Conservationists, Municipal Leaders & Chambers of Commerce Call on Gov & Legislature to Protect EPF

ALBANY, NY (12/14/2009)(readMedia)-- Friends of New York's Environment, a partnership of more than 100 environmental, health, agricultural, recreational and community groups, today urged Governor Paterson and the State Legislature to protect the state's environment and continue to support the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Over the lifetime of the Fund, more than $1.3 billion has been spent on environmental projects. Many of these dollars were matched by municipalities and federal and private sources, generating billions of dollars of investment in New York's environment and economy.

"The Environmental Protection Fund is a proven economic engine that creates jobs across the state," said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "The EPF also plays a critical role in protecting the Hudson River, the Great Lakes, our coasts, forests, farmland, parks and so much more. We look forward to working with the state's elected leaders to ensure the EPF's integrity and safeguard these natural treasures for generations to come."

The groups highlighted the economic stimulus provided by the Fund. EPF investments create and protect jobs in several sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, education, waste management and tourism. For instance, according to budget testimony from Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash, New York's parks drew approximately 55 million visitors last year, making New York State third among states in terms of park visitors. Analysis by the Brookings Institution illustrates that in difficult economic times funding for environmental restoration helps local governments and communities become more attractive to business and future residents, yielding a two to one return on investment. The groups also cited the 2008 report, Economic Case for the EPF, which demonstrates how protecting natural resources can fuel local and regional economies, as well as the economic benefits documented in the 2009 report, The Environmental Protection Fund: Preserving New York's Natural Heritage & Quality of Life.

"In Brooklyn and the Bronx, institutions such as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The New York Botanical Garden, Wave Hill and the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium-all supported in part by Environmental Protection Fund dollars-are vital to New York City's economic health. New York State government has made a wise investment and the payoff is measurable. These zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year in terms of tourism and economic development. Living museums, big and small, upstate and downstate, are core to stabilizing local economies by providing good paying jobs and supporting local businesses. This impact benefits not just the private sector, but also generates tax revenues for local municipalities." Joint statement from Bronx Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Lenny Caro and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Carl Hum.

"Continued funding of the Farmland Protection Program from the Environmental Protection Fund was critical for my farm and the protection of environment in Washington County. This funding helped my family protect hundreds of acres of our farmland from development and allowed us to purchase even more land to keep in farm production. It was a real win/win situation for our farm, the local economy and land and water conservation," said Brian Ziehm, a dairy farmer from Washington County and member of the Board of Directors for New York Farm Bureau. "The Farmland Protection Program and the EPF must continue to be funded at significant levels to allow other farms and agricultural communities across the state to enjoy the very real economic and environmental benefits of the program."

"In Madison County, support from the Environmental Protection Fund subsidizes the recycling coordinator's salary, helps to pay for media and advertising to educate the public on new recycling initiates, and helps pay for recycling equipment," said Jim Zecca, Director of the Madison County Dept of Solid Waste and Sanitation. "Chittenango purchased a recycling truck with EPF money and the Village of Hamilton used EPF funds to purchase recycling equipment. Madison County has a grant pending to purchase recycling bins to help area schools improve their recycling efforts and an Education Grant to promote new recycling initiatives."

Created in 1993, the EPF provides support for protecting and restoring New York's natural resources in good economic times and bad. Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) revenue, the historic source of funding for the EPF, has been tested in previous economic downturns, and remains a significant source of investment in environmental programs and protection. Unfortunately, while the groups have identified more than a billion dollars in annual demand for environmental restoration projects, more than $500 million-one quarter of the Fund's appropriations-has been diverted to support non-environmental purposes since it was created.

"The EPF has been an economic engine in the Adirondack Park for over a decade," said Adirondack Council Executive Director Brian L. Houseal. "Open space and farmland protection by the state, along with tourism dollars from outdoor recreation, are vital to the sustainability of Adirondack communities. Many of our local businesses, either directly or indirectly, are successful because of the beautiful mountains, water bodies, working forests and farms New York has permanently protected thanks to the EPF."

"Agriculture, tourism and outdoor recreation support thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars for New York's economy. Farms, forests, wetlands, community gardens and watersheds conserved by land trusts also provide valuable ecosystem services that benefit millions of New Yorkers. Our environment is one of New York's greatest competitive advantages-it's what makes New York such an attractive place to live and work. A strong EPF is not a luxury-it's a wise investment that will protect the air, water, and open spaces which are so vital to public health and New York's economy," said Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager, Land Trust Alliance.

"The Environmental Protection Fund represents a very small portion of the state budget, yet has huge economic impacts in New York State," said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York "By investing in the environment, New York can create jobs, support local businesses, protect property values, and provide for ecotourism. These economic benefits, as well as the protection of natural resources and public health, must be preserved in the next state budget."

In 2007 a law was passed (Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2007) that required the EPF to grow to $300 million in the SFY 2009-10 State Budget. The Fund was cut to $222 million during budget negotiations last spring, and suffered an additional $10 million cut as part of the State's Deficit Reduction Plan. The groups noted that reinstating the EPF to $300 million would help New York's dedicated source of environmental funding meet the billions of dollars in environmental funding needs that exist throughout the State for critically important projects that protect and restore New York's natural resources and municipalities, including recycling, open space, farmland, and water quality protection, air quality improvements, pollution prevention, solid waste management, urban forests, invasive species prevention, smart growth, waterfront revitalization, historic preservation and environmental education.

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