Updates Feb - March 03

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• 3/30/03 -- RochesterEnvironment.com has tried not to be political about environmental matters, but it's impossible.  The Bush Administration is a disaster on our environment, caring far more about the welfare of businesses and corporations than preserving our environment.  I sincerely doubts that he understand environmental concepts such as sustainability and biodiversity. (Bush call environmentalists, "green, green, lima beans.") His statement, that the United States will not join in the Kyoto Protocol because "it would hurt American business" (ever wonder why so many countries do not want to join Bush now in the Iraq war?), his attack on the Clear Air Act, and hundreds of anti-environmental policies make being neutral on the president's environmental record impossible. In order to help the environment we all have to make it clear to the most powerful government in the world that our environment--the one we need to survive in- needs drastic measures to keep it healthy.  In this vein, I think the announcement by Major William Johnson that he will run for Monroe County Executive is a fantastic jump forward for our area's environment. There's no being neutral possible.  Many environmental organizations have been fighting the Doyle Administration hard for years over the proposed NYS exit at Chili (and won), over the use of Monroe County Parks for private businesses (and won), and the expansion of the Seneca Park Zoo into the Seneca Park--when an agreement in the early nineties was made to ensure the growth of both the park and the zoo.  So, this announcement of Mayor Johnson--a nationally renown advocate for smart city growth and a man who understand and helps our environment-- to enter the race for Monroe County Executive is a welcome change from the constant and dismal environmental record of the Doyle Administraion. 
•  3/30/03 -- If you really, really look hard in today's Democrat and Chronicle, after all the Iraq war stuff, after the economic future of the city, after the Mayor deciding to run for County Executive, you'll find this little gem about how business (the kind of people according to the Bush Administration, we should entrust our environmental health to) have left our city (and all cities around the country) a mess we the public have to clean up so other business will come and eventually pollute:  Is it any wonder the public does not get the importance of our environment?  Remember, there are 48 contaminated sites without funding in Monroe County  Democrat & Chronicle: City plans $559,000 cleanup project — The city will spend $559,000 to clean up 3.7 acres of vacant land contaminated with petroleum along the Genesee River in the South Wedge neighborhood. The project will likely begin this summer or fall and continue into next year, said Edward Doherty, the city’s commissioner of environmental services. The city-owned property is located just south of the Time Warner Cable offices and north of the River Park Commons housing complex on Mt. Hope Avenue. The city obtained the land in the 1960s. (March 30, 2003) Democrat and Chronicle
• 3/30/03 -- ACTION: Interesting.   Go online and mention that in future reports the Democrat and Chronicle actively pursue keeping our environment healthy Democrat & Chronicle: Fighting for Rochester's Future. In a major program by the Democrat and Chronicle to help preserve our city's future there is almost no mention of protecting and preserving our area's environment. Besides the economic concerns and providing job, there will be no future for our city if we do not get working on these Rochester-area environmental problems.

  • Rochester is No. 1 in the nation for releases of cancer-causing industrial chemicals, according to a new analysis of 13 years of data on such materials. -(1/23/03)-DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE - Get the Report Toxics Release and Health Report (.pdf file) -from New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG)

  • A recent American Farmland Trust (AFT) report American Farmland Trust: Farming on the Edge: Sprawling development threatens America's best farmland ranked New York 13th in the nation in the amount of farmland developed between 1992 and 1997.  In particular, the study identified the "Finger Lakes/Ontario Plain"--including , Onondaga, Monroe, and Erie Counties and many of the neighbors - as the 11th Most Threatened Farming Region in the County --from American Farmland Trust

  • Rochester ranks 12th in the nation: The Sprawl Index - Rochester, NY Overall Sprawl Index Score: 77.93 - ranking it 12th most sprawling of 83 metro areas measured. Read the report: MEASURING SPRAWL AND ITS IMPACT The Character & Consequences of Metropolitan Expansion --From Smart Growth America

  • "In Monroe County, 48 contaminated sites are without funding, according to the DEC."   -DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE

  • Democrat & Chronicle: Cancer group gives a 'C' for air quality in Monroe County — An American Cancer Society “report card” to be released Friday gives Monroe County a low mark for protecting workers against secondhand smoke. The county -- praised for its one-time role as a leader in making workplaces smoke-free -- earned a “C” for its clean indoor air policies. (December 13, 2002) Democrat and Chronicle Find out here:  ALA State of the Air 2002 -New York --from the American Lung Association.

  • “Monroe County is among the top ten counties in the state (9th by gallons, 6th by pounds) for total amount of pesticides reported in 1998.” According to data from the New York State Department of Conservation’s (DEC) pesticide reporting program—the Pesticide Reporting Law of 1996--

  •  According the View the State of the Air 2002 Report for New York by American Lung Association of Western New York Monroe County does not fair well. Check the chart ALA State of the Air 2002 -New York. Monroe County with a total population of 712, 419 has 9, 443 cases of padiatric asthma, 40,549 cases of adult asthma, 23, 1701 cases of chronic bronchitis, and 7, 721 cases of emphysema.

