News from Audubon New York, Citzens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York

For more information contact: Dereth Glance, Citizens Campaign for the Environment: 315-472-1339, c: 518-339-2853, Sean Mahar, Audubon New York: 518-253-7000, Erica Ringewald, Environmental Advocates of New York: 518-210-9903

House Passes Legislation to Clean Up Great Lakes Toxic Hot Spots

Authorizes $150 Million to Restore Blighted ‘Areas of Concern’

BUFFALO, NY (09/19/2008; 0926)(readMedia)-- The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to reauthorize and triple the authorization for cleaning up legacy contamination at orphaned sites around the Great Lakes. Scheduled to sunset at the end of September, reauthorizing the Great Lakes Legacy Act is a top priority for Great Lakes advocates. Once approved by the Senate, the reauthorized Great Lakes Legacy Act (H.R. 6460/S.R. 2994) would:

• Provide $150 million annually from 2009-2013

• Fund pilot projects using innovative approaches, techniques or technologies to clean up contaminated sediment; and

• Guarantee public involvement and participation.

The 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement identified 43 "Areas of Concern" or AoCs, with 26 sites in U.S. waters and five in shared U.S-Canadian waters. New York is home to five active sites in St. Lawrence, Monroe, Genesee, Niagara and Erie counties. The first U.S. site to be de-listed AoC was at New York's Oswego River.

"Reauthorizing and increasing available funding for toxic remediation is critical to revitalizing our waterfronts, rejuvenating local economies, and restoring our Great Lakes for current and future generations," said Dereth Glance, Executive Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), and Congressman John McHugh (NY-23) championed the Great Lakes Legacy Act in the House. New York Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton are both original co-sponsors in the Senate.

"Cleaning up toxic hot spots on the shores of the Great Lakes critical to protecting Lakes Erie and Ontario's overall water quality," said Katherine Nadeau of Environmental Advocates of New York. "As the state at the bottom of the watershed toward which all Great Lakes water flows, every clean up in the Basin will benefit New York. We applaud the New York congressional delegation's efforts and encourage the House and Senate to work together to bring the bill to the President's desk."

To date, New York's Great Lakes toxic hot spots have received almost $20 million to help clean up blighted and orphaned coastal contamination sites.

"For too long, the citizens of the Great Lakes have suffered economically and environmentally from these toxic hotspots, and now with this important reauthorization of the Great Lakes Legacy Act, many of the unfinished cleanups will be jump started," said Sean Mahar, Director of Government Relations and Communications for Audubon New York. "Audubon New York applauds Congress, and the leadership of the New York Congressional Delegation in getting the job done on this important reauthorization, and we look forward to working with them to ensure its successful passage in the Senate."

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Audubon New York, and Environmental Advocates of New York are three of more than 100 members of the Healing Our Waters Coalition ® dedicated to protecting and restoring our Great Lakes with the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives campaign.

Fueled by 80,000 members, Citizens Campaign for the Environment empowers communities and advocates solutions to protect public health and our shared environment.

Environmental Advocates of New York is the state's government watchdog, holding lawmakers and agencies accountable for enacting and enforcing laws that protect our natural resources and safeguard public health. Environmental Advocates works alone and in coalitions and has more than 7,000 individual and 130 organizational members. The tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization is also the New York affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

Audubon of New York, the 50,000-member state program of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitats that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences.

Great Lakes Legacy Act and NY Areas of Concern (AoCs) at a Glance

New York State's remaining Great Lakes toxic hot spots include:

• Niagara River AoC is located in Erie and Niagara counties. Pollution from inactive hazardous waste sites, sewer overflows, shoreline development, heavy metals and toxic chemicals from industrial waste impair the River's health.

• Buffalo River AoC. Poor water quality, sewer overflows, 45 inactive hazardous waste sites, deformed fish, and contaminated sediments laden with toxic chemicals and heavy metals impair the Buffalo River in the City of Buffalo.

• Eighteenmile Creek AoC is located in the Town of Newfane, Niagara County. Fish and wildlife deformities and reproductive problems are linked to sediments contaminated with heavy metals and toxic chemicals, as well as poor water quality and habitat degradation, impair this Lake Ontario tributary.

• Rochester Embayment AoC of Lake Ontario in Monroe County is impaired by heavy metals, sewer overflows, toxic organic substances resulting in health advisories for fish consumption.

• St. Lawrence River at Massena AoC begins at the Massena Village drinking water intake and includes portions of the Grasse, Raquette and St. Regis Rivers. PCBs, mercury, DDE, Mirex, nutrients, metals, physical disturbance, natural erosion and invasive species impair the River.

Toxic Chemicals and Heavy Metals in

Great Lakes Areas of Concern

Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin and Mirex are man-made chemicals once used as insecticides and flame retardants. They accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. Exposure impacts the nervous system, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, and reproduction in animals and people.

Dioxins and Furans are persistent chemicals that accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. Released as a by-product of manufacturing and emissions from motor vehicles, municipal waste incinerators, wood fires and trash burning. Exposure is linked to skin, reproductive, and liver problems in people.

PCBs are persistent man-made chemicals, banned in the mid-1970s that continue to accumulate in the fat of fish and other animals. PCB exposure is linked to low birth weight, learning disabilities, decreased memory, and reproductive problems.

Mercury is a bioaccumlative toxic heavy metal that poses particular problems for the developing nervous system of children and unborn babies.

Cadmium is a bioaccumaltive toxic metal used in many industrial operations and in consumer products such as paints, plastics and batteries. Long term cadmium exposure adversely impact human's kidneys, bones, and blood.

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