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RochesterEnvironment.com

April 2010 NewsLinks Archived 

RochesterEnvironment.com

These archived Newslinks for this month represent just one month in over a decade of posting Rochester-area NewsLinks for our area.

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Don't have the time to check this site every day for Rochester environmental news --Get RochesterEnvironment.com Newsletter one a week in your e-mail. & get all the news, events, actions for the week. RENewsletter - a WEEKLY newsletter about Rochester, New York's environment.  Get the most important news of the day and monitor your environment. This newsletter provides you with the news you need, not simply the news you want--like most other media services. 

 

• State coordinates response for detection and "stop sale" of diseased plants ALBANY - State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker announced a new concerted strategy that will enhance the State's detection and eradication efforts of late blight, a plant disease that mainly attacks potatoes and tomatoes. Late blight was the cause of much distress to backyard gardeners, as well as a significant production loss for New York's commercial growers in 2009. (April 30, 2010) New York State News on the Net! [more on Plants in our area]
• 04/29/2010: EPA Launches New Web Tools to Inform the Public About Clean Water Enforcement WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new set of web tools, data, and interactive maps to inform the public about serious Clean Water Act violations in their communities. Improving water quality is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities and in 2009, Administrator Jackson directed the agency to develop concrete steps to improve water quality, to better enforce the Clean Water Act and to use 21st Century technology to transform the collection, use and availability of EPA data. The web tools announced today is part of EPA’s Clean Water Act Action Plan to work with states in ensuring that facilities comply with standards that keep our water clean. (April 29, 2010) US Environmental Protection Agency [more on Water Quality in our area]
• www.WHEC.com - Arbor Day Events The town of Greece will plant a tree in memory of Hunter Resch. The seven-year-old was killed earlier this year in a tragic murder-suicide. The event will happen at the Greece Town Hall at 3 p.m. on Friday. For more information, you can call the Greece Town Hall at 225-2000. (April 30, 2010) www.WHEC.com - Rochester, NY News  [more on Plants in our area]
• Fight underway to protect potatoes and tomatoes from blight - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Finger Lakes, N.Y. — State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced a new strategy to attack late blight, a plant disease that last year killed as signifcant number of potatoes and tomatoes of commercial growers and home gardners. (April 29, 2010) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow  [more on Food and Environment in our area]
• Monroe County flunks in air quality again | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The air quality in Monroe County has flunked for the second year in a row because of high levels of ground ozone, but there were two positive trends. The number of bad-ozone smoggy days improved slightly and Monroe County earned a "B" for short-term particle pollution, or soot, up from a "C," according to the annual State of the Air report released Wednesday. (April 20, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Air Quality in our area]
• Campus Times - Greenweek builds up to Earth Day Today is Earth Day, and UR’s sustainability organizations are fittingly coming to the culmination of their efforts throughout the year with Greenweek. EcoReps and Grassroots came together to organize the week-long celebration, which features various events to encourage waste reduction and sustainable dining and transportation. Campus Times (April 22, 2010)  [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Reports of black bear activity have increased in Monroe County | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle At least five reports of black bear activity have been made this month in Monroe County — two in Henrietta and one each in Clarkson, Parma and Greece. The furry animals were once rare in these parts, but bears have been migrating to the Rochester region for about the past decade, said Art Kirsch, senior wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.  (April 28, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Rochester bus terminal plans unveiled | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The public got its first look Tuesday at sketches of a modified proposal for a downtown bus terminal that Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority and Duffy administration officials say addresses concerns over an earlier version that was part of the failed Renaissance Square project. (April 28, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Transportation in our area]
• Ohio.com - Toxins blooming in lakes High levels of dangerous algae growing worse in Ohio, threaten drinking water, recreation areas The high-altitude photos of western Lake Erie last summer showed it increasingly covered by what looks like a slick of opaque, bright green paint, stretching from Toledo and the Maumee Bay east to the Lake Erie islands. (April 25, 2010)Ohio.com - www.ohio.com [more on Great lakes in our area]
• New York Power Authority Efforts to Protect Nesting Waterbird at Buffalo Harbor Recognized by National Hydropower Organization WASHINGTON, D.C.—Measures undertaken by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in Buffalo Harbor in support of the nesting and breeding of common tern, a New York State-listed threatened bird species, were recognized Monday by the National Hydropower Association (NHA), which presented NYPA with its 2010 Outstanding Stewards of America’s Waters Award (OSAW).  The improvements, occurring in the spring of 2009, led to 550 new nests and the hatching and maturation of more than 1,000 young birds, or fledgling chicks.  (April 26, 2010) New York Power Authority [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Going green in housing can also be cost-worthy | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle When Flower City Habitat for Humanity recently built a home on Whitney Street, the organization added solar panels to the roof. Rochester Institute of Technology students and officials helped with the design for the home, which sits in the JOSANA neighborhood, bordered by West Broad Street, Lyell Avenue, Child Street and Interstate 490. (April 25, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Green Living in our area]
