November 2008 News

• ENERGY: Marcellus Shale: It's a gas, gas, gas - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper A natural gas-rich rock formation in the Southern Tier could be New York's next economic bonanza, but without care it could be an environmental bust. It's all thanks to Marcellus Shale. (Nov 26, 08) Rochester City Newspaper
• Brighton native hopes to influence global meeting | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The conference marks the half-way point of two years of negotiations aimed at creating a new global agreement to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. It starts Monday and will last two weeks. (Nov 29, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• New regulations will clean up state owned and operated diesel engines - ALBANY - A coalition of environmental, public health and business groups testified this week in support of regulations drafted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation which implement aspects of the New York State. (Nov 29-30) New York State News on the Net!
• TheStar.com | sciencetech | Acid rain legacy hurting lakes - Canadian-led study finds calcium depletion in bodies of water result of the 1980s toxic crisis (Nov. 28, 08) TheStar.com
• New Law Means Buy Local Firewood - Customers should be careful choosing their firewood this year, to prevent an even bigger problem than a cold house. With home heating costs skyrocketing, wood burning stoves and fireplaces are becoming a more popular way for people to heat their homes. (Nov 23, 08) R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
• Henrietta’s ‘green’ thumbs up - Rochester, NY - MPNnow Bloomfield, N.Y. — In acknowledgment of Henrietta’s ongoing efforts to address environmental issues, the town has been given a “Green Community” award by Audubon International, an environmental group based in Selkirk, Albany County. (Nov 26, 08) - Rochester, NY - MPNnow
• ENERGY: Hamlin wind regs to get scrutiny - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper Hamlin's wind-tower regulations are about to be tested. During a forum in Irondequoit last week, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo told a group of Hamlin residents that he'd send an environmental attorney to look into their complaints about the town's wind-tower regulations. The town board approved the regulations earlier this year. (Nov 25, 08) Rochester City Newspaper
• Environmental group urges state to end four programs | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle - ALBANY— The state government is wasting millions of dollars in tax cuts and programs that promote pollution, waste energy and destroy wetlands, an environmental-advocacy group said Tuesday. (Nov 26, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Crows fly out of Auburn- Syracuse.com Pyrotechnics and other efforts to shoo the pesky birds seem to be working. (Nov 22, 08) Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com
• Watertown Daily Times | Hammond anti-wind-law group growing HAMMOND — A group in Hammond aimed at overturning the recent wind farm law has been growing steadily in numbers and influence. (Nov 26, 08) Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York
• Climate change affects forest -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY - TUPPER LAKE — Conference studies peril, potential for profit in Adirondack Park -  What if we looked at the Adirondacks as more than just a 6-million-acre forest? What if we also viewed it as a kind of living factory in the fight against global warming, a mechanism capable of sucking up tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every day? (Nov 23, 08) Albany NY News - Times Union - Serving Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy
• IN ONE OF NEW YORK'S ASTHMA HOT SPOTS, THE BRONX: GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE TO CURB HEALTH IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVY TRUCK EMISSIONS | Announces Reimbursement for Qualified Health Care Providers Offering Asthma Self-Management Education to Patients | Governor David A. Paterson today announced plans to step up New York’s long-term enforcement plan to reduce the adverse health impacts associated with smoke-spewing and idling diesel trucks and buses. He made the announcement in the Bronx – home of the highest asthma rate in the State. Additionally, Governor Paterson announced that beginning January 1, 2009, New York’s Medicaid program will reimburse qualified health care providers for providing asthma self-management education to patients, which has been shown to reduce complications and avoidable hospital admissions for asthma patients. (Nov 26, 08) New York State Department of Health
• PUBLIC HEARING TO TAKE PLACE ON MIDTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (Rochester, New York) --The public hearing on the City’s Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the Midtown Rising development project will take place 6:30 p.m., Tue., Dec. 2 at City Council Chambers, City Hall, 30 Church St. The Rochester Environmental Commission will conduct the hearing, which will feature a short overview of the document by Labella Associates P.C., followed by a public comment period. (Nov 26, 08) Welcome to the City of Rochester
• Mountain biking options in Monroe County parks studied | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Mountain biking could be allowed in at least one Monroe County park next year under a master plan update for six parks in the area bordering and south of Irondequoit Bay. (Nov 25, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Financial concerns may threaten wind farm projects - FARMERSVILLE — Noble Environmental Power’s wind-energy projects in Cattaraugus and Allegany communities face an uncertain future both because of the global financial crisis and a legal snag. (Nov 20, 08) Buffalo News -- Home
• Natural gas petition gains large number of signatures | BINGHAMTON – Over 100 community members have signed on to Broome County’s natural as petition addressed to the state Department of Environmental Conservation calling for proper environmental oversight and for the permitting process to be properly established. (Nov 24, 08) New York State News on the Net!
