PUBLIC MEETING: Amherst Waterfront Revitalization Projects

Click images to enlarge

Public Meeting: Importance of Transit in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Citizens for Regional Transit

Quarterly Public Meeting

The Importance of Transit for Meeting U.S. Target 

Greenhouse Gas Reductions and 

Ongoing Efforts to Meet Those Targets

Thursday, October 18

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:00)

Central Library

1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo

Central Meeting Room (upstairs)

PRESENTERS:

• Bonnie Lawrence, Erie County Dept. of Environment & Planning

• Doug Funke, Citizens for Regional Transit

• TBD, Representative from the NFTA

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Public Meeting: OUR Outer Harbor - Wednesday, Nov.30

PUBLIC MEETING: Northern Access Pipeline Coalition

PUBLIC MEETING: New Multimodal Transit Station Downtown

Public Presentation: World Water Day & The Niagara River

PUBLIC MEETING: DEC's Proposed State Wildlife Action Plan -- TUESDAY at 3PM

 10-Year Plan to Target Conservation Actions for 

Species of Greatest Need and Their Habitats

The proposed State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) to protect rare and declining wildlife species is now available for public comment, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The deadline for written comment is Friday, July 17.

A PUBLIC MEETING will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 3:00pm at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve,  93 Honorine Drive (off Como Park Blvd.), Cheektowaga [Map].

"The State Wildlife Action Plan will help guide DEC's work to protect and restore wildlife, and ensure that these precious natural resources are conserved for future generations," said Commissioner Martens. "The SWAP is a ten-year plan to protect rare and declining wildlife species that is being developed to update the 2005 Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. At the upcoming meetings, DEC staff and conservation partners will present projects carried out through the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy to conserve species of conservation need and propose actions that all of us can do to help protect these species."

The draft ten-year plan identifies 366 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in New York that need conservation actions to thrive. Such species include moose, least tern, northern diamond-backed terrapin, eastern spadefoot toad, lake sturgeon, barndoor skate, humpback whale, brook snaketail and barrens buckmoth. Of those 366, there are 167 species that are identified as high priority SGCN, including little brown bats, spruce grouse, Blanding's turtle, queen snake, American eel, sauger, winter flounder, horseshoe crab, dwarf wedgemussel and American bumblebee. An additional 113 species are seen as possibly needing conservation actions, including least weasel, mink frog, tiger shark, Scotia sallfly, and monarch butterfly. Surveys will help determine their current population status.

To update the draft SWAP, DEC staff and conservation partners assessed the current status of 597 rare and declining species in New York. The assessment included the location and condition of habitats where the species live, threats to the populations and conservation actions to help maintain healthy populations. The most common threats to these species are loss of habitat, pollution, invasive species and climate change. Recommended conservation actions include protection and restoration of habitat, management of SGCN populations and monitoring to maintain current data on SGCN.

DEC will hold public information sessions throughout the state in June to present the draft plan and accept public comment.

PUBLIC MEETINGS: Niagara River Greenway

The Niagara River Greenway Commission will hold two meetings May 19 at the Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo [Map]. The executive committee will meet at 2:00 p.m. and the full commission will meet at 3:00 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public.

[Click image to enlarge]

Projects that are being considered for consistency review are as follows and posted at http://www.niagaragreenway.org:

• City of Niagara Falls - Hyde Park shoreline and upland improvements
• City of Niagara Falls - Niagara Riverview Trail improvements 53rd Street node
• Town of Lewiston - Kiwanis Park courts restoration
• Town of Lewiston - Colonial Village Park playground project
• Erie County - Amos Sangster and Annie Crawford Memorial markers

To review the Final Niagara River Greenway Plan or to learn more about the commission, visit www.niagaragreenway.org.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission is a public benefit corporation charged with the planning and development of a greenway of interconnected parks, river access points and waterfront trails along the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario at the site of the historic Fort Niagara.

PUBLIC MEETING: State and County Funding for Local Transit

~ CITIZENS FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT QUARTERLY MEETING ~

STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING FOR TRANSIT:

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30–6:30pm  ~  Doors open at 5:00pm
United Way, 742 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo

Free and Open to All

  
Panel Speakers:

• State Assemblyman Sean Ryan
• Erie County Legislator Patrick Burke
• Lynda Stephens, Subsidy Action Committee, Coalition for Economic Justice

President Doug Funke will moderate a panel discussion on the need for increased state and local funding for the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority and its impact in sustaining and growing Western New York’s economic renaissance. This discussion will consist of brief talks on the need to increase transit funding from New York State and Erie County and the role of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency’s tax exemptions, followed by a question and answer component. The impetus for this needed increase is to address a $10 million shortfall in the NFTA’s current budget. 