• Beware, black bears are back from break | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is urging area residents to be careful because black bears have emerged from their winter dens. The DEC reports that bears are typically timid and will avoid all contact with humans.  (April 26, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York  [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Rain doesn't dampen Earth Sunday event | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Kim Pandina came to the Jewish Community Federation parking lot on Sunday afternoon with several years worth of old cell phones, a bag of unneeded pharmaceuticals and a bunch of No. 5 plastic containers.  (April 26, 2010)Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Recycling in our area]
• Water Authority gets funds to build Webster plant | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The state Health Department has poured $23.7 million in federal stimulus money into the construction of a Monroe County Water Authority treatment plant in Webster, making the authority the recipient of the largest single investment of federal stimulus largesse in Monroe County, federal data show. (April 26, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York  [more on Water Quality in our area]
• Buffalo-Niagara area awaits high-speed rail line » Local News » Niagara Gazette NIAGARA FALLS — A conductor walking through the sparkling new train station in the city’s North End suddenly stops to make an announcement that people have waited for years to hear. “All passengers for the 21st Century Limited to New York City will now board at Gate 1!”  (April 25, 2010)Homepage » Niagara Gazette [more on Transportation in our area]
• Commissioner Grannis Releases New Proposal to Cut Pollution - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation DEC Rules Would Affect Outdoor Wood Boilers New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the release of a proposed new state regulation to dramatically cut pollution from outdoor wood boilers (OWBs). The proposal will reduce the significant air quality impacts from the boilers, and address what has become a public nuisance for many New Yorkers. (April 23, 2010 )Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation  [more on Air Quality in our area]
• Cleaning up the lagoons in Canandaigua - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — Area environmentalists and tourism officials have set their sights on the city’s Lagoon Park, which is in need of a spring cleaning. Volunteers will gather at the lagoon Saturday morning to clear the clutter. They will be joined by Chad Pregracke, founder of the Living Lands and Waters organization, which works to clean up rivers all over the country.  (April 23, 2010)  Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
• New York Puts Brakes on Drilling in NYC Watershed, Clears Way for Upstate Wells by Next Spring - ProPublica New York State environment officials shoved a cumbersome task off their plates Friday when they announced that their controversial environmental review of natural gas drilling in New York's Marcellus Shale would not apply to drilling inside New York City's 1,900-square-mile watershed.  (April 23, 2010) ProPublica - Journalism in the Public Interest [more on Energy in our area]
• New York toughens rules, virtually bans gas drilling in Skaneateles Lake watershed | Syracuse, NY -- State environmental officials on Friday made it virtually impossible to drill for natural gas in the Skaneateles Lake and Catskills watersheds. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said that applications to drill in the watersheds, which supply drinking water to nearly 9 million people in the Syracuse and New York City areas, would be considered on a site-by-site basis, separately from any regulations governing hydrofracking elsewhere in the state.  (April 23, 2010)  Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com [more on Energy in our area]
• State sets date for hearing on double-digit rate hikes for NYSEG, RG&E | Syracuse, NY -- State regulators are inching closer to a decision on double-digit rate hikes proposed by two Upstate electric and gas utilities that serve portions of Central New York. Now it’s time for consumers to weigh in. New York State Electric & Gas Corp. and Rochester Gas & Electric Corp. are looking to boost their delivery revenues in September by increasing customer bills for electricity and natural gas by roughly 15 percent to 19 percent (April 23, 2010) Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com [more on Energy in our area]
• DEC chief cites progress, warns of threats to Lake Erie : City & Region : The Buffalo News Lake Erie has seen great progress since it was declared "dead" decades ago, but it still faces threats from old pollutants, invasive species and climate change. (April 22, 2010) The Buffalo News  [more on Climate Change in our area]
• Seneca Falls sticking with chloramine water disinfectant SENECA FALLS — The Village Board is sticking with its decision to use chloramine as a secondary disinfectant for its drinking water supply. (April 22, 2010)  Finger Lakes Times Online - Front  [more on Water Quality in our area]
• SPECIAL EVENTS: Earth Day Celebrations (4/22-5/1) - Choice Events - Rochester City Newspaper Stephen Hawking is a strong proponent of colonizing outer space because, our destruction of the planet notwithstanding, the sun happens to have an expiration date. It's a true and sobering thought, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't do what we can to better preserve our (currently only) home while we have it. (April 22, 2010)Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper  [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Drop off unused pharmaceuticals | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Monroe County residents can drop off unwanted pharmaceutical waste for free at several locations over the next weeks and months. (Aprill 23, 2010)Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Recycling in our area]
• Clean Sweep Beginning Soon - RochesterHomePage.net Volunteers will be once again hitting the streets en masse next month as part of Rochester's Clean Sweep program. Volunteers spend a day in Rochester neighborhoods cleaning and beautifying the city. (April 23, 2010)RochesterHomePage [more on Recycling in ourarea]
