reasons we refuse to place renewable energy sources and continue to burn fossil fuel because those plants are in someone else’s backyard (while their mountains are being stripped away) and there workers are working in dangerous coal mines, we are making an unsound choice. We are saying that the appearance of a healthy environment for some is more important than a real healthy environment for all. Six Northeast governors, including New York's, criticize council's Cape Wind advice | BOSTON — Six Northeast governors urged the U.S. Secretary of the Interior on Friday to ignore a historical council’s advice that he stop a wind farm from being built off Cape Cod, saying that such a move could end offshore wind development on the Eastern Seaboard. (April 23, 2010) Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com
4/23/2010 - Earth Day Thoughts: Here's some thoughts on the 40th anniversity of Earth Day from the Messenger Post: What does Earth Day mean to you? - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow "MPNnow.com — A lot has happened since the first Earth Day — April 22, 1970 — which marked the birth of the modern environmental movement. Now, 40 years later, Earth Day conjures up memories of planting a tree in elementary school for some, making their first backyard compost for others. For many, the day is simply a pleasant reminder that spring is finally here — yes, the snow finally melted atop the Bristol Hills. " Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
4/20/2010 - Bicycling as Transportation is Easier if You’re Routed Correctly: For about two month Google has included bicycle routes on their maps. You can choose several ways to be routed when you use Google for directions: driving, walk, public transportation, and bicycling. Well, some complained that the Google maps did not include cycling routes, but if you think about it that’s a tall order because bike paths and pedestrian overpasses are not usual transportation routes. At least for now. Anyway, we think this happen in the future so you can find the fastest and safest route to where you are going by bike. Check this out: Google Maps - Bikes Is Working & Responding To Route Recommendation Google maps bikes is now up, working and responding to suggestions. It is in beta testing so they are continuously refining things and encourage us to critique thier suggested routes. I'd encourage you to use it and post your favorite cycling routes to work, schools shopping ect. This can be a powerful tool to direct cyclists to the safest routes. --from Rochester Cycling Alliance
4/19/2010 - Bicycles as Transportation getting a Lift? Are we dreaming? Are bicycles going to be getting more respect as viable transportation and the gas guzzlers less respect? Hard to believe: Shopfloor » Blog Archive » Embracing Bicycles at Expense of Freight, Jobs, Reality Secretary LaHood reported his Bike Summit comments at his FastLane blog today, “My view from atop the table at the National Bike Summit“: Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized. (March 15, 2010) Shopfloor
4/19/2010 - The Effect of our pollution: As we continue to pollute our air, land, and water one of the assumptions was that the ocean was too large to worry about. It will dissolve anything and everything and just go to the bottom. Well, there are living things on the bottom and we are just discovering what they are. And they have been making our environment work. So, what is the real effect of our industrial-age world-wide pollution? BBC News - Census offers glimpse of oceans' smallest lifeforms CoML researchers suggested that the total number of marine microbes, based on molecular characterization, could be in the region of one billion species. They added that the micro-organisms were vital for sustaining life on Earth, as they are responsible for about 95% of respiration in the oceans. "They play a really critical role in keeping the oceans working," said Paul Snelgrove, leader of CoML's Synthesis Group. April 18, 2010) BBC - Homepage
4/19/2010 - Feeding the birds this spring, are you doing it correctly? Find out by joining this great program. Register Your Yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat™ - National Wildlife Federation Join the thousands of wildlife enthusiasts across the country who have been recognized for creating havens for neighborhood wildlife in their very own yards. These individuals have provided the essential elements for healthy and sustainable wildlife habitats and have earned the distinction of being part of National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program.
4/19/2010 - Electronic Recycling Standards: What are the best electronic recycling standards and are we practicing them in the US? BAN to Certify and Audit E-Waste Recycling - NYTimes.com The Basel Action Network, an American watchdog group that has sought to curb the export of toxic electronic waste from the United States, plans to begin a new certification and auditing program on Thursday for both recyclers and companies that generate electronic refuse. (April 14, 2010) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia
4/16/2010 - Why The Invasive Species Problem will get Worse: While we wait for the inevitable onslaught of the Asian Carp into the Great Lakes, as we waited for the Zebra Mussels two decades ago, we might reflect on the world-wide issue of Invasive Species. Climate Change and Transportation in the modern age fuel much of the rapid spread of species that end up in areas where they have no natural enemies and wreak havoc on indigenous species. What can we do about this situation? Mostly keep informed and vote for candidates who appreciate and are willing to work with other countries around the world to monitor and check the spread of invasive species. The day where we could contain our borders (if they ever existed at all) are over. We’re going to be very busy the rest of this century holding our own against an increasingly hostile environment because we keep failing to act on issues like Invasive Species. BBC News - Counting the cost of alien invasions Far too many governments have failed to grasp the scale of the threat from invasive species, warns UN Environment Programme's executive director Achim Steiner. In this week's Green Room, he issues a call to arms to halt the alien invasion. (April 13, 2010)