Assemblyman Ryan has been leading the recent charge in Albany to address this need. His plan recognizes the positive economic impact of encouraging increased ridership on public transportation as a caveat of additional funding for the system.

Erie County currently provides minimal portions of tax revenues to the NFTA. The Erie County IDA exempts some of these taxes in its incentives to developers and businesses, further limiting the funds available to transit from Erie County.

The Western New York region has recently seen cutbacks in transit services and is now threatened with further cutbacks of critical routes if budget solutions are not found. These transit services facilitate the upward mobility of urban residents who otherwise lack access to well-paying jobs and are needed by area businesses.

Not investing in Western New York’s public transportation is sure to impede future growth and lead to ever worsening traffic congestion on already over-used public thoroughfares such as the Youngman, Kensington and Interstate 90.  Concern about Buffalo’s sustained commercial and labor market growth is everybody’s business, come join us and learn more on April 15th.

PUBLIC MEETING: Renewal of National Fuel Gas Storage Lease in Allegany State Park

 The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) will hold a public information meeting on a lease renewal to continue natural gas storage operations in Allegany State Park with National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation on Monday, March 16 from 7:00pm-9:00pm at Salamanca Senior High School located at 50 Iroquois Drive in Salamanca [Map]. 

State Parks will provide participants with the opportunity to meet with Parks staff as well as National Fuel Gas representatives, review maps and plans for the site. At 7:30pm there will be a presentation on the proposed lease and opportunities for the public to ask questions and provide comments.

Under the terms of the proposed renewal, National Fuel will continue operating its existing subsurface natural gas storage facility within Allegany State Park, known as the Limestone Storage Field, for 15 years.  The proposal would authorize National Fuel to maintain and operate existing storage wells, roads and pipelines associated with the storage field but would limit National Fuel’s activities on the surface of Allegany State Park to the footprint of existing wells and facilities.

The previous 50-year lease expired in June 2014. Parks and NFG entered into a one-year extension that runs through June 2015, to enable the parties to negotiate a long-term lease renewal.

The Limestone Storage Field has been operated in the park since 1964 under a lease, originally issued by New York State to the Felmont Oil Company and acquired by National Fuel in 1990.  The storage field currently contains 14 storage wells which provide gas service to several Western New York counties.

Parks.NY.Gov/publications/documents/NYParks2020.pdf

Public Meeting: Poloncarz to present Erie County Economic Development Plan

Mark C. Poloncarz, Erie County Executive, will present his Erie County Economic Development Plan at a Public meeting sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst, NY 14226, from 5:30 – 7:00pm. [Map]

Poloncarz will detail his initiatives and provide a realistic blueprint of specific actions to enhance the quality of life in the county by leveraging assets and forming meaningful partnerships.

Key features:
• Action in support of regional land use planning: enhancing urban neighborhoods; containing urban sprawl; Protection of agricultural land and water quality.
• Support of strategic planning and management on a regional basis for the region-serving infrastructure, such as sewers, water, highways, etc.
• Action consistent with criteria for support of intergovernmental relationships
• Support of regional management: promotion, marketing and economic development of the region.
• Support of plans for Erie County waterfronts: protection and enhancement of the natural environment at the water's edge.
• Developing programs designed to address problems created by global warming and climate change.

Please join us for this informative and timely discussion.
The program is free and open to the public.
RSVP is not required. For more information, call the League office – 884-3550.

~ ~ ~

To obtain a copy of INITIATIVES FOR A SMART ECONOMY prepared under the direction of Mark C. Poloncarz, Erie County Executive, Click Here.

CLEAN AIR COALITION: Community-Wide Meeting to Rank Health Risks

Learn about Local Air Pollution and Health Impacts:

• Find out how many millions of pounds of toxic carcinogens were released into your backyard last year

• Read through Department of Environmental Conservation's documents on facilities in YOUR neighborhood

• Learn the results of 1 years worth of environmental health research completed by residents and our university partners - the results may astound you.    

Vote on Clean Air Coalition Agenda to Reduce Air Pollution:

On February 20th we will reveal the results of a year of community led research. We want to hear from YOU. Tell us what needs to change. Your vote will set our agenda to reduce toxics in Tonawanda.

  

WHEN: Wednesday, February 20th at 6:30pm
WHERE: American Legion, Brounshidle Post #2              
3354 Delaware Ave. Kenmore, NY 14217 
(corner of Delaware Ave. & Brendan Ave. -- see MAP)

For more information contact Rebecca at 716-852-3813m, or visit the Clean Air Coalition Website
Are you on Facebook? RSVP online here. 