• State parks, historic sites face financial pressure | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A plan to close dozens of state parks and historic sites could leave hiking trails and open space on the properties overgrown, while fewer lifeguards and other seasonal workers would be hired.  (Aprill 23, 2010)Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Parks in our area]
• Hamlin Beach Earth Day celebration planned - Greece, NY - Greece Post Greece, N.Y. — Hamlin Beach State Park will be the site of the area’s largest Earth Day celebration on April 24 beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m. The celebration will take place in Area 4 of the park. (April 20, 2010) Homepage - Greece, NY - Greece Post [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Child Wellness : Lyme disease - YNN, Your News Now Lyme disease is on the rise. The symptoms vary and often, there is a bulls eye rash but not always. It's growing in epidemic proportions, the number of people suffering with Lyme disease. What was once thought only a concern in the summer months is now a concern all year long. (April 20, 2010) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Lyme Disease in our area]
• Wind Farms Catch a Gust on Great Lakes - WSJ.com Proponents Point to Reduced Fossil-Fuel Use and New Jobs, But Some Worry About the Environment—and the View (April 20, 2010) Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com [more on Wind Power in our area]
• Roberts featured in the Green Awakenings Campus Report - Roberts Wesleyan College - Rochester, NY Student-led Christian environmental group releases report featuring environmental initiatives on 52 Christian college campuses. Roberts Wesleyan College honored in this groundbreaking report (April 15, 2010) Recent Articles/Press Releases - Roberts Wesleyan College - Rochester, NY [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Brooks Expands Partnership with Wegmans to Collect Pharmaceutical Waste  County Executive Maggie Brooks announced that the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services (DES) is once again partnering with Wegmans for several pharmaceutical waste collections this year. Monroe County and Wegmans will hold the first free pharmaceutical collection of the year on Saturday, April 24th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wegmans Irondequoit on 525 Titus Avenue in the Hudson/Titus Plaza. (April 2010) MyMonroe. Opening Up Government. | Monroe County, NY [more on Recycling in our area]
• State Environmental Commissioner Celebrates Progress along the Genesee River - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Site Chosen to Highlight Environmental Gains since Original "Earth Day" New York State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis celebrated this week's 40th anniversary of Earth Day by highlighting progress in the Greater Rochester area at a news conference today at Turning Point Park on the Genesee River. (April 20, 2010) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on the Genesee River in our area]
• DEC chief hails Genesee River as proof of strides since first Earth Day | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The Genesee River has seen great improvement since Earth Day began 40 years ago, New York state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said Tuesday afternoon. Back then, communities were releasing untreated and undertreated sewage into the river, and industries were discharging their waste products directly into the water. (April 21, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on the Genesee River in our area]
• 04/19/2010: EPA Announces New Guidelines for Energy Star Homes WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing new, more rigorous guidelines for new homes that earn the Energy Star label. Compared to the current Energy Star guidelines, the new requirements will make qualified new homes at least 20 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – slashing utility bills for qualified homes by 15 percent compared to IECC code-built homes. (April 19, 2010) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases  [more on Energy in our area]
• Raptor research hosts Bird of Prey days this weekend - Greece, NY - Greece Post Greece, N.Y. — Braddock Bay Raptor Research is hosting Bird of Prey Days from Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25. (April 20, 2010) [more on Events in our area]
• Supreme Court leaves Asian carp issue hanging - Chicago Breaking News The U.S. Supreme Court did not take up the lock closure issue in conference on Friday as expected, delaying a decision that could have far-reaching implications for Chicago-area boat and shipping traffic. (April 19, 2010) Chicago Breaking News [more on Invasive Species in our area]
• South Bristol seeks to preserve Wilder Mill - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow South Bristol, N.Y. — South Bristol can trace its roots back to town father Gamaliel Wilder, the settler who purchased land from speculator Oliver Phelps in 1788 and went on to build the first home, grist mill and distillery in town. Now, the South Bristol Historical Society is partnering with property owner Ed Joseph, who wants the site of Wilder’s original mill on Mud Creek to be preserved and shared. (April 19, 2010) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Urban Sprawl in our area]
• Brighton resident pursues Ph.D. in recycling systems | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle BRIGHTON — Recycling has been a lifelong concern for Erinn Ryen. The 41-year-old has served on several local environmental committees. She also spent years working in environmental policy and planning, but her interest dates back even further to when she was a child and her father ran a waste management facility. (April 20, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Recycling in our area]
• DEC extends public comment period on proposed policy to reduce fish mortality ALBANY - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is extending the public comment period for the "Best Technology Available (BTA) for Cooling Water Intake Structures" draft policy until June 8, 2010. (April 15, 2010) New York State News on the Net! [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Going Green: Fort Drum goes green - YNN, Your News Now The Army's Fort Drum near Watertown is becoming greener by incorporating green features into major construction projects. A new barracks is under construction and 30 geothermal wells are being drilled to a depth where the air temperature is constant. Water is run through the piping to that depth where the air at that level warms or cools the water to that temperature and then it's pumped back into the barracks to help warm the building in winter and cools it in the summer. (April 18, 2010) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Green Living in our area]
