MEMBERS: Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: V. Pinto, J. Maisano. Staff: Charlotte Ryer, Secretary.

ALSO PRESENT: George Hosey (CBAC); Marian H. Rose (Sierra Club); Gudrun LeLash (FCWC); Fedora DeLucia (Former Member, Somers Plng. Bd.); Roberta Wiernik (Pest Mgmt. Comm.); Ann M. Cohen (Sierra Club - CWCWC); John Yoegel (DEF); Jan Blaire, Carol Coggeshall (EMC).

Chair Kaplowitz called the meeting to order with a quorum of two, at 3:07 p.m. and the minutes of Tuesday, February 24, 1998 were reviewed. Motion to approve was made by Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, and carried 2-0. (Legislators Maisano and Latimer were out for the vote.)

Beginning with the Chair’s Report, Chair Kaplowitz stated he received a call from Jeff Channin, Legislator from Orange County, requesting background information on the gasline and the status of its progress. Chair relayed that the process is in the beginning stages with Con Edison indicating that there are two problems with granting the easements, (1) economic and; (2) a health and safety issue. Mr. Jim O’Toole, a chief Con Edison official will be speaking with the Committee on these issues at the Committee meeting scheduled March 24th. Chair announced that there will be a League of Women Voter’s meeting to discuss Composting Issues on April 22, 1998, at the Rochambeau School on Fisher Avenue in White Plains. James Hogan, Director of Resources Management and Scarsdale Recycling

Coordinator, James Rice will be on hand to discuss composting organic waste and sites.

The Chair then reviewed the Environmental Committee schedule of invited guests and topics for the month of March. Chair also requested that the Committee be prepared, next week, to discuss the Filtration Avoidance measure. A cover memo was sent to the County Executive summarizing filtration avoidance and asking him to look to this particular measure and backup Elliot Engel’s Bill. Chair Kaplowitz now has a monthly, half-hour cable show on Cablevision in Yorktown. The first topic will be on filtration avoidance and Paul Moskowitz has agreed to be the guest speaker on the first show. The format for the monthly cable show is focused on vigorous debate on numerous topics. Chair also informed the Committee that the County Attorney’s office is drafting the package for the Class "D" Hauling Permit legislative overhaul which will hopefully be ready for public hearing by March 23rd.

Next, Chair Kaplowitz stated that he went to the County Attorney’s office and shared with them the discussion of last week’s meeting concerning Pest Management legislation and will try to schedule a public hearing as soon as possible to address the local law. Chair then directed Ms. Wiernik of the PMC to explain the Household Hazardous Chemical Consumer Notification Law. Ms. Wiernik stated that she chaired the Citizens’ Advisory Group that set up the guidelines to implement this law and detailed the group’s active participation. Ms. Wiernik also explained that the enforcement as stated in the law was to be carried out by the Department of Consumer Protection. It was later found that the Department had never been formally created by legislation when it was put in place in 1976, and has no enforcement power. There were steps taken to correct this situation but, it was never acted upon. It has been rumored that the County Executive is planning to abolish the Department of Consumer Protection. If the department is abolished,

there would have to be a decision as to who would have the enforcement power, and the law would have to be changed. The Committee discussed amending the law to establish the Department of Consumer Protection. Legislator Pinto was asked to review the law, along with the Citizens’ Consumer Advisory Council, and report its findings back to the full Committee before the final amendments are presented.

Next, for discussion was Household Hazardous Waste and the need for basic education in its proper disposal. The largest issue is whether or not the County should have a fixed household hazardous waste site. Legislator Pinto will hold the first subcommittee meeting on this issue is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th, at 7:30 p.m., in the Board of Legislators’ Budget meeting room #810.

Chair Kaplowitz has scheduled the first Airport subcommittee meeting for Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:00 p.m., in the Chambers of the Board of Legislators. Legislator Maisano has scheduled the first Long Island Sound subcommittee meeting for Wednesday, March 18th, at 7:00 p.m., it will be and information and organization meeting to form working groups.

Last, the rental of County land for parking purposes was discussed and it was stated that no expansion would be involved. Chair Kaplowitz suggested that Commissioner Sal DeSantis be invited to attend a Committee meeting to further discuss this issue.

On motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Maisano, the meeting adjourned at 3: 55 p.m.