  •  The Genesee River gets the distinction of being #2 in this criteria: Top polluters directly discharging cancer-causing chemicals to U.S. waters (1992-1996).

•  3/30/03 --  ACTION: Don't let this opportunity to have a major affect on our environment go by. EPA New Source Review -- Public Hearings Announced On March 31, 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold five public hearings on the rule it proposed in December 2002 related to routine maintenance, repair and replacement under the New Source Review air permitting program. Comment Period Extended - The New Source Review comment period has been extended 60 days and will now end May 2, 2003. A phone line is now available to take verbal comments at (919) 541-0211 (phone charges will be incurred).  Learn more about this important issue here: Changes to Clean Air Act Drifting Past the Public  Rolled out with little fanfare on New Year's Eve 2002, the Bush administration's proposed revisions to a little known provision of the Clean Air Act have not been of great interest to the American public. But perhaps they should be. Both critics and supporters of the administration's changes to the New Source Review (NSR) program contend these revisions could dramatically alter the nation's regulation of clean air, with possible far reaching implications for public health, energy production and environmental protection. WASHINGTON, DC, March 28, 2003 (ENS) - "This is the mother of all clean air roll backs," said John Walke, director of the clean air program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national nonprofit environmental organization."
•  3/29/03 -- Much has been said of Kodak's environmental track record.  What is Kodak's response to its environmental record? KODAK: Health, Safety, and Environment
•  3/29/03 --EVENT:  On Thursday, April 3rd, community and environmental groups across the state will unveil the "winners" of Citizens' Environmental Coalition's (CEC) first Annual "Dirty Dozen" Polluter Awards to draw attention to the worst pollution and environmental health problems in the state. Please join us at a press conference to expose Diaz Chemical, Eastman Kodak, and General Electric as Dirty Dozen Polluters local to the Rochester region. What: Dirty Dozen Awards Press Conference - When: Thursday April 3rd - 12:00pm - Where: Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Shaw Room, 121 N. Fitzhugh St, Rochester, 585-325-4000  Awardees were selected by a panel of environmental and health groups and scientists. Selected from nominations submitted by community groups from every region of New York, the winners for 2003 are:  Cheektowaga Town Board, Chemical Waste Management, County Executive Nicholas Pirro and Gov. Pataki, Diaz Chemical Corporation, Eastman Kodak, Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 and NYC Department of Education General Electric New York Organic Fertilizer Company (NYOFCO) Newton Creek NRG Energy, Inc. NYS Department of Health St. Lawrence Cement Company -- Dirty Dozen Awards are styrofoam egg cartons covered with coat of "sludge," filled with "rotten eggs" whose flags bear names of all twelve awardees.  Directions: Take 490 E into Rochester, Get into Far Left Lane, Exit Plymouth Ave, Stay Right to light, Right onto Plymouth Ave, Left onto Church St, Left at stop sign onto N. Fitzhugh, Church is on N. Fitzhugh,  Please let us know if you will be able to come! --Mike Schade,  Western New York Director, Citizens' Environmental Coalition, 543 Franklin Street, Suite 2, Buffalo, NY 14202-1109, (716) 885-6848, (716) 885-6845 fax, cecmike@choiceonemail.com - www.cectoxic.org www.kodakstoxiccolors.org - www.ecothreatny.org
•  3/27/03 --EVENT:  EANY - Take Action - New Source Review Hearing --from Environmental Advocates of New York  CLEAN AIR ACT UNDER ATTACK - The Bush Administration seeks to weaken the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program with proposed changes that would allow 17,000 old dirty power plants and other facilities to emit more pollution by not installing modern pollution controls. Specifically, the proposed changes will allow old dirty power plants to perform major renovations and additions without complying with the Clean Air Act’s stationary source emissions standards. These proposed changes will undermine public health by contributing to more disease and death, and will further compromise the integrity of our natural environment. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD  On March 31, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold five public hearings on the proposed changes. Albany has been selected as one of the cities, so please take this opportunity to speak up on behalf of New York's environment. HEARING INFO :Monday, March 31, 2003 Beginning at 9:00AM, Albany Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY , 518-458-8444 **There will be a Clean Air Rally from 9:30am-10:30am at the Marriott. -- NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and American Lung Association President John Kirkwood will speak.**
•  3/25/03 -- Time to begin thinking about West Nile Virus: Here's a new site with lots of practical information on WNV. West Nile Virus Center - Learn about symptoms and prevention. The West Nile Center is a private organization that stands dedicated to the education, awareness, and prevention of the West Nile virus. We are a group of concerned citizens and parents who wish to provide the most updated information about the virus and to offer our assistance in helping you and your family to protect yourselves against infection of this deadly disease.  The links to various products on this site are recommendations only provided for your consideration. We believe our site provides a valuable service to our community in offering a select range of products available designed to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Many of the products offered are natural plant-based insect repellents that do not carry the same adverse health risks associated with the use of DEET-based products and are therefore safe to use on children and pregnant women.  West Nile Center does not guarantee any products’ effectiveness in reducing mosquito bites, nor does the West Nile Center make any claims, representations, or warranties regarding such products’ ability to completely prevent the infection of West Nile encephalitis, or any other vector-borne virus, disease, or bacteria. We strongly advise you to read and follow the directions of each product carefully and to consult your physician before use if necessary. This site is not sponsored, sanctioned by or affiliated with your federal, state, or local government.
