Report: NY's Environmental Agency Cutting Oversight of Oil, Chemical & Pesticide Spills Due to Budget Cuts

ALBANY, NY (03/18/2010)(readMedia)-- Research conducted by Environmental Advocates of New York has uncovered that the State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will soon have less than half the funds on hand for inspection site visits and equipment to support oversight than in 2007-2008, down to $63 million from $127 million. In addition to impacts to other critical programs, Governor Paterson's latest round of budget and staff cuts will force the DEC to cut back on its responses to oil and chemical spills by more than half, conduct 25 percent fewer inspections of bulk petroleum and chemical storage facilities, and have fewer resources to inspect pesticide samples. These efforts are critical to New York's health and safety. According to the agency's own website, drinking water supplies in hundreds of cities and towns across the state have been rendered useless because of unchecked spills and chemical contamination. Click here to download the report.

"The Department of Environmental Conservation keeps New Yorkers safe from oil and chemical spills by ensuring accidental spills and leaks don't happen in the first place. These accidents are the result of poor maintenance, overfilled tanks, mistakes and lack of inspection," said Alison Jenkins, Fiscal Policy Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. "The Department of Environmental Conservation needs the staff and the money to do its job and safeguard the health of all New Yorkers. Fewer staff and fewer resources mean fewer inspections and greater chances for our drinking water supplies to be contaminated. New York's leaders need to get their priorities in order and keep-not cut-critical DEC staff and resources."

If cuts proposed by the Governor are not restored by state lawmakers during budget negotiations, the DEC will be forced to rely increasingly on polluters to self-report the release of toxic substances. In the past, this practice has led to biased samples and incomplete reports. The agency will also be forced to reduce inspections of bulk petroleum and chemical storage facilities. Past inspections conducted by the agency have found almost half of these facilities to be out of compliance with state regulations.

In addition, resources to clean up oil spills will be cut. The State's Oil Spill Fund is already in dire straits, posting a $5 million deficit in 2009. Although polluters are responsible for addressing costly oil spills, most do not have the funds to reimburse the State for necessary clean up. At the end of the 2008-2009 State Fiscal Year, 976 spills were on the books yet to be addressed.

Pesticide sample inspections will be impacted by the Governor's budget proposal, as well. Cuts to laboratory supplies will mean fewer samples will be processed and there will be weaker enforcement of state laws regarding pesticides. Earlier this year, DEC inspections revealed that a landowner in Allegany County had killed two bald eagles with illegal pesticides.

In a series of reports on the state of the DEC, Agency in Crisis, Environmental Advocates of New York has uncovered steep declines in resources dedicated to environmental programs. When accounting for inflation, operating funds for the DEC have declined 11 percent since 2005-2006. The agency, which has lost more than 400 staff over the last three years, will lose another 83 staff due to attrition and the Governor's hiring freeze this year alone, leaving the DEC hard-pressed to protect public health and safety with 700 fewer staff than it had 20 years ago. And despite decreasing support, the federal government establishes about 40 new rules for states to adopt and implement every year.

Environmental Advocates of New York's analysis reveals that the agency is relying more on general tax dollars to support activities while regulated polluters pay a smaller share. The DEC's overall funding is likely to worsen during the recession, as budget cuts, retirement incentives and a hiring freeze are implemented.

To call attention to New York State's neglect of its primary environmental agency, Environmental Advocates of New York is releasing a series of brief reports highlighting the negative impacts of funding shortages at several of the DEC's most critical programs.

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Environmental Advocates of New York's mission is to protect our air, land, water and wildlife and the health of all New Yorkers. Based in Albany, we monitor state government, evaluate proposed laws, and champion policies and practices that will ensure the responsible stewardship of our shared environment. We work to support and strengthen the efforts of New York's environmental community and to make our state a national leader. The tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization is also the New York affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.