• Recycling, waste reduction stressed at Earth Day events | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Finger Lakes Community College is planning a full slate of events to celebrate Earth Day on Thursday and Friday, while a forum on waste reduction is planned for Tuesday in Geneva. (April 19, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Recycling in our area]
• Seneca Park Zoo hosts recycling event for electronics | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Douglas Angevine of Fairport drove away from the Seneca Park Zoo feeling a bit lighter, as he left behind two old television sets at a recycling event there Sunday afternoon. (April 19, 2010) emocratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Recycling in our area]
• Energy grants powering bright ideas throughout Rochester area | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Replace a 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent one, and the socket will use about 75 percent less energy than it did before, which means an RG&E customer who uses the light for six hours a day will save about $8 annually. (April 18, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Energy in our area]
• Offshore turbines on the horizon | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Suddenly, the Great Lakes are awash in plans for offshore wind farms. The New York Power Authority wants developers to place electricity-generating turbines a few miles off the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. In five years, officials say, the waters off Rochester or Wayne County could be home to dozens of turbines. (April 18, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Wind Power in our area]
• 04/16/2010: EPA to Hold Public Hearings on Additions to Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold two public hearings on proposals to add reporting requirements for certain emissions source categories under the national mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting system. The hearing on April 19 will cover GHGs from fugitive and vented emissions from the petroleum and natural gas industry. The hearing will also cover reporting from facilities that inject carbon dioxide underground for the purposes of geologic sequestration or enhanced oil and gas recovery. The April 20 hearing will focus on the part of the proposal requiring emissions reporting from industries that emit fluorinated gases. (April 16, 2010) US Environmental Protection Agency [more on Climate Change in our area]
• Geneseo Receives Recognition for Resource Reduction Efforts While Preparing for 40th Anniversary of Earth Day April 22 | SUNY Geneseo GENESEO, N.Y. -- SUNY Geneseo has received a 2010 Environmental Leadership Award in the Resource Reduction category from the Rochester Business Journal. The newspaper presents the annual award to area organizations that are making great strides to become environmentally sound and helping to make the community a healthier place.  (April 16, 2010) News & Events | SUNY Geneseo [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Wildlife Federation Wants Drastic Anti-Carp Measures - Chicago News Chicago - The National Wildlife Federation is calling for drastic steps to protect the Great Lakes from Asian Carp. The plan, approved unanimously at the federation's national meeting in Houston, calls for setting up a barrier to separate Lake Michigan from the Mississippi River Basin. (April 12, 2010) Chicago News and Weather | Fox Chicago News [more on Invasive Species in our area]
• NYPA celebrates Earth Day 20 Different Ways WHITE PLAINS—To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) “Green Team” will be out in force this month to promote the environment at more than 20 Earth Day activities across New York State.  In addition to hosting Earth Day events for employees and tenants at NYPA’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental and Design (LEED)-certified administrative offices in White Plains and at its Niagara Power Project, a “Green Team” of NYPA representatives is fanning out across the state to celebrate Earth Day in a variety of different ways. (April 14, 2010) New York Power Authority [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Earn a tree and get a CFL on Earth Day in Penfield | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Penfield will hold several events as part of its Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 24. The annual spring cleanup will begin at 9 a.m. at the Penfield Community Center. Families, clubs, teams and groups are invited to help clean up Penfield by picking up litter. (April 17, 20100) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Recycling in our area]
• DEC Adopts New Freshwater Fishing Regulations - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Changes to Become Effective October 1, 2010 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the finalization of changes to the state's freshwater fishing regulations which will become effective on Oct. 1, 2010. "New York continues to provide some of the nation's best freshwater fishing, and these regulation changes will continue to sustain our robust fisheries, helping to ensure excellent fishing opportunities throughout New York for today and many years to come," Commissioner Grannis said. (April 15, 2010) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Earth Day, April 22, 2010 | US EPA "Share what YOU are doing for Earth Day, learn about how Earth Day began, and teach children the importance of environmental protection." -from US Environmental Protection Agency  [more on Environmental Education]
• 04/15/2010: EPA Finalizes the 2008 National U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the15th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory report, which shows a drop in overall emissions of 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. The downward trend is attributed to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption. (April 15, 2010)  U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases [more on Air Quality in our area]