See also this article:  "State study finds elevated levels of cancer, birth defects along Tonawanda’s industrial corridor" in The Buffalo News

Niagara Falls Plans to Treat Wastewater from Shale-Gas Drilling

A Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 22

In July, the Niagara Falls Water Board was reported to be exploring the possibility of treating wastewater containing toxic chemicals resulting from unconventional shale-gas drilling, known as horizontal, hydraulic fracturing or simply fracking. Water from the treatment plant would be released into the Niagara River which flows into Lake Ontario and provides a source of drinking water. A new report issued last week indicated that an outside firm has completed a feasibility study and that the Water Board is moving forward with the plan to treat fracking wastewater.

The Buffalo Avenue treatment plant was built over 30 years ago to clean up wastewater from chemical industries in the city of Niagara Falls and it benefited the region by generated millions of dollars income annually. The Executive Director of the Water Board, Paul Drof, said "Until the state finalizes their guidelines on the treatment of fracking waste, we can't say for sure even if we can do it." He added, "Frankly, we have a responsibility to our rate payers to at least look at this as a possibility."

However, Walter Hang, Ph.D., an expert in wastewater management and head of Toxics Targeting Inc., has studied the Niagara Falls plant and believes that it can not handle fracking wastewater. Hang said "The wastewaters generated by the chemical manufacturing facilities in Niagara Falls are vastly different from the gas-drilling wastewater that could be generated by horizontal hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale."

Dr. Hang does not stand alone in his criticism of the concept. Over fifty scientists signed a letter warning NY Gov. Cuomo that it would be impossible for municipal systems to practically protect against chemicals used in fracking and others in the wastewater. The scientists indicated that municipal systems were not designed to filter the toxic chemicals, biocides and radioactive compounds, and that some of these would pass through the systems and enter water supplies.

Local environmentalists expressed concern about the Niagara Falls plan. Rita Yelda, organizer of WNY Drilling Defense, said "If this fracking waste is not treated correctly, it could contaminate our water. It's a potential risk."  Brian Smith, with the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said "The Niagara Falls sewage treatment facility is ill equipped to properly treat hazardous fracking waste. Allowing this would risk the discharge of toxic, radioactive, and caustic waste into our fragile Great Lakes ecosystem."

The Niagara Falls Water Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, September 22 at 5pm in the Water Treatment Plant, 5815 Buffalo Ave, Niagara Falls, NY [MAP]. Concerned citizens are encouraged to attend. Those who wish to speak should sign up before the meeting.

Public Meeting: Buffalo Land Use & Zoning

The City of Buffalo is working to revamp its city-wide land use and zoning regulations. The resulting “Buffalo Green Code” will guide the character of future development for years to come. It aims to grow our economy, protect our environment, preserve the natural and cultural heritage of our city, and build great neighborhoods. Because it will have a comprehensive and long-lasting impact, Mayor Brown is committed to making this effort open and accessible to all citizens.

We will begin the work by listening to citizens about their hopes for the future of Buffalo. Please plan to participate in one of the three city-wide conversations, each held at 7:00pm – 8:45pm, on the following dates and locations:

1. Tuesday, November 16, Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo [Map]
2. Wednesday November 17, Bennett High School, 2885 Main St, Buffalo [Map]
3. Thursday, November 18, Tosh Collins Community Center, 35 Cazenovia St, Buffalo [Map]

Getting it right means making sure it works for you. And we can’t do that without you. So, join us in making our vision for the future a reality. Also, please help spread the word about the meetings around town.

On behalf of Mayor Byron W. Brown, I thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.

Sincerely,

Robert Shibley
info@BuffaloGreenCode.com

To see a newsletter for more details, click here.

To visit the Buffalo Green Code website, click here.

People want EPA to Protect Drinking Water

Well water contamination has occurred after gas drilling started
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held public meetings in Binghamton NY on Sept. 13 & 15 to hear testimony about possible adverse impacts on drinking water caused by gas drilling using a controversial process called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking". The EPA held a series of such meetings in several states to hear not only from concerned citizens, but also independent experts and industry.

Hundreds of concerned citizens came to express their views in two minute speeches over the course of four meetings in upstate NY. Many demonstrated outside the meeting hall and held placards, as in the photo (courtesy of NRDC.org), and one man carried a jug of fouled drinking water labeled "Dimock, PA", a town where well water contamination has terrified and angered residents who believe that fracking is the cause. Some residents have clear evidence of natural gas in their water since it is flammable and they can ignite their tap water.

