State Environmental Commissioner Celebrates Progress Along the Hudson River

ALBANY, NY (04/22/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis celebrated today's 40th anniversary of Earth Day by highlighting progress in the Greater Capital Region at a news conference today at the Corning Preserve along the Hudson River.

"What better place to commemorate the environmental progress of the past four decades than along a river that is undergoing a transformation like few others," Commissioner Grannis said. "The Hudson had been an open sewer, with uncontrolled contamination from a multitude of sources resulting in river-wide sheens, fish kills and few recreational prospects."

"Forty years later, and we are standing in front of a renewed natural resource," the commissioner continued. "Wastewater management, habitat creation, and stringent pollution regulations have helped DEC lead the way towards addressing the area's contaminated past, and contributing to a bright future for the Capital Region. There is still much work left to be done, but this anniversary gives New Yorkers a chance to take stock of the gains we've made."

Commissioner Grannis, who helped organize New York City's original Earth Day celebration in 1970, is touring sites around the state that illustrate the environmental progress New York has made over the past 40 years. The commissioner noted Hudson River and Capital Region highlights that include:

• The Hudson River and its tributaries serve as a spawning and nursery ground for more than 200 important fish and shellfish species, such striped bass, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, and blue crab.
• Increases in the presence of certain species in the Hudson signify improving water quality. At Schuylerville, the presence of "clean water organisms" such as mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies increased from zero species in 1972 to 14 in 2002. At Troy, the number of clean water species increased from 1 to 6.
• Important progress has been made in treating and sanitizing wastewater discharges from municipal treatment plants. A broad array of regulatory protocols has also been implemented to reduce polluted runoff, the largest remaining source of water contaminants.
• The entire Hudson River Estuary has been designated a "no discharge zone" for recreational boaters to further reduce the amount of pathogens released to the river.
• Thousands of acres of open space have been protected, providing scenic Hudson vistas, enhanced recreational opportunities in Columbia and Rensselaer County forests, and preserving rare ecosystems, among other projects.
• Air quality has been improved throughout the region. Back in the 1970s, the Capital District exceeded federal standards for carbon monoxide (CO), ozone and particulates. Now, after decades of reductions of emissions from vehicles, power plants and many other sources, the region is in attainment for CO and particulates, and DEC is making progress on ozone.
• DEC has directed the cleanup and restoration of numerous polluted sites in the region. This includes state Superfund sites like the cooperage at Freeman's Bridge (Glenville) and former landfills at the BASF (Rensselaer). A former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site in Amsterdam has been turned into a riverfront park, and the former ALCO plant has enhanced Schenectady's College Park neighborhood with a college dormitory, conference center, athletic fields, walkways, open space and the new Price Chopper headquarters.
• Five million tires at the state's second largest tire dump, Mohawk Tire in Waterford, Saratoga County, have been removed.
• The long-awaited dredging of PCB-contaminated material from the upper Hudson is moving forward. A significant amount of contaminated material has been removed and important data has been generated to make help adjustments as the project continues.

Commissioner Grannis acknowledged that challenges continue face DEC and the Capital Region, including the impacts of climate change. Aging clean water infrastructure needs upgrades to meet the state's strict water quality standards, especially in the Albany area. DEC will continue to help seek the financial resources that can assist communities in meeting these important requirements.

40 Years of Improvement

"Since the first Earth Day in 1970 and the creation that year of Department of Environmental Conservation, we've seen a number of concrete examples of environmental improvements in New York," Commissioner Grannis said.

"The fact is, as Earth Day turns 40, we've made enormous strides in a relatively short amount of time," Grannis continued. "But it is not time to hoist the 'Mission Accomplished' banner. Not by a long shot. There is plenty of work to do across the state and many new issues to address – from climate change to invasive species. If we are to continue making progress, we'll need the same amount of passion and dedication as those first Earth Day marchers had. It's time to rededicate ourselves to taking the next step."

The commissioner noted other examples of environmental progress in the state:

• The comeback of Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, with record-high populations in 2010.
• The resurgence of moose and wild turkey.
• Complete cleanups of nearly 1,800 polluted sites and approximately 330,000 spills.
• Reduction of toxics in the environment, such as DDT.
• Signs of progress in the fight against acid rain, with dozens of Adirondack Park lakes showing improvements.
• Successful launch of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (a Northeast states' program to establish a cap-and-trade system for reducing greenhouse gases from industrial sources) and new requirements to reduce vehicle emissions.
• Improvements in important water bodies, including Onondaga Lake, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
• Millions of acres of open space preserved by state and local governments.
• Eradication of dozens of old tire dumps and removal of 27 million (and counting) used tires from the landscape.