• Bears are out in the Finger Lakes region - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Finger Lakes, N.Y. — It's that time of year again. Black bears have left their winter dens and are actively searching for food. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has begun receiving calls about black bear sightings throughout the eleven-county region including Ontario, Yates and Wayne counties. (April 16, 2010) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Great Lakes byway becomes flyway for spring migration of birds | syracuse.com The following is a press release from the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Great Lakes Seaway Trail, NY and PA – From now into early June, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail byway, with 518 miles of open water, feeder streams, backbays, and diverse shoreline habitat, becomes a fabulous flyway for spring bird migration. (April 14, 2010) Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com [more on Wildlife in our area]
• New limits on smelting | Duluth News Tribune | Duluth, Minnesota As the smelt run begins in the Duluth area, people who harvest the silvery forage fish are being told they can be used only for eating, not as bait. The message is being spread in an effort to limit the movement of VHS, a virus that has caused fish kills elsewhere on the Great Lakes. The disease is not harmful to humans. (April 14, 2010) Duluth News Tribune | Duluth, Minnesota [more on VHS in our area]
• 04/14/2010: EPA to Provide Grants to Support Brownfields Job Training; Programs will Prepare Upstate New York Residents for Green Jobs (New York, NY) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Research Foundation of the State University of New York in Buffalo and the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, New York have each been selected to receive $200,000 in federal grant funds to train local community members in environmental job skills. The two $200,000 job training grants are being awarded under EPA’s brownfields program. Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial or commercial sites at which redevelopment or expansion is hampered by environmental contamination. Both organizations will recruit students from among unemployed and underemployed residents in local areas, and provide them with the skills they need to find environmental jobs cleaning up contaminated sites in their communities. (April 14, 2010) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases [more on Brownfields in our area]
• Xerox pledges $1 million to forest conservation | Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information Xerox Corp. will invest an additional $1 million over the next four years in the second phase of its partnership with the Nature Conservancy to promote forest conservation and sustainable forest management around the globe, the company said Wednesday. (April 14, 2010) Home | Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information [more on Green Business in our area]
• EVENTS: RMSC's Earth Extravaganza - Family - Rochester City Newspaper Forty years after the first Earth Day, the Rochester Museum and Science Center is celebrating the environmental holiday in a big way. "We have never done a line-up as extensive as the one this year," says Debra Jacobson, RMSC director of marketing and community affairs. (April 14, 2010) Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper  [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• ENVIRONMENT: The upside of the Montezuma fire - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper In nature, fire's destructive power often has restorative benefits. That has been made clear recently at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in Seneca County. On Easter Sunday, April 4, the refuge suffered a 700-acre fire through a contiguous area of cattail marsh, says refuge Deputy Manager Bill Stewart. At one point the flames stretched over a mile of the marsh's surface. Investigators haven't determined fire's cause, although it is thought to be manmade  (April 14, 2010)Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper [more on Wetlands in our area]
• www.WHEC.com - Wind turbines in Lake Ontario? The Great Lakes are one of the great wonders of the world with natural beauty second to none. The question is -- would adding as many as 160 windmills in the lake change that? The New York Power Authority held a public session today to gauge interest in wind power among Rochester-area business.  (April 12, 2010) www.WHEC.com - Rochester, NY News [more on Wind Power in our area]
• Webster residents may drop off household hazardous waste Saturday - Webster, NY - Webster Post Webster, N.Y. — This year’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection for Webster and Penfield residents is 7:45 to 11:45 a.m. this Saturday, April 17, at the Penfield Highway Garage, 1607 Jackson Road, Penfield. (April 13, 2010) Homepage - Webster, NY - Webster Post [more on Recycling in our area]
• Wadsworth Center Lecture Series Celebrates Earth Day Anniversary Environmental Science is Topic of 16th Annual Public Lecture Series ALBANY, N.Y. (April 9, 2010) - Scientists from the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in a lecture series called The Environment: 40 Years On. Speakers will trace the history of environmental issues in New York State from the Love Canal crisis to contemporary concerns such as PCBs, and discuss how new and improved methods to assess exposure to potential hazards can aid health risk analysis. (April 9, 2010) New York State Department of Health [more on Environmental Health in our area]
• During Spawning Season, DEC Warns Anglers to be Aware of Lake Sturgeon Which are a Threatened Species - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation With spring underway, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminded anglers to be aware of spawning lake sturgeon in tributaries of the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes and Oneida Lake. Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), which are especially active at this time, are a threatened species in New York - meaning there is no open season for the fish and possession is prohibited. (April 12, 2010) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Surace champions sustainability<br> at environmental symposium | Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information The Inc. magazine 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year told an audience Tuesday morning to seize the new industrial revolution by reinventing the world around them. (April 13, 2010) Home | Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information [more on Green Business in our area}
