MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

3:00 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT:   M. Kaplowitz (Chair), U. LaMotte, J. Maisano, V. Pinto, M. Rogowsky, S. Swanson.

BOL STAFF:   T. Bernard, S. Kirkpatrick (Sec’y).

ALSO PRESENT:  Murray Bodin, Joe Marcogliese (Dept. of Health), Hope Corbin, Mary Lynn Nicolas (Law Dept.), Bill Randolph (Co. Exec. Office), Edna Sussman (Fed. Conservationists), Elaine Price (Dir, Consumer Affairs)

DISCUSSION: 

Chair Kaplowitz called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m. with a review of upcoming public meetings to be hosted jointly with the Committees on Public Works, Cultural and Ethnic Diversity and Budget and Appropriations.  These meetings, will be held in the cities/towns tat will be affected (Peekskill, Yorktown, New Castle and Yonkers) and will elicit pubic opinion on proceeding with a SEQRA report on the sewage diversion proposal.  Legislator Rogowsky expressed concerns that the public may be frustrated by not having a specific report to address.  Additionally, a second round of meetings would be required after completion of the SEQRA report.

Chair Kaplowitz outlined several criticisms the Board had heard that these public meetings would address:  environmental racism, not studying alternatives to diversion and not being responsive to the communities.  Because of this pressure, it is better to open the discussion now.  Legislator Maisano stated that the meetings could also clarify need for the Board to be the lead agency.  Legislator LaMotte reminded the Committee for the need to proceed quickly as emphasized by Yorktown last week.

Agenda Item #141:  Disposal of Mercury Products.

Joe Marcogliese, Health Department, presented revised recommendations and amendments to Article XX and Article IV (Agenda Item #141).  The new law

MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

January 21, 2003

PAGE 2

expands changes to include additional products with mercury and mandatory recycling of products containing mercury (fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers, barometers).

Legislator LaMotte expressed concern that all products containing mercury that could be included, be included to avoid continual revisions of the law.

Mr. Marcogliese explained that his department had made major efforts to find all products for which there are affordable alternatives.  Home Depot has recently begun carrying several new products which provide alternatives to mercury.

Murray Bodin spoke to the Committee regarding the use of mercury in dental amalgam (fillings) which contains more than 50% mercury which leeches out into the body.  He had taken succimer (generic name for Chemet, the trade name) which is a chelating agent to flush mercury out of his body.  He urged the committee to be sure to include such procedures in the legislation and publicize the need to detoxify.

The Health Department has documentation which Elaine Price, Director of Consumer Affairs, will provide to the Committee.  However, they have found that the problem needs to be dealt with on the federal level because of the far reaching origins and consequences.

Chair Kaplowitz asked the Health and Law Departments to present revisions which include the changes discussed at the meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.