• They're done counting dogs - Rochester, NY - MPNnow East Rochester, N.Y. — Counting dogs in the village has added to the kitties of senior citizens and teens who conducted the summer canine census. "
• Watchdogs challenge lakefront project - Rochester, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance and Canandaigua Lake Association — formerly East Shore Association — are appealing to the state’s highest court in hopes of reversing a lower court decision that favored a controversial lakefront development. (Nov 23, 08) - Rochester, NY - MPNnow
• Trout Travails Treated with $3 Million in Fish Aid (require PDF Reader) - The Service will provide $450,000 in aid, an amount matched nearly ten times over by contributions from conservation partners, to improve conditions for brook trout in the waters of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia. The funding will support ten projects restoring stream banks, re-opening miles of fish passage and addressing water quality issues. -from Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO’S STATEWIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE RETURNS TO MONROE COUNTY Attorney General’s Office Holds Public Forum Focused on Addressing Local Concerns | Cuomo’s executive staff hosted the public forum at Irondequoit High School. At the forum, the Attorney General and his senior staff conducted a series of intimate breakout sessions on civil and labor rights, health care concerns, consumer protection (including how to avoid falling victim to a bad home improvement contractor), housing issues, the environment and Internet safety. (Nov 18, 2008) - OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW M. CUOMO
• Schumer Wants Extension of TV Coupons - 13WHAM.com (Washington) AP - Senator Charles Schumer is asking the government to give people more time to buy new tv equipment for the switch to digital signals set for February. (Nov 20, 08) - 13WHAM.com
• DEC plan called dumping on Niagara | Target is disposal of toxic waste NIAGARA FALLS — Members of the public Wednesday night denounced a draft plan from state environmental regulators that they said proposes to keep Niagara County as the state’s only place to landfill hazardous waste. (Nov 20, 08) Buffalo News
• Landfill opponents denounce NY's siting plan - NewsFlash - Syracuse.com ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Environmental groups and people who live near the only commercial hazardous waste landfill in the Northeast are speaking out against a New York state plan that could allow the landfill to grow bigger. At issue is a draft of the Department of Environmental Conservation's hazardous waste facility siting plan released this summer. The plan, revising a 2003 version, sets guidelines for approving new or expanded hazardous waste landfills. (11/19/08) Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com
• ENVIRONMENT: Hamlin wind regs to get scrutiny - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper Things are about to get interesting out in Hamlin. During his community forum in Irondequoit last night, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo told a group of Hamlin residents that he'd send an environmental attorney to look into the town's wind tower regulations and the circumstances under which they were passed. He was responding to repeated requests from a group of town residents, all members of the Hamlin Preservation Group. (Nov 19, 08) Rochester City Newspaper
• LOW CARBON DIET CHALLENGE FINALE WHAT: Cool Communities Grand Awards Celebration: The Finale event for the Low Carbon Diet Challenge! All are invited- you need not have participated in the Challenge to celebrate our successes and prepare for an expansion in the Spring. (Nov 18, 08) Welcome to the City of Rochester
• Federal wetland issues to be discussed in Rochester - Rochester, NY - MPNnow Rochester, N.Y. — Wetland issues will be discussed at a meeting of the Monroe County Environmental Management Council at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 444 E. Henrietta Road, Building 15 (near the Pure Waters complex just off I-390). (Nov 19, 08) - MPNnow
• kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Climate change pushes hundreds of birds further north Spying a camera shy-cardinal behind the bird feeders at Staring Lake in Eden Prairie isn't out of the ordinary. But wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela says seeing one of these red-feathered flyers in Duluth is very unusual; but it's happening. (Nov 19, 08) kare11.com | Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN | News, Weather and Sports
• In-store plastic bag recycling now required in Albany County - ALBANY – Stores with over 10,000 feet of space in Albany County that provide customers plastic bags now must offer a bag recycling program. (Nov 19, 08) New York State News on the Net!