• Rochester study to explore turning blight into farm plots | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Urban farming soon could provide a new use for the abandoned Erie Canal and subway bed in northwest Rochester, and for abandoned buildings and empty lots throughout the city.  (April 14, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Plants in our area]
• HIGH-SPEED RAIL: Ray LaHood in Rochester - News Blog - Rochester City Newspaper Today's press conference with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was more pep rally than any sort of announcement. (April 9, 2010) Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper [more on Transportation in our area]
• FLCC Campus News » FLCC Faculty, Students Assist DEC with Bear Den Research CANANDAIGUA, NY - A team of faculty and students from Finger Lakes Community College joined state Department of Environmental Conservation staff in March to visit black bear dens in the Finger Lakes region. The group visited three dens in Steuben County to recover radio collars on adult female bears and take measurements and hair samples of cubs to help biologists gauge the health of the bears. (April 12, 2010) FLCC Campus News [more on Environmental Education in our area]
• Rochester named one of the best places to bike | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Bicycling Magazine names Rochester 50th on its list of best cities to bike in. The list appears in the magazine's May issue and was based on such factors as number of bike paths and presence of a "biking culture."  (April 11, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York  [more on Transportation in our area]
• County study says soil from gas drilling is safe | stargazette.com | Star-Gazette Chemung County officials over the weekend released results of a study that shows radiation levels in soil pulled from the ground during natural gas exploration are well below Environmental Protection Agency standards. (April 11, 2010) stargazette.com | Star-Gazette | Elmira news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Elmira, New York [more on Energy in our area]
• Wind farm plans on Lake Ontario causing little stir in area | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The New York Power Authority's proposal to locate wind farms in the waters of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie has created a stir in communities all along the two lakes' shorelines — except in the Rochester area, where it's been largely a nonissue. (April 12, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Wind Power in our area]
• NYSERDA recognized with 2010 ENERGY STAR® Leadership in Housing Award ALBANY – The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) received the 2010 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its work to promote energy-efficient construction and environmental protection through its New York ENERGY STAR Homes Program.  (April 9, 2010)New York State News on the Net! [more on Energy in our area]
• "Save Gonandagan!" - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com Fifty-five New York state parks and historic sites continue to be in limbo this week, and will stay that way, unless state funding is restored. On that list, the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Ontario County. (April 9, 2010) Home - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com [more on Parks in our area]
• Groups protest Marcellus Shale waste at Chemung County Landfill | stargazette.com | Star-Gazette TOWN OF CHEMUNG -- Local and state environmental groups joined together Friday to protest the Marcellus Shale waste that is being disposed of at the Chemung County Landfill. (April 9, 2010) stargazette.com | Star-Gazette | Elmira news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Elmira, New York [more on Energy in our area]
• US climate bill weak for N.E., critics say - The Boston Globe Fear losing gains from states’ pact Climate and energy legislation being crafted in Washington could dismantle a landmark program to curb greenhouse gases in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states and replace it with a less flexible and weaker federal plan, according to New England officials. (April 9, 2010) Boston.com [more on Climate Change in our area]
• Park closures moving forward Plans to shutter 55 sites will proceed due to late budget, commissioner says | In the absence of a state budget, the Office of Parks and Recreation will move ahead with plans to close 55 parks and cut services at 22 others. “Our agency has neither the funding nor the authorization to open the ... state parks and historic sites that were identified for closing,” Parks Commissioner Carol Ash said in a press release Thursday. (April 9, 2010) Finger Lakes Times Online - Front [more on Parks in our area]
• U.S. Bid to Combat Climate Change Starts with Cars and Trucks: Scientific American The first national regulations to cut greenhouse gas emissions aim to reduce fuel consumption in vehicles | The nation's first mandatory attempt to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions is now a fact—and it will show up in a driveway near you in 2012. (April 1, 2010) Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American [more on Climate Change in our area]
• High-speed rails expected to drive upstate New York's economy - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Rochester, N.Y. — High speed rail service is on track for upstate New York. U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY, of Fairport and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Raymond LaHood Friday announced the Obama administration is committed to developing a high-speed rail system to connect New York’s upstate cities and promote economic development. (April 09, 2010) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Transportation in our area]
• High-speed rail on track upstate, officials reaffirm | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a cheering crowd of politicians and rail advocates at Rochester's Amtrak station Friday that high-speed rail will come to upstate New York (April 10, 2010) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Transportation in our area]
• Environmental groups want Great Lakes restoration fund made long-term | Duluth News Tribune | Duluth, Minnesota With $475 million already on the way from Washington, environmental and conservation groups are pressing for billions more over the next five years, asking Congress to list Great Lakes cleanup and restoration as a permanent project approved to receive federal funding. (April 7, 2010)  Duluth News Tribune | Duluth, Minnesota [more on Great Lakes in our area]
