Green Guru Network

nydec

Do Your Tribs Need Trees?

Shared by our friend Krisitn Marcell Dear friends of the Hudson River Estuary Program, The Hudson River Estuary Program's Trees for Tribs initiative offers free native trees and shrubs for streamside buffer planting/restoration projects in the Hudson River Estuary watershed. Since 2007 the program has been responsible for planting more than 24,000 native trees and shrubs along 60,000 feet of stream with the help of thousands of local volunteers. We are now accepting applications Spring 2012 planting sites. Applications received by March 1, 2012 will be given preference. For further information about the program including project applications and fact sheets, please visit the DEC website, www.dec.ny.gov/lands/43668.html or contact the Hudson River Estuary Program's Stream Buffer Coordinator, Beth Roessler at (845)-256-2253 or baroessl@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Please forward this email to potentially interested landowners and partners. Thank you. -Beth Roessler Beth Roessler Hudson River Estuary Program Stream Buffer Coordinator NYS Department of Environmental Conservation In cooperation with NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University 21 South Putt Corners Rd New Paltz, NY 12561 (845) 256-2253 baroessl@gw.dec.state.ny.us Estuary Program: www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html NYS Water Resources Institute: http://wri.eas.cornell.edu/ Helping people enjoy, protect and revitalize the Hudson River Estuary and its Valley

What Governor Cuomo, Matthew J. Driscoll, and Joe Martins Say About New York's HELP Program

Water_Splash_Gwada To create this $25 million emergency fund, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) is utilizing funds within the state Drinking Water and Clean Water Revolving Funds (SRFs). The SRFs traditionally provide short- and long-term financing of major improvements to water and sewer systems in New York.

"HELP loans will provide expedited assistance to municipalities that are coping with serious damage to their drinking water and wastewater treatment systems," Governor Cuomo said. "These loans will be a lifeline to communities who are working so hard to recover from these devastating storms."

EFC's Board of Directors approved the emergency loan program at a meeting this week. The proposal has been forwarded to the Public Authorities Control Board for final approval. The PACB is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 21.

"DEC organized engineers from DEC, EFC, the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies to perform site inspections that will qualify a municipality for both a HELP loan and FEMA assistance," said EFC President and CEO Matthew J. Driscoll. Driscoll is co-chairman of the Governor's Upstate Storm and Flooding Recovery Task Force. "These emergency loans will allow for expedited repairs to the affected wastewater treatment facilities," said Joe Martens, DEC Commissioner and Chair of EFC's Board of Directors. "The sooner repairs can be made the sooner drinking water can be fully protected and harm to the environment can be minimized."

Who To Call For HELP....

DEC's Storm Debris Disposal Guidance

New York Departmant of Environmental Conservation is providing general assistance and guidance to help local communities address damaged facilities, debris disposal and solid waste. The DEC's Guidance for Storm Related Waste page can help also contact your regional DEC office for specific answers.

In an effort to keep overall cleanup costs to a minimum and to reduce the overall impacts from the disaster debris it is important that those conducting the cleanup be mindful to separate out those waste materials which are benign or exempt from regulation, such as tree branches and limbs, from other more environmentally concerning debris during the cleanups. Care should be taken to set aside such materials as household hazardous waste, gasoline containers and propane canisters and other regulated solid wastes that would require special handling.

Emergency Spill Response

DEC is deploying spill response teams to assess flooding related spills throughout the impacted areas. DEC operates a 24-hour Emergency Spill Hotline (1-800-457-7362) for the public to notify the department of suspected spills.