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Events – Rochester Environmental Events Calendar – [The most complete listing of all environmental events around the Rochester, New York area.] If you don’t see your event, or know of a local environmental event, please send me the info: FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com with (EV event) in the subject line.

April

Sunday April , 25 1-4pm. | Jewish Comm. Fed. (441 East Ave).
- Earth Sunday April 25, 2010 • 1-4 PM Recycle. Reuse. Gather the items listed below and bring them to the Jewish Community Federation's parking lot (441 East Avenue) andd next door to the Third Presbyterian Church parking lot (4 Meigs Street) as indicated. Volunteers will be waiting to unload your car. Items Collected at the Jewish Community Federation 441 East Avenue Pharmaceuticals — The Monroe County Department of Environmental Services along with the Sheriff's Office will be collecting outdated, unwanted and unusable prescription and non-prescription medications for proper disposal. Removing these medications from your home will help protect our environment and will protect against the misuse of these drugs. Electronics — From cell-phones and hair dryers to computer monitors and TV's. These items contain hazardous materials such as lead and cadmium and need to be recycled properly. Accepted equipment: computers, monitors, typewriters, printers, circuit boards, fax machines, audio/visual equipment, cell phones, video game systems, microwaves, computer accessories. Televisions (there will be a $10 charge to drop-off televisions). No. 5 Plastics — They must be clean! Yogurt cups, hummus tubs, cottage cheese containers and other items like these, as well as medicine bottles and some microwave-safe take-out containers, are typically made from no.5 plastic or polypropylene and are not recycled locally at this time. Bring them to Earth Sunday and we will see that they are sent to a facility that will shred and re-use them for new products. Items Collected at Third Presbyterian Church 4 Meigs Street (Corner of East Avenue) Sneakers — These will be Recycled and Reused to make running tracks for schools in poor neighborhoods. Shoes and Boots — They will be Reused locally by area migrant workers. Clothing — Both children's and adult sizes will be collected for the benefit of Flower City Habitat for Humanity. For more information, contact Isobel Goldman, 461-0490 x 235 or igoldman@jewishrochester.org
April 26, 7:00 PM | Penfield Town Hall, 3100 Atlantic Ave. Penfield, NY
- Public Information Meeting “Living Next to Stormwater Ponds” -Town Hall, Monday, April 26, 7:00 PM- PENFIELD, N.Y., APRIL 13, 2010 – Penfield residents are invited to a community presentation entitled “Living Next to Stormwater Ponds” on Monday, April 26 at 7:00 PM at the Town Hall, 3100 Atlantic Ave. The purpose of the meeting is to share information regarding the care and maintenance of stormwater ponds. This meeting will be co-hosted by the Town of Penfield and the Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District. “The necessity and function of ponds does not always equate to pond aesthetics,” says Supervisor Tony LaFountain. “Developers like to sell lots on ponds for a premium when the pond is newly constructed and looks pristine. Then algae, cat-tails, vegetation, and mosquitoes take over, and homeowners do not see their lot as premium, but rather an unattractive nuisance. While there is no one easy fix or solution, this information meeting is designed to educate and dialog what can be done to help address homeowners’ concerns about living alongside a pond." MCSWCD staff will present information on the purpose and function of stormwater ponds, why they are located where they are, and also address many of the frequently asked questions about ponds. The Town of Penfield’s role in maintenance of ponds will be discussed along with a discussion of options for residents to address problems with algae, geese, and unwanted vegetation. The Town’s Representative for this meeting is Geoffrey Benway, Town Engineer, 585-340-8683 or benway@penfield.org .
Tuesday, April 27nd, at 4:30 PM – 6 PM | at the AAUW house, 494 East Ave, Rochester, NY
- Sierra Club Zero Waste Committee: We have a great group assembled to advocate for better recycling in our area. If you got ideas, want to help, want to listen, want to make a difference, please come to our meeting. We have another guest speaker for our next committee meeting, Marjorie Torelli. Marjorie is Public Relations/Education Coordinator for Western Finger Lakes Solid Waste Management Authority http://wfingerlakesauthority.org/ . She will talk about Wayne County’s recycling plastic program, where they recycle all plastics, and an emerging concept called "product stewardship." The draft solid waste management plan was released today! Here is the website http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/41831.html For contrast... here is the old Plan..... http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8735.html Join up and get our notices at http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/Zero_Waste/Zero_Waste.html
April 27, 2010 | Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY
- If Your Grid Is Dirty , your energy is dirty. Attend this free meeting in Albany and help make sure our electrical grid is green. New York ISO 2010 Symposium 2010 NYISO Symposium Planning the Sustainable Grid of the Future – Reliable, Cleaner, Greener, Smarter, April 27, 2010 – Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY | Timely topics in energy The NYISO symposium will bring together thought-leaders from across the country to discuss a range of topics critical to the energy future of New York, the Northeast, and the Nation. The day-long event features speakers and three panel discussions that will focus on: Developing Broader Regional Markets The Carbon Constrained Economy Enhanced Interregional Planning Register now. The event is free, however space is limited. "

