Search Results for “new york state department of environmental conservation” | Page 3

New York’s Thick Plastic Bag Demands Vex Efforts to Reduce Waste

New York, joining California, aims to ban most single-use plastic bags under a measure that takes effect March 1, 2020. But the state’s first crack at implementing it has drawn the ire of the environmentalists and one of the law’s sponsors, who say the Department of Environmental Conservation’s proposed rules have too many loopholes even as plastics makers say they can’t meet the state’s demands.

Several states have eyed plastic bag restrictions as one way to curb plastic waste, but New York—which goes through approximately 23 billion single-use plastic bags annually—is raising eyebrows for demanding thicker reusable bags. While California set the minimum thickness for acceptable bags at 2.25 mil, New York wants its bags 10 mils thick. A mil is one-thousandth of an inch.

It’s impossible to produce plastic bags that thick, and there aren’t enough paper bags to fill the demand from the populous state, Phil Rozenski, vice president of public affairs for North Carolina-based Novolex, which manufactures paper and plastic bags, said.

New York governor signs 1,4-dioxane bill into law | Chemical Watch

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill banning all but trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane in personal care and cleaning products, despite industry protests that it could cost more than $2bn to implement. The legislation (S 4389B/A 6295A), which cleared the legislature in June and was approved by Mr Cuomo on 9 December, is intended to address 1,4-dioxane contamination in drinking water by limiting the amount that can be present in consumer products.

The substance, a possible carcinogen and one of the first ten substances subject to TSCA evaluation, can appear as a contaminant during the manufacturing process of certain cosmetics, detergents and shampoos. It has been found in high concentrations in Long Island, New York, drinking water.

The law puts in place a phase-down schedule that will see permissible levels set at ten parts per million (10ppm) for cosmetics, all the way down to 1ppm for certain personal care and cleaning products, by the end of 2023. And beginning in 2025, the state’s department of environmental conservation will be charged with determining whether those trace concentration thresholds should be lowered to offer better protection to human health and the environment. Those not in compliance could face civil penalties of up to $1,000 for each day of a violation, increasing to $2,500 for a second offense. However, one-year compliance waivers may be given out when a manufacturer "has taken steps to reduce the presence of 1,4-dioxane in that product and is unable to comply with the requirements".

With 1,4-dioxane having an affinity to water, a fairly long half life, and an inability to bind to soil, it's probably a good thing to see it being phased out. Sure it will cost manufacturer significant money to remove the contamination from personal care products -- it's something that rides along with useful chemicals -- but the cost will be spread out over millions of consumers, and it's a pretty nasty chemical that probably is carcinogenic. Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems can eat away at the biological material and remove some of the chemicals that are solids, the truth is most things that get flushed down the toilet or sink, ultimately do end up again in our drinking water.

Spotlight News – DEC concerned about white pines decline

NEW YORK — White pine trees are on the decline statewide, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Jessica Cancelliere, a research scientist in DEC’s Forest Health Diagnostic Lab in Delmar and Robert Cole, a Forester in Forest Health in DEC’s Albany office, released an article called “White Pine Decline” in July which discusses the phenomenon and what DEC is doing to remedy it. It had been written in May and June.

While Cancelliere was unavailable for comment, Cole said he also works in DEC’s Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health and they acknowledged that the decline was happening throughout the state, not just in the Capital District.

Beyond New York, he said it is impacting white pine ranges across the northeast coast like in New England and even the Midwest region of Canada.

State appeals ruling barring tree cutting for trails – Adirondack Explorer

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Adirondack Park Agency on Friday announced they have filed an appeal of a ruling blocking tree cutting for construction of “community-connector” snowmobile trails in the Adirondacks.

The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court ruled last month that the state’s trail construction cut too many trees to fit with constitutional protections mandating that the Adirondack Forest Preserve will remain “forever wild.” The ruling hinged on an interpretation of the word “timber.” A lawsuit brought by Protect the Adirondacks successfully argued that timber protections must apply to small trees and not just those that could yield marketable logs.

Bear spray can be difficult to purchase | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

RAY BROOK — In the summer of 2018, there were dozens of bear-related incidents in the North Country, including a recurring campsite raider that was eventually euthanized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC advised campers and hikers that it may be prudent to purchase and carry bear spray to help defend oneself in the event of a bear encounter. But to the chagrin of many, bear spray is essentially illegal in New York. Simply put, New Yorkers are allowed, by law, to carry self-defense spray. However, sprays marketed as “bear spray” far exceed what state law allows.

The only thing not illegal in New York is illegal immigrants. That's kind of a cheesy pun, but there is a lot of truth to it. But then again, if you want to stay away from bears, keep out of the Adirondack villages and campgrounds, and head back to the wilderness. As we all know -- there are virtually no bears in the wilderness.

Environmental and community groups detail opposition to proposed Catskill incinerator ash dump

Wheelabrator Technologies, the second largest trash incineration company in the U.S., has proposed creating a large incinerator ash dump in a former quarry in the Town of Catskill near the shore of the Hudson River. The company is in the process of applying for permits from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

This project would involve trucking approximately 445,000 tons of toxic ash on local roads — including U.S. Route 9W — through Catskill and surrounding communities, with trucks coming from the south and the north. The quarry site is made up of highly permeable hydrology, which is known to have extensive drainage systems and springs, adding to the likelihood of toxic ash reaching the Hudson River and groundwater. Incinerator ash like that from Wheelabrator incinerators includes high levels of heavy metals and dioxins. The ash poses a significant risk to the surrounding region’s human and natural communities as well as to the entire Hudson River ecosystem.

New invasive pest could impact NY’s agriculture and tourism

Spotted lanternfly: New invasive pest could impact NY’s agriculture and tourism

"A new invasive insect that could negatively affect the state's agricultural and tourism scenes has been identified in two Upstate New York counties."

"The state departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets (DAM) today confirmed that spotted lanternfly (SLF), an invasive pest from Asia, has been found in Albany and Yates counties."

Andy Arthur.org

Search Results for: new york state department of environmental conservation