• High-speed rail discussion continues in upstate NY Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood will be in Rochester to discuss the future of high-speed rail in New York. They will explain the future of a high-speed rail system stretching from Buffalo to Albany at a news conference at 10:30 a.m. at the Amtrak station. (April 9,2010) www.WHEC.com - Rochester, NY News [more on Transportation in our area]
• Brownfields tax credits snag talks -- Times Union - Albany NY Environmentalists call break corporate welfare, side with governor ALBANY -- One snag in negotiations over the late state budget is Gov. David Paterson's call to limit tax breaks for big developments on formerly vacant, polluted sites, which the administration said would save more than $1 billion.  (April 7, 2010) Albany NY News - Times Union - Serving Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy [more on Brownfields in our area]
• 04/08/2010: EPA Launches Blog on Acid Rain WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a month-long online discussion to expand the conversation on acid rain. Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the pollutants that form acid rain, can cause serious respiratory illnesses and premature death. (April 8, 2010)
• Recycling opportunities will be part of this week's Community Arts Day - Webster, NY - Webster Post Webster, N.Y. — A computer and electronics recycling fundraiser will be part of the Webster Community Arts Day from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday, April 10, at the Aquatic Center, 875 Ridge Road, adjacent to Schroeder High School in Webster. (April 7, 2010) - Webster, NY - Webster Post [more on Recycling in our area]
• Post-fire hot spots 'mopped up' at wildlife refuge  TYRE — Fire crews had no need to extinguish remnants of this weekend’s wildfire at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge on a rainy Tuesday. (April 7, 2010) Finger Lakes Times Online - Front [more on Wetlands in our area]
• Public invited to visit the recycling center at Casella - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow But rather than taking the process on faith, Reynolds is inviting the public to visit this week. The public will be able to watch a video showing the sorting process and an observation deck will allow people to watch some of the activity as it happens. Town employees and officials will be there as well, walking through the facility before holding a committee meeting. (April 8, 2010) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Recycling in our area]
• ENVIRONMENT: Rebuilding Irondequoit Creek - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper An expansion of a $250,000 county project to restore a heavily damaged section of Irondequoit Creek stream bank may be in the works. The original project targeted 2,500 feet of the creek's banks in Ellison and Powder Mills Park. The county could now get as much as $3 million in state and federal funding to restore the creek's banks in the parks, says Parks Director Larry Staub. At an estimated cost of $100 per foot, that would cover a decent chunk of stream bank. (April 7, 2010) Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper [more on Parks in our area]
• The bald eagle is strengthening its roots - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA The jury is still out on whether wind turbines are a threat to the bald eagle, which continues to make a steady comeback in Ontario, says a ministry of natural resources biologist. "It's still a relatively new thing," Ron Gould of the MNR's Aylmer office said of the turbines that dot the north shore of Lake Erie, the bird's main habitat in southern Ontario. "It may take several years to conclude conclusively."  (April 6, 2010) Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Printing proposal St. John Fisher College is proposing a new limit on printing for all members of the college community starting Fall 2010. This new printing policy is one way in which the college is trying to reduce the amount of paper waste across campus and promote responsible use of materials by all students, faculty and staff (March 31, 2010) Cardinal Courier [more on Recycling in our area]
• N.Y. ranks second in energy efficiency | Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information New York ranks as the fourth-largest consumer of energy among U.S. states and the second-most efficient energy consumer, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority states in a report released Tuesday.   (April 7, 2010) Home | Rochester Business Journal New York business news and information [more on Energy in our area]
• State health commissioner to visit area rural counties | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The visits are part of national Public Health Week and will include presentations of H1N1 Response Recognition Awards to county health directors. All local health departments will receive the awards, but Daines will present them to the officials during his visits. (April 7, 20100) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Environmental Health in our area]
• NYISO ‘Power Trends’ identifies key issues for New York’s energy future RENSSELAER - The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) has issued its annual update on the challenges facing New York State’s electricity supply and delivery system, “Power Trends 2010: New York’s Emerging Energy Crossroads.” “A series of energy crossroads are emerging,” NYISO President & CEO Stephen G. Whitley said. “To build a smarter, greener and more reliable grid, our state will need to work through an array of key issues.” (April 6, 2010) New York State News on the Net![more on Energy in our area]
• Wildfire erupts at refuge Smoke, glow seen for miles as nearly 1,000 acres burn SENECA FALLS — A massive wildfire at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Sunday scorched nearly a thousand acres of earth and could be seen for miles around. (April 5, 2010) Finger Lakes Times Online - Front [more on Wetlands in our area]
• Activist challenges DEC claim of few gas drilling problems | theithacajournal.com | The Ithaca Journal The state's assertion that natural gas production is a clean, well-regulated industry has been called into question by memos from a health official working in drilling communities in western New York. (April 4, 2010) theithacajournal.com | The Ithaca Journal | Ithaca news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Ithaca, NY [more on Energy in our area]