May 2010

Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 10am to 5pm, rain or shine | Imagine RIT takes place throughout RIT’s campus in Henrietta, NY.
- RIT - Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival is a campus-wide event that showcases the innovative and creative spirit of RIT students, faculty and staff. Visitors experience the breadth and depth of RIT through interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, and research projects set up throughout campus. Inflatables, games and multiple performance stages with live music and entertainment are also a hit with visitors of all ages. Held annually each spring, Imagine RIT is the annual kickoff to Rochester’s rich festival season. Date & Time: Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 10am to 5pm, rain or shine. Cost: Free and open to the public! Location: Imagine RIT takes place throughout RIT’s campus in Henrietta, NY.
Saturday May 1, 2010 Time: Challenge begins at 9:00 AM | RIT - Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival
- Dr. Destler’s Green Vehicle Challenge About the Challenge Date: Saturday May 1, 2010 Time: Challenge begins at 9:00 AM Course: Approximately 3 miles beginning at the Simone Circle, participants will take Andrew’s Memorial Drive to S-Lot and return to the Simone Circle. Click here to view a PDF of the course.
Saturday 5/1 10 am – 2 pm. | Bring bikes to Pittsford Mendon High School parking lot (Rte 64).
- Bike Drive sponsored by Rotary Club of Pittsford. Bring bikes to Pittsford Mendon High School parking lot (Rte 64). Info 329-4319. http://www.rcommunitybikes.net.
May 1, 2010 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Dryden Theatre, George Eastman House 900 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
- Symposium Main Page | Rochester Zen Center TURNING TOWARD THE EARTH: A Conversation with Leading Environmentalists and Buddhists May 1, 2010 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Dryden Theatre, George Eastman House 900 East Avenue, Rochester, NY Tickets $60: $40 students and RZC members
Saturday 5/15 | http://giveyourstuffaway.com
- Give Your Stuff Away. Put items you no longer want to the curb (see site for guidelines.) At the same time, people will be coming around picking up free items. http://giveyourstuffaway.com.
Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10:AM - 2 PM | The Center for Student Innovation at RIT, 1 Lomb Memorial Dr Rochester, NY 14623-5698
- “Sustainability Mobility Fair - Future Transportation Choices for Short Trips" Admission is free and open to the public. When: Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10:AM - 2 PM Where: The Center for Student Innovation at RIT, 1 Lomb Memorial Dr Rochester, NY 14623-5698 Attendees will be exposed to what is new and now available on the market and able to experience the latest choices in Electric, Hydrogen, Biodiesel, Natural Gas, Propane, Hybrid, Plug-In, Ethanol, Walking School Buses, and cycling transportation technologies. All alternative fuel options will be on display. As more commuters become aware of travel choices, we expect to see more of them regularly choosing transportation alternatives because of the benefits. Sponsored by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the Center for Environmental Information (CEI) for more information, surf over to CEI: Center for Environmental Information.