•  3/25/03 --EVENT:  Want to find out what you're BREATHING? Learn how to start a Bucket Brigade!  When: Thursday, March 20, 2003, 6:00pm* Please note this time change. Where: University at Buffalo North Campus, Capen Room 31  Expert, hands-on training for your ENTIRE COMMUNITY Featuring internationally known trainer DENNY LARSON as seen on HBO's "Blue Vinyl" and PBS's "Fenceline"  What is a Bucket Brigade?  The Bucket Brigade is a community-based air monitoring project, a hands-on activity that gives people of all ages a chance to participate!  Using specially designed buckets, you can measure everyday pollution levels or respond to accidental releases at a chemical facility.  Bucket Brigaders are the watchdogs of Industry - the data they collect can help make connections between health concerns and pollution. For information about the history of the Bucket Brigade, visit the website: www.bucketbrigade.org.and then call to register for this free training!  Bucket Brigade training space is limited. REGISTER NOW! Call the Citizens' Environmental Coalition WNY office: (716) 885-6848 or register by email: cecwny@buffnet.net Sponsored by The Coalition of Impacted Neighborhoods: Cheektowaga Citizens Coalition, inc., Citizens' Environmental Coalition, Concerned Clarence Homeowners, Ecojustice Committee of the Presbytery of WNY, F.A.C.T.S., inc. (For a Clean Tonawanda Site), Great Lakes United, Hickory Woods Homeowners for a Clean Environment, Inside Out Political Consultants, Residents for Responsible Government, Residents Organized for Lewiston Porter Environment, Social Justice Concerns Committee of St. Joseph University Church, The Toxic Waste / Lupus Coalition, UB Environment and Society Institute, West Side Asthma Community Research Project ---from Mike Schade, Western New York Director Citizens' Environmental Coalition, 543 Franklin Street, Suite 2, Buffalo, NY 14202-1109, (716) 885-6848, (716) 885-6845 fax cecwny@buffnet.net www.cectoxic.org www.kodakstoxiccolors.org   www.ecothreatny.org
•  3/25/03 -- ACTION: (from Environmental Defense) The Bush Administration and some in Congress are pushing through unprecedented rollbacks to our nation's clean air laws. They're going after a Clean Air Act program called "new source review"(NSR). The NSR program requires power plants, petroleum refineries, pulp and paper mills, cement plants, steel mills, and other industrial facilities to modernize pollution controls when they expand their facilities or when they take other actions that significantly increase air pollution. The NSR program has successfully kept massive amounts of air pollution out of our skies. But the Bush Administration has proposed weakening the NSR program to exclude many industrial facilities from this requirement, an unprecedented weakening of our clean air laws that would allow millions more tons of soot, smog, and toxic pollution to be spewed into our air each year. TWO WAYS TO HELP: 1) Send a Message to U.S. EPA: The US EPA is taking public comments on the proposed NSR rules. Send an e-mail to EPA Administrator Christie Whitman urging her to keep our nation's air pollution laws strong. Take action or get more information: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/nsr_rulemaking/8wukkn42783j3w
•  3/25/03 -- Here's an interesting article about what activists and places like RochesterEnvironment.com are about: Democrat & Chronicle: Cyberspace spurs activism, too
•  3/23/03 -- It seems when pull comes to tug, our environment always comes up short. Democrat & Chronicle: Ban on discharges into Hudson in limbo — ALBANY — A ban on discharging treated septic waste from boats on the Hudson River is still being considered by federal officials almost four years after the Pataki administration requested it. New York asked the Environmental Protection Agency in April 1999 to prohibit chemically treated discharges along a 153-mile stretch of the river from the southern tip of Manhattan to Troy, north of Albany. Reed Super, a senior attorney with the environmental group Riverkeeper, said the EPA has been “in limbo” since barge operators complained. Super said the agency is in a box: It could be sued by commercial shippers if it enacts the ban, but if it exempts commercial shippers, it could face a lawsuit from recreational boaters. (March 23, 2003) Democrat and Chronicle
•  3/21/03 --The Leasing of our environment: Even though this measure has been defeated several times--drilling oil in the Finger Lakes National Forest--it looks like the Bush administration is just going to ignore our area's desires for a clean environment: State To Lease 26,000 Acres For Oil And Gas Development rights - (Albany, NY-AP) - State Environmental Commissioner Erin Crotty said the state will lease 26,000 acres in the Finger Lakes region for oil and gas development. The area in Steuben and Schuyler counties includes 18 reforestation areas, two multiple-use areas and a wildlife management area. The land is near the recently discovered Trenton-Black River gas formation.  (March 21, 2003) WOKR-TV 13 || ROCHESTER
•  3/21/03 --Interesting war note: Post War Environmental Cleanup - War can have devastating human consequences. And along with the humanitarian problems it can cause, war can lead to terrible environmental degradation as well. In 2001, the United Nations Environment Programme launched its Post Conflict Assessment Unit to concentrate on war-torn regions.  --from Living On Earth: Friday, March 21, 2003
•  3/21/03 --EVENT:  June 21, 2003 - BACKYARD HABITAT TOUR - 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. -Tour feature yards that demonstrate excellent wildlife habitat plantings or traditional gardens with butterfly or bird attracting characteristics. Yards vary from small city lots to suburban properties, all generally in the southeast section of the county (SE City, Brighton, Pittsford). Many feature ponds. Tour is self-guided and self-paced. $12 tickets go on sale at all area Wegmans stores starting May 23. Sponsored by Broccolo Tree and Lawn Care.