• toledoblade.com -- Info sought on Great Lakes levels' effect Panel wants to hear residents' viewpoints - On Wednesday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the University of Toledo's Lake Erie Center on Bayshore Road in Oregon, the International Joint Commission wants to hear anecdotes from area residents about how changing water levels have affected their lives. (Nov 18, 08) toledoblade.com --
• Brownfields Smart Growth 'Spotlight Communities' Initiative announced - ALBANY - Governor David Paterson and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez announced Tuesday the Brownfields Smart Growth Spotlight Communities Initiative. This initiative links communities participating in the state's Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program with the Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet. This state-local partnership will demonstrate how existing state programs can support and complement local efforts to redevelop brownfields and simultaneously achieve neighborhood revitalization and smart growth objectives. New York State News on the Net!
• Local Farms Kind to Cattle; Result is Excellent Product - 13WHAM.com (Nov 14, 08) http://www.13wham.com/
• DEC warns against feeding waterfowl after finding dead and dying geese ALBANY - Recently, a dozen Canada geese were found sick or dead on a pond in northern Clinton County by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife staff responding to a report from a concerned citizen. (Nov 17, 08) New York State News on the Net!
• RNN-TV: New York's Hudson Valley News Authority - National News and Politics -- Upstate nuclear plant shuts down reactor after pump problem SCRIBA, N.Y. (AP) - Operators of 1 of the nuclear reactors on Lake Ontario near Oswego shut down their reactor today to fix a leaky cooling water re-circulation pump. (Nov 13, 08) RNN-TV: New York's Hudson Valley News Authority - National News and Politics -- Home
• Increase in Deposit on Bottles, Cans--Could Rake in Millions - 13WHAM.com (Rochester, N.Y.) - Bottled water and juice could end up with a nickel deposit (or more) just like beer and soda. Governor Paterson is considering the idea as a way to bring as much as $25 million to the state’s coffers. (Nov 14, 08) - 13WHAM.com
• Best to do no harm in growing crops | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Once again, Rochester leads the nation by proactively encouraging the adoption of a new framework for responsible agriculture production and management practices as proposed by the American National Standards Institute. (Nov 11, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• London Free Press - Business - Wind offers manufacturing opportunity London and region’s manufacturing future may lie in the wind. The energy industry needs wind turbine manufacturers and the area’s troubled manufacturing sector, with under-used plants and skilled but under-employed workers, should consider making the massive wind turbines which are popping up across Southern Ontario, a London conference heard yesterday. (Nov 13, 08) London Free Press | Breaking news - London, Southwestern Ontario and the world
• Bottle bill enforcement sweep nets 127 violations - ALBANY - Responding to a growing number of consumer complaints, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police recently conducted a statewide, coordinated enforcement sweep of 652 retail outlets to ensure compliance with the state's hugely successful Bottle Bill, Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis announced Wednesday. New York State News on the Net!
• Constellation N.Y. Nine Mile 2 reactor shut | Markets | Markets News | Reuters NEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Constellation Energy Group Inc's (CEG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) 1,140-megawatt Unit 2 at the Nine Mile Point nuclear power station in New York shut by early Thursday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a report .(Nov 13, 08) World News, Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com
• Xerox report outlines plans to cut greenhouse gases | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Xerox Corp. is increasing its goal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. The area’s fourth-largest employer included that goal in its 2008 Report on Global Citizenship, which it released this week. (Nov 12, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Like water for gold "...it's hard to convince Torontonians to use water sparingly when there's a giant lake in our front yard." (Nov 12, 08) http://www.nationalpost.com/
• Increasing bear population gives hunters a new target | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A healthy local bear population is reflected in recent harvest numbers. From 2005 to 2007, the Allegany Range take was 352, by far the greatest three-year total in history. Statewide, the bear harvest has topped 1,000 five times this decade. (Nov 12, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Riga examines ways to put Mill Seat Landfill revenue to work | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle RIGA —The town of Riga now has more options on how to use funds from the Mill Seat Landfill. The next step is deciding what to do from that multitude of choices.(Nov 11, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Midtown plans take shape as environmental impact statement is released | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A year ago, the Midtown complex in the center of downtown Rochester was on its way to disaster as the 1.5 million square feet of office and retail space sat 85 percent empty. (Nov 11, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Nazareth College students collect day's worth of trash to encourage conservation | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Tossing out a single coffee cup or fast food container doesn't seem like a very big deal, but when you add up everything thrown away by thousands of people in a single day, the total can be startling. (Nov 4, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Aggressive Enforcement Strategy Targeting Truck/Bus Pollution in Urban Neighborhoods Goes Statewide - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation DEC Effort Targets High Asthma, High Traffic Areas Expanding a clean air initiative statewide, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the launch of a long-term enforcement strategy to cut down on the health impacts associated with smoke-spewing diesel trucks and buses, especially in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution. -- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