Thursday May 20, 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Baha’i Center, 693 East Avenue, Rochester (Entrance and parking off Oxford St.)
- PERMACULTURE AND PEACE Workshop by Dave Feasey and Kit Miller Thursday May 20, 7:00 – 9:00 PM Baha’i Center, 693 East Avenue, Rochester (Entrance and parking off Oxford St.) FREE and open to the public. What's the connection between how your food is grown and peace on earth? Permaculture (“permanent agriculture”) is a body of knowledge and practices aimed at producing food sustainably, and with a minimum of wasted effort. We who care about creating a permanent human community on earth can use these teachings. Join us to learn about a nonviolent system of agriculture and design called Permaculture which is employed around the world with extraordinary results. Kit Miller is the director of the Mk Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and a student of Permaculture. Dave Feasey is a certified Permaculture teacher and designer. This is part of a series of monthly video and discussion presentations in the Creating the Future series for 2010. Each is held at the Baha’i Center, at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of the month. June 17th: Mike Rudnick / LIVE LONG, LIVE HEALTHY Through Improved Lifestyle Choices: What Science Has to Say July 15th: TBD Our committee is Ken Illingsworth, Dave Whitman, Sarva, and Hank Stone. Information or program suggestions: hstone@rochester.rr.com (585) 624-3673

June 2010

Sunday, June 13, 2010, 9am to 1pm | Brighton High School Parking Lot. Brighton, NY
- 2010 Green Energy Fair Sunday, June 13, 2010, 9am to 1pm, at Brighton High School Parking Lot. Like last year, the fair will take place together with the Brighton Farmers Market. The fair will feature the following and more: A wide variety of businesses offering energy saving and green products and services. Tables with information and resources about energy- and resource-saving technologies and lifestyle choices. Displays of current alternative technologies. Student projects related to alternative energy and energy conservation. A silent auction featuring energy-saving products and services, to benefit future educational programs of ColorBrightonGreen.org . Drawing to be held at 12:45 at the ColorBrightonGreen.org tent. Brighton Farmers Market. - from Home Page - Color Brighton Green

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Action – Take Action - Often, I receive request to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on local developments, and environmental items needing action by the Rochester Community and around the world. I’ll keep Actions posted until their due date.