•  3/21/03 -- There're back!: Democrat & Chronicle: Birdcam is back at Kodak — The Eastman Kodak birdcam, which monitors peregrine falcons visiting a nestbox atop the company’s corporate headquarters on State Street, is up and running again. (March 21, 2003) Democrat and Chronicle
•   3/19/03 -- Good service: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Ink Jet & Cartridge Recycling Fundraiser The Monroe County Department of Environmental Services & Imagine it… are excited to announce an ongoing fundraising program promoting recycling at home, in schools or at your place of business. It is a simple program that protects the environment and promotes recycling while helping your favorite school or charity programs. It is called "Cash for your Class." It is a recycling program that recycles your empty printer cartridges. Yes, the empty cartridges from your printers, copiers & fax machines. Please don't throw them away! Your local school or charity can receive up to $1.00 for each inkjet and $5.00 for each laser empty cartridge.

•  3/11/03 ACTION:--Support your RIGHT TO KNOW if factories and plants in your community are good corporate citizens or law-breakers. Please let the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know that you support their initiative to keep the public informed. EPA has created an online database of compliance records for more than 800,000 regulated facilities nationwide, including those permitted to dispose of pollutants in rivers and streams. The EPA has been trying out this public information system, and is now accepting comments on whether or not to continue this service. To submit your comments to the EPA, visit http://www.amrivers.org/takeaction/.
•  3/11/03 ACTION:-- This from : Environmental Advocates of New York - Environmental Advocates of New York is pleased to announce the launch of a redesigned online activism community website called Action Network:  http://actionnetwork.org/ct/w7z-2O61UPJ1/. Visit Action Network and take action on the latest online action campaigns on environment, health and population issues.
•  3/11/03 --ACTION: Take action by April 30, 2003- * Emergency Campaign on Global Warming *Take a stand for a healthier Earth. We need one million people like you to demand that elected officials in America take action to stop global warming and support the Climate Stewardship Act. This historic legislation, recently introduced by Senate leaders John McCain (AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (CT), may be one of the most important chances we have to act to avert dangerous climate change. SIGN THE PETITION - Click Below: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/globalwarming_petition Your Petition will be addressed to: President George W. Bush, Your Congressperson'Your Senators
•  3/09/03 -- How do you tell if that car you are driving is good or bad on fuel consumption (good or bad for the environment)? Try these two sites: Welcome to GreenerCars.com: The online home of ACEEE's Green Book  and Green Vehicle Guide -from the EPA.
•  3/09/03 -  Monroe County has been pretty good about not spraying pesticides for West Nile Virus.  But, I believe the pressure on public officials to do so will increase as some individuals succumb to this disease that is now a part of our environment.  Here's a recent story from the New York Times that points to the environmental dangers of spraying pesticides to control West Nile Virus:   No Recovery Soon for Lobstering in West Long Island Sound -- RIDGEPORT, Conn., — The count of baby lobsters in the western end of Long Island Sound was the lowest last year since Connecticut environmental regulators began their annual surveys in 1983, scientists said today. That, they said, is bleak news on two levels. First, they said, the numbers indicate that the sound's lobsters, which had been showing early signs of recovery after a disastrous die-off in 1999, are not bouncing back. Females are not laying enough eggs to fill the void. Second, they said, the recovery might not happen anytime soon. Immature larval lobsters — free-swimming creatures that have not yet taken up a life of scavenging on the bottom — require five to seven more years of growth before harvesting. (March 7, 2003) The New York Times on the Web
•  3/07/03 -- Important information for homeowners: PLAY IT SAFE: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced in February that arsenic-treated lumber routinely used in outdoor playsets can cause cancer. It is the first time the government has so clearly recognized the danger of this common wood preservative. Arsenic-treated lumber is used in nearly 90 percent of all backyard decks and wooden playsets. It can leach out of wood for up to 20 years. The Environmental Working Group offers simple home tests for a small fee that can tell how much arsenic is on a deck, playset, or picnic table, and in the soil below. Visit: www.ewg.org to order a kit and for more information on pressure-treated lumber.