• USGS Release: Newly Identified Fungus Implicated in White-Nose Syndrome in Bats: Mysterious Bat Disease Decimates Colonies in the Northeast (10/30/2008 1:00:00 PM) A previously undescribed, cold-loving fungus has been linked to white-nose syndrome, a condition associated with the deaths of over 100,000 hibernating bats in the northeastern United States. The findings are published in this week's issue of Science. - Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• In Mayor’s Plan, the Plastic Bag Will Carry a Fee - NYTimes.com In its struggle to make New York more green, the Bloomberg administration has tried discouraging people from using plastic bags. It has taken out ads beseeching residents to use cloth bags and set up recycling bins for plastic bags at supermarkets. (Nov 9, 08) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia
• Grimes Glen now a county park - Rochester, NY - MPNnow Naples, N.Y. — After a three-year, complicated land transaction, one of the region’s signature natural attractions is now a public park permanently protected from development. (Nov 8, 08) - Rochester, NY - MPNnow
• 10 Rochester schools earn Energy Star award | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle After school an Energy Patrol of fourth, fifth and sixth graders go from room to room to make sure lights and computer monitors are off. The light bulb in the teachers' soda machine has been removed. (Nov 8, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Officials: Botulism problem for Great Lakes birds -- chicagotribune.com ERIE, Pa. - Officials at Presque Isle State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania say dead gulls and loons are proof that avian botulism continues to be a problem for Great Lakes shore birds.  (Nov 6, 2008) http://www.chicagotribune.com/
• Lead paint workshop at Pittsford library | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle A free lead paint remediation workshop will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at the Pittsford Community Library, 24 State St. (Nov 7, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Animal Shelters Honored for Work - Thanks to Rochester Animal Services, homeless animals like dogs, cats and even rabbits have a chance of finding a home. This week is "National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.” (Nov 3, 08) R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
• Largest ever tagging program in works for Great Lakes | portclintonnewsherald.com | Port Clinton News Herald The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region this October received the first of a series of automated fish tagging trailers -- an initial step in the development of a mass marking program that will eventually mark or tag all salmon and trout stocked into U.S. waters of the Great Lakes. Once implemented, this initiative will become the largest coordinated tagging and recovery program ever envisioned for Great Lakes management agencies. (Nov 6, 08) portclintonnewsherald.com | Port Clinton News Herald | Port Clinton news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Port Clinton, OH
• Upgrade of trail in Victor criticized | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle The width of the proposed stone path being contested is in an area of northwest Victor named after a railroad and the mills that once stood there. This path is part of an $885,000 upgrade of the Auburn Trail, with $619,500 coming from the federal government. (Nov 6, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York
• Fungus May Be Culprit In Deadly Bat Epidemic : NPR In the northeastern United States, bats have been dying by the thousands, struck down by a strange ailment called "white-nose syndrome." A mysterious, fuzzy white fungus appears on the noses and skin of afflicted hibernating bats, which then often starve to death. (Nov. 6, 08) NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts
• NY, New England seek mercury reduction -- Newsday.com ALBANY, N.Y. - New York and six New England states are petitioning the federal Environmental Protection Agency to take stronger steps to reduce mercury pollution from power plants outside the region. (Oct., 30,08) http://www.newsday.com/
• Feeder Watch counts on bird lovers - Burgdorf and several other Americorps representatives were among the half-dozen people who attended a Feeder Watch information session yesterday at the Montezuma Audubon Center. The annual program, which tallies birds at 16,000 sites in the United States and Canada, begins Nov. 8. (Nov 2, 08) Finger Lakes Times Online
• Program seeks people for winter bird tracking | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle While the robins may have left for the winter, plenty of birds will tough out the cold in the Rochester area. And a national program would like your help to find out what species they include. (Nov 3, 08) democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York

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