• WXXI: Hopes Run High for Nesting Peregrine Falcons (2010-04-05) ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - Rochester area birders are keeping a close watch on the downtown falcon nest box--perhaps closer than usual. The box was moved from Kodak Tower to the Times Square Building two summers ago and can be seen on the Rochester Falconcam website. Falcons have been nesting in the box ever since 1998. But that changed last year. Spokesman Jim Pisello says the previous male, Kaver, did not return last year, and a new pair of falcons injured Mariah, the female, in a territory battle downtown last Easter Sunday. (April 4, 2010) WXXI NewsRoom [more on Wildlife in our area]
• Officials locate source of East Bloomfield contamination - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow East Bloomfield, N.Y. — The gasoline contamination source detected recently in a test well near the East Bloomfield town highway garage has been found and removed under the supervision of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. (April 4, 2010) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Brownfields in our area]
• Non-Native Plant Species Invading The U.S. - Science News - redOrbit Brooklyn Botanic Garden researchers has released a 20-year study which offers a grim outlook on the future of some native flora in the United States, according to a recent Associated Press (AP) report. (April 4, 2010) redOrbit – Science, Space, Technology, Health News and Information [more on Invasive Species in our area]
• Fire burns 700 acres at Montezuma Wildlife Refuge | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A wildfire at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in Seneca County scorched about 700 acres in the refuge's main pool area before it was brought under control Sunday. (April 5, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Wetlands in our area]
• Parma man sues over contaminated soil | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A Parma man has brought suit in federal court to force his town government to remove contaminated soil from under a sports field at the Parma town park. (April 5, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Parks in our area]
• Arnett Branch Library to get solar panels with stimulus funds | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The Arnett Branch Library aims to cut its electrical bills and its greenhouse gas emissions by installing a photovoltaic energy system. A $215,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant will pay for the solar project at the branch, which is on Arnett Boulevard. (April 5, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York [more on Energy in our area]
• New Vehicle Standards Historic Step in Regulating Greenhouse Emissions, But U.S. Still Lags Behind WASHINGTON- On Thursday the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency finalized national regulations of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs. The standards, an important and historic step, are a significant improvement on the status quo yet still leave the United States far behind other countries in fuel economy. (April 2, 2010) Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment [more on Air Quality in our area]
• Meet the Toxic 100 Corporate Air Polluters Amherst, MA - Researchers at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst today released the Toxic 100 Air Polluters, an updated list of the top corporate air polluters in the United States. "The Toxic 100 Air Polluters informs consumers and shareholders which large corporations release the most toxic pollutants into our air," said Professor James Boyce, co-director of PERI's Corporate Toxics Information Project. (March 31, 2010)http://www.truthout.org/ [more on Air Quality in our area]
• New Vehicle Standards Historic Step in Regulating Greenhouse Emissions, But U.S. Still Lags Behind WASHINGTON- On Thursday the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency finalized national regulations of greenhouse gas emissions from cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs. The standards, an important and historic step, are a significant improvement on the status quo yet still leave the United States far behind other countries in fuel economy. (April 2, 2010) Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment [more on Air Quality in our area]
• Commissioner: States' Action Leads to New National Vehicle Standards - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis issued the following statement in the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) finalization of new federal rules that set the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions standards and new fuel economy standards for all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States. (April 1, 2010) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Transportation in our area]
• Council Proposes Action to Protect Forests, Farmlands and Waterway from Invasive Species - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Draft Report Recommends New Classification System to Restrict Movement of Non-native Plants and Animals For the first time, New York would classify non-native plants and animals to help prevent the spread of invasive species through waterways, forests and farmlands, under a proposal unveiled today by the state Invasive Species Council. The Council released a draft report, "A Regulatory System for Non-Native Species," that calls for a multi-pronged approach to tackling one of the state's fastest growing environmental threats. Among other recommendations, the Council proposed a new assessment system for invasive species - such as zebra mussels, Sirex wood wasps and Eurasian milfoil - that would allow the state to categorize them as "prohibited," "regulated" or "unregulated." Such a classification system would help restrict movement of potentially harmful plants and animals. (April 1, 2010) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Invasive Species in our area]
• 04/01/2010: EPA and State Investigating Equipment Failure at the Tonawanda Petroleum Coke Facility Near Buffalo (New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is investigating equipment failure at the Tonawanda Coke Corporation facility outside Buffalo, N.Y. that yesterday triggered an emergency flare to prevent the release of potentially harmful gas. The coke oven gas, which is generated when coal is heated at high temperatures, contains benzene, ammonia and other hazardous pollutants. Excessive exposure to benzene is a known cause of cancer. (April 1, 2010) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases [more on Energy in our area]