•  3/07/03 -- ACTION on our Energy policy: end a letter to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham at the Department of Energy (DOE) and urge him to cut pollution by putting cleaner cars on the road today. To submit comments to the DOE, visit: www.ma.doe.gov/energy/comments.html
•  3/05/03 -- It ain't over yet:  Democrat & Chronicle: City to fight ruling on zoo (March 4, 2003) — Rochester filed a notice of appeal Monday to challenge a state Supreme Court decision that bars the city from regulating the planned expansion of the Seneca Park Zoo. Democrat and Chronicle  -Check out more on Seneca Park Zoo - news links and resources from RochesterEnvironment.com.
•  3/03/03 -- Important notice from The Green Sheet: TO THE SOURCE: President Bush's proposed changes to the federal Clean Air Act would relax the rule - called New Source Review - that forces old, dirty power plants to upgrade to modern pollution controls when expanding. Environmentalists fear the Bush plan will mean more emissions of harmful pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until May 2. To send a fax to EPA Administrator Whitman, visit: www.eany.org. Call Anne Reynolds, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 238 for more information.
• 2/27/03 -- This is a story we should be following: Bigger is better when it comes to bottle bill ALBANY - More than two dozen environmental groups came to the Capitol Tuesday to push for a "bigger, better bottle bill," which would place a 5-cent deposit on non-carbonated beverage containers. The Record
•  2/27/03 -- Although I don't agree with the conclusions of Bush's record on various aspects of the environment in this front page article in the Sunday, New York Times, (On Rules for Environment, Bush Sees a Balance, Critics a Threat --2/23/03, NYTimes on the web ) it gives a good account of where the Bush administration is on the environment and what major issues have come up. Of course, the major problem with the Bush administration and the environment is that we have a president who is fundamentally doesn't understand our environmental problems. One of the most infuriating statement Bush made in the article is: "Bush and his senior advisers say they are demonstrating that it is possible to have the best of tow worlds-- that "strong economic growth and strong environmental protection go hand in hand," as a white house report put it last fall." What is maddening about this statement is that the Bush administration has not demonstrated that they can have a strong economic growth (we are almost in a recession or maybe even a depression) and his administration is not providing us with environmental protection (we are soon to redesignate much of our wetlands out of protection). This statement also mischaracterizes the environmental movement, which believes that the government can and should have a strong economic growth and a very strong environmental protection.  We just don't think we can protect and further the interests of the oil industry, the polluters, and the trash our national parks at the same time. 
•  2/25/03 -- Money for our environment: GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $4.5 MILLION IN ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS  Governor George E. Pataki today announced $4,549,500 from the State Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) for 56 projects located throughout New York State. "Our Environmental Protection Fund is helping communities throughout New York State move forward with a wide array of exciting waterfront revitalization efforts," Governor Pataki said. "These grants will help cities, towns and villages across the State launch important new projects designed to protect our environment and enhance the quality of life for local residents." County of Monroe  City of Rochester : Genesee Riverway Trail Signage Project -The City will extend the wayfind system of outdoor pedestrian trail signs to existing unmarked portions of the 13 mile multi-use Genesee Riverway Trail. The project will build on work completed under previous EPF and TEA-21 awards. Grant amount:$50,000. Village of Fairport: North Bank West Redevelopment Study - The Village will evaluate the development potential, identify a preferred development concept, and complete preliminary design, cost estimates, and an economic feasibility analysis for the redevelopment of a 3.3 acre Village site. The site has 900 linear feet of frontage on the Erie Canal and is the last remaining major canal front redevelopment opportunity in the Village Business District. Grant amount: $25,000. Village of Pittsford: Schoen Place Improvement Project - The Village will complete access improvements along the eastern segment of Schoen Place on the Erie Canal, continuing an on-going redevelopment initiative to revitalize the canal front and adjacent downtown. Improvements will include the construction of 1,680 linear feet of new concrete bulkhead, moorings, 2,000 linear feet of boardwalk, and design features complementary to similar improvements undertaken in the early 1990's.