The gas industry, on the other hand, has repeatedly declared that the drilling process is safe and has caused no contamination of drinking water. At they same time, they have refused to disclose the chemicals used in fracking, and thus any chemical contamination of drinking water can not be traced to their drilling sites.

Using a new horizontal drilling process, companies are drilling up to 16 horizontal wells from a single vertical well. With as many as 5 million gallons of water per horizontal well, up to 80 million gallons of water are used at each site. Thousands of sites are anticipated, elevating the concern of local residents.

Some of the many questions that the public wants answered are: where the companies are getting the large quantities of water, where the chemically-treated waste water goes, what chemicals are used, what will happen to the waste water that remains underground, and how will the waste water that is returned to the surface be cleaned up?

"There's a big difference between a 100,000 gallon hydrofrack and a three million to five million gallon hydrofrack," said Neil Woodworth, executive director of the Adirondack Mountain Club. He warned that the Northeast probably lacks the capacity to clean up the chemical-laden hydrofracking fluids. "Water in New York State is the most precious resource we have and we can't afford to contaminate it," he said.

The gas industry says that the chemicals are only present in trace quantities, 0.5% of the water. What they do not say, however, is that 0.5% of 80 million gallons of water per well is a very big number. 80 million gallons of water = 640 million pounds, so by weight, 0.5% equates to 3.2 Million pounds of chemicals! Some of the known chemicals are carcinogenic. How much of these chemicals end up in the drinking water of local residents?

"The EPA's study of hydrofracking will be crucial to understanding the gap between the thousands of reported contamination cases and the gas industry's denials of culpability," said Roger Downs, conservation program manager for the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. "We are confident that a scientific analysis of drilling will demonstrate that fracking, as it is currently practiced, is unsafe."

U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) said the study must be "Unbiased and comprehensive, and EPA must get out into the field to understand what is happening and what must be done to protect water supplies and health. EPA must not be influenced by industry or politics, as they were in 2004, and ensure the study is carried out in the public interest."

The 2005 U.S. Energy Act exempted the gas industry from key federal environmental laws including the Clean Water Act, leaving permitting authority to individual states. The current hearings are a first step in putting the industry under the oversight of the federal government and EPA regulations, and people feel that the gas industry is now in a rush to obtain drilling permits prior to federal control.

The people simply want to know the truth about drinking water contamination by fracking. If fracking is as safe as the gas industry says, they should not be in a rush to drill and should allow the EPA time to determine the truth. If it is not safe, either the process needs to be altered so that it is safe, or else it has to be banned.

To get a feel about what people are going through, listen to some long-time residents of Dimock PA tell their stories about well water contamination which occurred only after the gas drilling started nearby.



There is much to be learned before proceeding with fracking in NY state, and we are fortunate that the EPA has undertaken the task. New Yorkers are also fortunate that the state Senate has passed a bill for a drilling moratorium. However, the bill still needs passage by the state Assembly. To take action, contact Assembly Speaker Silver and your Assembly member by clicking here.

Meeting on Offshore Wind Power

ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE

Informational meeting set on offshore wind towers

The Erie County Legislature has set an informational meeting on the New York Power Authority’s proposal to erect wind towers off Lake Erie near Buffalo. The session will begin at 11 a. m. on Wednesday, June 9th on the fourth floor of Old County Hall, 92 Franklin St.
The Power Authority is asking for proposals to build wind towers in three offshore locations, including Lake Erie. County Legislator Daniel M. Kozub, D-Hamburg, heads the Energy and Environment Committee and encourages anyone interested in the subject to attend. Members of the public can also send written comments on the matter to Kozub as chairman of the Energy and Environment Committee, 92 Franklin St., fourth floor, Buffalo, NY 14202.

UPDATE...
From Brian Smith, Citizens Campaign for the Environment:
We are planning a press conference for Wednesday at 10:30am, outside of the County Office Building at 92 Franklin.

We will be covering two issues, which both will be discussed at the Energy and Environment committee meeting immediately following the press conference:

• Support a process that will bring offshore wind power to our Great Lakes, and oppose any effort to prematurely oppose offshore wind. Groups will ask the Legislative Committee to oppose a resolution sponsored by Legislator Lynne Dixon against offshore wind.
  

• Oppose the County Executive’s plan to “re-purpose” a Department of Energy grant previously dedicated to forming county-wide strategic plans to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create a County Green Team to advance environmentally friendly solutions within County government, and advance a food composting program.