Robert Moses calls for end to CSOs?
By teresa_crimmens | November 5, 2008
According to the New York Times, in 1958, Robert Moses “told the Mayor that the Board of Estimate ’should immediately by resolution declare that no more raw sewage will be dumped into the waters of the Hutchinson River, EEastchester Bay and Long Island Sound between Throgs Neck and hte city line.’”
Click here to read the entire article: moses11958.pdf
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Define “recreation”
By kate_zidar | October 31, 2008
Merriam-Webster’s describes recreation as, “refreshment of strength and spirits after work ; also : a means of refreshment or diversion.” Wikipedia equates it with “fun”.
When it comes to water quality standards, recreation can imply a few different things. Depending on what kind of recreation you are up to on the water, the City and State are required to maintain water quality to suit that use. So, if you are using a waterway for swimming, the water quality standard will be much higher than for a waterway that is being used for, say, primarily boating or even industry.
Of New York City’s 600 miles of waterfront, only about 14 miles are officially designated as beaches, and the highest water quality standards are reserved for those areas of “primary contact”. What of the rest?
Does the city share your goals for using the waterway closest to you? PlaNYC’s main objective for water quality is to “open 90% of our waterways to recreation by preserving natural areas and reducing pollution”. This goal is only ambitious if by “recreation” they mean “swimming”. Which, at some point, the Mayor did.
Or do they mean forms of recreation that require little or no contact, such as enjoying the vista from an esplanade? Without the specifics on what use we expect from our waterways, how do we know what our goals are in terms of pollution reduction or preservation of natural areas?
Tell us, Mr. Mayor, how do YOU define recreation?
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Water Board to extend frontage billing?
By teresa_crimmens | October 20, 2008
The City’s Sustainable Stormwater Plan states that the city will “complete water and wastewater rate study and reassess pricing for stormwater services”. In the meantime, the Water Board has submitted a proposal to extend frontage billing, a practice that charges a fixed amount for water, regardless of actual usage. Please read the public notice and let us know your thoughts by submitting a comment to this post.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
New Report on Urban Stormwater Management
By larry_levine | October 16, 2008
The National Research Council, Water Sciences and Technology Board has
just released the report Urban Stormwater Management in the United
States (Committee on Reducing Stormwater Discharge Contributions to
Water Pollution, National Research Council, National Academies Press).
The report is the product of a 2-year process undertaken by a 15-member
committee of national experts. The study was commissioned by EPA in 2006
to evaluate the NPDES stormwater program program and make
recommendations for improvement of the program.
The 513 page report provides a description of the history of stormwater
management in the United States; an overview of stormwater regulations
and the federal regulatory program; and information on a number of
relevant scientific and technological issues such as hydrology,
geomorphology, biology, monitoring and modeling. The report also
provides a number of significant findings and recommendations on how
stormwater management in the United States should be improved to achieve
better environmental outcomes.
The study report is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/nrc_stormwaterreport.pdf
The NRC press release is at:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12465
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Million Trees Fall 2008 Research and Evaluation Subcommittee Meeting
By teresa_crimmens | October 9, 2008
| October 15, 2008 | ||
| 10:00 am |
Representatives of the MillionTreesNYC Subcommittee on Research and Evaluation, we’d like to invite you to a meeting on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the City University of New York Graduate Center, on the Concourse level in rooms C201/C202.
The purpose of this gathering will be to explore opportunities for research and evaluation and more specifically to:
• Learn about and continue to develop research and assessment priorities for MillionTreesNYC
• Join a growing collaborative network of researchers and practitioners
• Establish student research opportunities and discuss fellowship support
• Share data and leverage on-going community and municipal plantings, sustainable designs and stewardship
• Discuss funding opportunities
• Begin planning a MillionTreesNYC research symposium
We hope that you will be able to join us on Wednesday, October 15th.
Kindly r.s.v.p. to Jacqueline.Lu@parks.nyc.gov by October 10th.
Topics: Events, Uncategorized | No Comments »
BMP Task Force Public Meeting, October 7
By teresa_crimmens | September 25, 2008
| October 7, 2008 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
There will be a public outreach meeting of the Interagency Best Management Practices (BMP) Task Force on Tuesday, October 7 from 6-8 PM at the Rosenthal Pavilion of the Kimmel Center at New York University. This meeting will feature a presentation of the Draft Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan, which will be released on October 1. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the Draft Plan and provide comments. Please visit www.nyc.gov/planyc/rsvp to RSVP for the meeting. Please see the attached public meeting notice for more information.
The draft plan and instructions for submitting comments will be posted on the PlaNYC website (www.nyc.gov/planyc2030) on October 1. The public comment period ends on October 31, and the final plan will be released on December 1.
Please use the SWIM Forum as a place to share your comments on the plan. The SWIM Coalition will use information shared here to inform our comment letter regarding the plan. If you need assistance, please e-mail swimmablenyc@gmail.com.
NYC BMP Task Force_October 7 Meeting Announcement
Topics: Events, Uncategorized | No Comments »
U.S. Court Upholds Decision To Keep Water Safe From Construction Pollution
By teresa_crimmens | September 22, 2008
WASHINGTON (September 18, 2008)– Today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in Pasadena, California, affirmed a decision that EPA must set standards to control storm water pollution from strip malls, subdivisions and other new development.
EPA and the National Association of Homebuilders had appealed the lower court’s ruling from 2006, but the U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Waterkeeper Alliance. The decision will help to ensure that construction site pollution won’t cause beach closings, waterborne disease, flooding, fish kills and contaminated drinking water supplies. The states of New York and Connecticut supported the conservation groups.
“This decision will go along way towards protecting America’s streams and rivers from the construction and development industry,” said Melanie Shepherdson, staff attorney at NRDC. “The court made it very clear that EPA can’t just shirk its responsibilities to reign in pollution from this industry.”
Excessive sediment, which is often the result of construction activity, is one of the leading causes of impairment of the nation’s waters. Construction runoff threatens rivers, pollutes clean water sources and leads to excessive plant growth, like algae and nuisance plants, in water bodies.
“For too long EPA has turned away from the real work of protecting our waters. This decision forcefully reminds them of their duty to the American people and our waters,” said Jeffrey Odefey, staff attorney at Waterkeeper Alliance. “It’s time that EPA and the building industry demonstrate real leadership and took the necessary steps to prevent the destruction of our lakes, rivers and streams.”
Click here to read the court’s decision.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Street Trees Workshops- Wednesday, 9/17
By larry_levine | September 16, 2008
Wednesday Sept. 17th - Monthly Workshop: Caring for Street Trees Presented by the New York Tree Trust
In this basic workshop, you’ll learn to care for young street trees, receive free tools, and get a Parks Volunteer Permit, which will allow you to care for street trees and greenstreets. Advance registration is required; space is limited. To register, contact channaly.oum@parks.nyc.gov or (212) 676-1929 with your name and email and/or phone number.
Date & Time: Wednesday, Sept. 17 Offered at two times: noon -1 p.m. & 6 p.m.-8 p.m. (longer evening session offers free tools)
Location: Family Life Center, 59 Wright Street, Stapleton, Staten Island
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
New Ecojustice Report on Green Infrastructure
By larry_levine | September 12, 2008
Click here for Green Cities Great Lakes, a report recently released by Ecojustice (Canada) on the use of green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows in the Ontario portion of the Great Lakes Basin. The report was closely modeled after NRDC’s Rooftops to Rivers report.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Green Roofs Offer More Color for the Skyline
By teresa_crimmens | September 3, 2008
Click here to read the NY Times article
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
« Previous Entries