  Grant amount: $100,000. Press Releases 2003
•  2/23/03 -- Event: "ALL ABOUT BLUEBIRDS, and MORE" PowerPoint slide presentation. The program includes the ecology and nesting cycle of the eastern bluebird, nest box management, and more. The focus is on bluebirds, but there is more, too, from other birds, to wildflowers to butterflies. Presented by John Rogers, cofounder of the N.Y.S. Bluebird Society and recipient of the North American Bluebird Society Award for Bluebird Conservation. John maintains a trail of hundreds of nest boxes near Syracuse, and has fledged 8,900 bluebirds to date.  Two Dates: Saturday, March 15th, 1:00 PM Webster Public Library, Webster  -&  - Thursday, May 22nd 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, in  Henrietta Public Library, Henrietta, New York.
•  2/21/03 -- More online help on identifying possible environmental hazards.  Check out: Welcome to ecoTHREAT-NY Welcome to CEC's ecoTHREATNY.org The site that lets you zoom to maps of your community and view the top environmental concerns, find out about each pollution source, and learn how to take action.
•  2/21/03 -- Of course, one must entertain the possibility that in its new report about the higher incidence of thyroid cancers in Monroe County that the environment is a possible cause in these cancers.  Until a full investigation and an environmental health database is created in our state, our public officials will always be able to say that "there is no reason to believe that these cancers are due to environmental causes".  And, of course, we'll see stiff resistance to any compressive studies on environmental causes of diseases because they could be an incitement on many industries that have been polluting our community for years. Read on: Democrat & Chronicle: Rare cancer cases unexplained State studies rise in thyroid ailment in Monroe in late '90s  — A five-year investigation by the state Health Department has turned up no evidence to explain an unusually high rate of thyroid cancer among young people in Monroe County in the late 1990s. The state documented 18 cases of thyroid cancer in county residents younger than 25 between 1995 and 1997 -- a rate double that of previous years. (February 21, 2003) Democrat and Chronicle
•  2/18/03 -- Need information about biotech foods? Informing the Dialogue About Ag BioTechnology Conference Welcome. This site provides information on some of Cornell's educational efforts on agricultural biotechnology. It includes PDF files for three Cornell-prepared brochures: "Agricultural Biotechnology Informing the Dialogue 10/02" (our newest publication) "Agricultural Biotechnology: The GMO Debate" "Genetically Engineered Foods 2001"
•  2/7/03-- Event:March 15, 2003 -  in the Stardust Room at the Edgerton Community Center - Rochester's Progressives Celebrate: "Remembering and Renewing Rochester Movements for Social Change: Past, Present, and Future."  Charlie King and Karen Brandow, with local artists Tom Taylor, Tom Sieling, and the Edgerton Community Center Step Team.  Workshop, Concert, and Potluck Dinner --get the flyer in .pdf form here:  Rochester's Progressives Celebrate
•  2/12/03 -- ACTION:  Don't think our area media spends enough time on environmental issues?  Here's you chance to pipe in with the news that our news media is not doing it's job in completely informing us on our environment. WOKR-TV 13 ROCHESTER || NEWS Call 5:00-7:00 p.m. With Your Stories - Rochester, NY - News Source 13 wants to hear about stories you'd like to see us report.  From 5:00 p.m. Through 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, WOKR reporters and producers are standing by in our newsroom to answer calls. Let us know what stories you'd like to see.  Please call us at (585) 321-8787. If you miss this special two-hour segment, leave a message on the "Your Stories" line or e-mail any time at yourstories@wokr13.TV --Why not mention the Neighborhood Notification Law, that requires pesticide applicator give 48 hours notice to homeowners?  When will the Monroe County Legislature make its decision?