Action (do due date set yet)
- Public Input Requested: Help the DEC set a new bar on what should be recycled in our area and the rest of New York. Things have been changing in our ability to recycle in the past years. “The Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) was issued in 1987. It set a waste reduction and recovery goal of 50%-bold for its time--and contained a broad and aggressive list of recommendations.” But, now there are new waste streams such has electronics, and things we don’t want in our waste streams at all such as pharmaceuticals, and mercury-containing products. So, take a look at the Draft Solid Waste Management Plan. - "The Draft Solid Waste Management Plan entitled "Beyond Waste: A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York State" is now available for review. An official public comment period for this plan will be announced soon. Please email us with any questions or comments. Draft New York State Solid Waste Management Plan - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation This SWMP process offers an opportunity to take stock of where we are with regard to solid waste management strategies and articulate a bold vision for maximizing recovery and minimizing waste. A SWMP will provide the Department with an opportunity to address the broader environmental implications of solid waste management alternatives, including global climate change. The Plan will include an analysis of the environmental and economic benefits of its recommendations to maximize recovery and reduce waste. In so doing, we will build the case for legislative and regulatory actions to achieve more aggressive recovery goals. "
Action Due Date: Now
- Learn about and register your comments regarding the Governor's proposed State Park Closings and Environmental Protection Fund reductions. See Parks and Trails NY ( www.ptny.org ) and ADK (http://adk.org/pdf/Park_Closure_List.pdf ) This includes closure of the Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Centers at Paul Smiths and Newcomb (http://adk.org/issues/Park_Closure_Action_Alert.aspx) Buffalo & Erie County have learned already in spring of 2007 that it can be very expensive to close parks. http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/02/19/962199/state-targets-several-wny-parks .html It is true that NYS is in fiscal crisis and "we all must share the cuts" but the Governor's Budget cuts are disproportionately high for the environment compared to other funds and departments. For example: from Proposed 2010-11 All Funds Spending Reduction for state agency budgets http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1011/fy1011littlebook/Briefing Book.pdf --- Department of Environmental Conservation -34%. Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation -19%. Department of Agriculture and Markets -10%. Department of Education -2%. Department of Health -1%. Environmental Protection Fund proposed $143M which would be -33% (or -35%?) from the 2009-10 budget. $222M being requested is by the State Legislature is already 26% below the level scheduled for 2010 under the EPF Enhancement Act. That doesn't even count the $500M swept from EPF to State General Fund in recent years. Contact Governor Paterson of New York: 518-474-8390.
Action Due Date: Today
- Donate to a worthy cause: Christine Sevilla Project (Christine Sevilla Project) "Welcome to A Living Project to Preserve a Place in Christine's Honor For All to Enjoy in Perpetuity Christine's family and friends envision a natural area, including wetlands, preserved in her memory. This vision includes an educational component, like an interpretive trail to help others recognize what Christine saw - an interconnected natural community of flora and fauna, soil and water. Perhaps even an Arts and Music Festival to celebrate what Christine so treasured. "
Action Due Date : 4/29/2010 3-8pm -
- Informal PUBLIC HEARING on the Auburn Trail Extension. The town still proposes to widen the environmentally sensitive section of the trail from 3' wide to a TEN-FOOT-WIDE stone road. Public input is needed before and during the public hearing. PUBLIC HEARING INFO: http://www.victorny.org/calendar/town/ | (http://www.victorny.org/Calendar/Town/Detail/?eventID=1938) TRAIL INFO: http://www.saveauburntrail.org/proposal-and-compromise TRAIL INFO: http://victorhikingtrails.org/map/trails/td-auburn.html

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Award – Environmental Site of the Month Award – [On the last Sunday of each month, we present an environmental award for the Rochester-area environmental web site or blog that best promotes the need to protect and offers solutions for our area's environmental issues.]

The April 2010 Environmental Site of the Month Award goes to the ”Rochester CARE Collaborative | Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) | US EPA”. In the recent year, we have seen the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ramp us its role in communicating environmental issues to the public and providing grants to keep our environment sustainable. Programs like the CARE Collaborate in communities like Rochester, NY can have a profound effect on environmental action by getting funds to specific problems areas and helping to orchestrate those actions via a federal agency that has the authority and knowledge to do so.

Rochester CARE Collaborative | Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) | US EPA “Rochester, the third-largest city in New York state located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, is home to nearly 220,000 residents who live among businesses and industrial facilities. Rochester is ranked as having the highest risks posed to humans in the Northeast, according to EPA’s Risk Screening Environmental Indicators. This is a method of assigning risk to geographic areas by considering the number of people exposed and affected by the amount and toxicity of its current and past pollution. The Rochester CARE Collaborative convened a number of local organizations concerned about the city’s environment and provided facilitation services and funding to help the organizations work together and leverage their assets. Today, with more than 30 partners, the Rochester CARE Collaborative is implementing six “mini-projects” to reduce exposure to environmental pollutants.”