•  2/12/03 --ACTION:  Webster plot in question - Webster townspeople will soon have a chance to preserve a little corner of beauty. On March 25, a town referendum is scheduled (hours of voting TBA) on a single ballot question: whether to spend $1 million or so for four-plus acres at the juncture of Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario. Town commissioner of public works Gary Kleist says the land lies next to the Hojack railroad right-of-way, which now carries a public trail rather than trains. The land now is zoned for "waterfront development," says Kleist, and in fact there's a proposal pending to build a hotel and restaurant there. "We're not talking a high-rise but a condominium-style" two-story structure, he says. Local environmental groups have catalogued the bay and lakeshore as "environmentally sensitive areas" but have been overdeveloped regardless. So the Webster referendum is critical in its own way. (February 12, 2003) City Newspaper
•  2/12/03 --This from the Sierra Club: Cleaning Up Superfund - The Sierra Club is praising Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) for introducing a bill that would hold polluters responsible for their mess. Unlike anything the Bush Administration has proposed, this bipartisan bill cosigned by 22 other Senators, would take the burden off of taxpayers and put it on corporate polluters.  In the last two years, Superfund, the Federal Government's toxic clean up program, has dried up. While the toxic sites have not disappeared, both the cleanup fund and ongoing cleanup projects have. In the years leading up to 2000, on average, 86 sites were being managed a year. In the last two years, the number has dropped to around 40 sites a year.  Read more about Superfund and how it can be cleaned up at: http://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/superfund/
•  2/12/03 -- ACTION: Care about our air? Save The Clean Air Act SaveOurEnvironment.org Action Center Update: February 11, 2003  - Tell the EPA to Protect Our Clean Air Laws! On New Year's Eve, the Bush administration announced the most aggressive attack that the Clean Air Act has faced in its 30-year history. The Environmental Protection Agency has weakened important air pollution regulations and is moving forward to enact other changes that would make it easier for older facilities to pollute more. The EPA's proposal would rewrite a key provision of the Clean Air Act, called New Source Review (NSR), allowing more than 17,000 of the country's biggest polluting facilities -- including old, dirty power plants, oil refineries, and chemical plants -- escape rules that require them to install modern pollution controls when they pump out more pollution. The NSR program, which has already been dramatically undermined by the rule changes adopted in December, will be nearly eliminated by the proposal currently under consideration. The administration has proposed loopholes that would eliminate cleanup requirements for existing facilities. Specifically, the EPA has recommended two unlawful exemptions that would allow companies to modify their plants in any way and avoid installing pollution controls, even when they significantly increase emissions. If the EPA adopts its proposed changes, it would mean thousands more asthma attacks, hospitalizations, and premature deaths in this country every year. --from Save The Clean Air Act

•  2/12/03 -- Dog Parks? Dogpark.com: off-leash, on-line Dogpark.com is about dogs - all breeds, all mixes of breeds, all shapes, sizes and dispositions. The centerpiece of the site is our national list of dogparks, organized by state. It is the single most comprehensive and up-to-date list of off-leash parks that we know of. It will continue to grow and expand, and will remain the most current list around - such is the beauty and power of the Internet.  Read more: Democrat & Chronicle: 'Dog parks' proposed in Monroe— Advocates for setting up dog parks in Monroe County are trying to finalize a proposal to establish four such off-leash sites. The group of about 10 has been meeting over the past eight months with county Parks Director Frank Allkofer and Legislator Raymond Santirocco, R-Penfield, who submitted legislation last spring to look into creating unleashed areas. If enough details are worked out at their meeting Thursday, a plan would be submitted for consideration by County Executive Jack Doyle.  (February 11, 2003) Democrat and Chronicle
•  2/09/03 -- Is Development choking off our food supply and environment?  This is the kind of story that environmental issues create, a slow buildup of a problem until one day your community makes the headlines.  By the time our major media pays attention to environmental problems it's too late to do something about them.  This story and others (Rochester is No. 1 in the nation for releases) point to the major threat we face about environment problems--We Don't Get it.   A recent American Farmland Trust (AFT) report American Farmland Trust: Farming on the Edge: Sprawling development threatens America's best farmland ranked New York 13th in the nation in the amount of farmland developed between 1992 and 1997.  In particular, the study identified the "Finger Lakes/Ontario Plain"--including , Onondaga, Monroe, and Erie Counties and many of the neighbors - as the 11th Most Threatened Farming Region in the County --from American Farmland Trust  Read today's D&C headlines: Democrat & Chronicle: Concerns grow over drop in region's farm acreage — Monroe County lost 51,570 acres of farmland to development in the last 20 years -- an amount that surpasses the areas of Greece, Gates and Brighton combined and encompasses more than 80 square miles. The county’s usable farmland is now close to 93,700 acres, a drop of more than one-third. (February 9, 2003) Democrat and Chronicle
•  2/08/03 -- The US pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol global warming negotiation and so what has happened with Global Warming since? With 2002 behind us, it's time for our annual assessment of the top climate change stories of the year --from Grist Magazine: Environmental news and humor "
•  2/08/03-  Are you happy with the present Energy Policy? The majority of Americans stand united behind strong protections for our environment, but polluting companies are working with the White House to pass an energy bill that will not produce the clean, safe energy policy that Americans deserve. As a nation, our dependence on oil and other dirty means of energy production leads to problems like air pollution (which triggers millions of asthma attacks), environmental damage from oil extraction and production, and global warming. Our dependence on oil and our neglect of increasing energy efficiency measures also leaves consumers vulnerable to price spikes and disruptions in energy service. Luckily, there are good, common sense solutions available to us. We should increase the use of renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power and increase energy efficiency because it saves energy and reduces pollution. Please take a moment to ask your senators to oppose any energy plan that falls short of these policies or increases taxpayer subsidies to polluting energy sources. Follow the link below to go to a web page where you can e-mail your senators. http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=30&id4=ES
•  2/06/03 -- It cost a little, but maybe you'll buy a green car: GreenerCars.com: ACEEE's Green Book Online Make a difference -- for your health and the health of the planet -- by using GreenerCars.com to comparison shop with the environment in mind. Our low-cost subscriptions will let you look up Green Scores for every car, van, pickup, and SUV on the market. It's worth spending a little "green" to get the information you need to make an eco-conscious car choice. Why isn't GreenerCars.com free?
•  2/05/03 -- Event: A Region of Beauty – Getting to know the Finger Lakes Region: A Slide Show on Trails and Waterfalls – Sponsored by the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club - 7:15 PM, Tuesday, March 11th, 2003, Third Presbyterian Church (corner of East Avenue and Meigs). How much do you know about the natural history and geology of the region or the rivers, lakes, trails and waterfalls of the Finger Lakes? Come to our Sierra Club program presented by local authors and experts Sue and Rich Freeman, publishers of guidebooks to many trails, sights and family walks in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. Their books include: 200 Waterfalls in Western NY, Snow Trails, Take A Hike! – Walks in the Finger Lakes, and Take Your Bike! Rides in the Finger Lakes. The public is invited and voluntary contributions to help cover costs welcomed at the door. 
•  2/04/03 --Care about Energy use? EnergyNet The Union of Concerned Scientists' EnergyNet is an electronic network aimed at advancing clean energy solutions. This free resource will help you stay informed and take action on renewable energy issues while expanding your skills and expertise. EnergyNet participants include policymakers, researchers, engineers, business people, farmers, health professionals, educators, and concerned citizens. Whether you already play a key role in advancing renewable energy or want to start now, EnergyNet can help you make a greater impact.
•  2/04/03 -- Event: AUDUBON ON THE ROAD Are you interested in learning more about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Making the connection between population and its affect on the global environment? Other conservation issues your lawmakers will be voting on this year. Perhaps you would like to find out where your lawmakers stand on those issues? Or find out what you can do to protect a wildlife refuge, wetland, or special place near you? Maybe just learn more about Audubon in general? We hope you are! That's why our staff is hitting the road for presentations and workshops across the country this month. All venues are free, include food and beverages, and will give you the opportunity to meet fellow Auduboners, community leaders and talk about those conservation issues important to you. Here's where we'll be in the coming weeks. We hope you'll make it out to see us! For more information, please call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-659-2622, or e-mail us today at audubonaction@audubon.org  FEBRUARY 7th - JAMESTOWN , NEW YORK, Jamestown Audubon Society Program, 11:00 a.m., Pace - Jamestown Audubon Nature Center - 1600 Riverside Rd
  
•  2/03/03 -- Spring is coming and so is the threat of West Nile Virus and especially the overuse of pesticides used by some communities to control the problem.  If you care about the overuse of pesticides and West Nile Virus and Mosquito Control Practices--this document is a must: Here's the message: To: Mr. Frank Regan, RochesterEnvironment.com:  We found your website interesting, especially your thorough coverage of West Nile Virus, including sources indicating the problems of toxic mosquito spraying. We have recently done an update of our report covering similar subject matter covering developments in mosquito control during the past two years. The update report entitled "West Nile Virus and Mosquito Control Practices" is available at the following website, http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/mosquito/   We would appreciate if you would put this link on your site, connecting to our site, as it seems that our objectives are quite similar to yours. Our report emphasizes the use of non-toxic methods of mosquito control which have often been un-reported by the media. Thanks for your consideration, and keep up the good work! Tom and Betty Hemmick 02/02/03
•  2/02/03 -- What's going on at the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club?  Find out by reading this The present Eco-logue Newsletter: February/March 2003 at: http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/images/ecologue302web.pdf
•  2/01/03 -- How are we doing on our Acid Rain problem? Read the report from the EPA: EPA's Clean Air Market Programs - Progress and Results Read this article: Boston Globe Online / Metro | Region / In N.E., acid rain recovery slow  New England lakes and streams have been comparatively slow to recover from the effects of acid rain, according to a report released yesterday. The amount of acid found in precipitation in New England fell 30 percent during the 1990s, compared to a 40 percent drop nationwide. But even the smaller reduction here did not translate into a significant decline in the number of acidic lakes or streams, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (February 1, 2003) The Boston Globe Online
•   2/01/03 -- With Monroe County experiencing a very high level of Pesticide Use, you should read this report by the Center For Disease Report: CDC's Second National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals  The Report is the second in a series of publications that provide an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring. Biomonitoring is the assessment of human exposure to chemicals by measuring the chemicals or their metabolites in human specimens such as blood or urine.
•  2/01/03 -- Help your environment:  Tell U.S. Senators to Act on Chemical Safety Legislation Now!  --from Greenpeace USA Since chemical safety legislation was not passed in the 2002 Congress, Senator Corzine of NJ has reintroduced his legislation that passed unanimously out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last year. Senate Bill 157 requires the EPA to prioritize prevention plans for the worst chemical threats.  Write your U.S. Senator today and urge him/her to support S157 with essential strengthening amendments such as those to speed up the timeline for the prevention plans (currently in the bill industry has 2 and a half years) and those to address the transport of hazardous material on highways and railways.