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MINUTES COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT Tuesday, June 29, 1999 3:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: U. LaMotte; V. Pinto; J. Maisano.
STAFF: Steve Bass; Charlotte Ryer, Sec’y.
ALSO PRESENT: Harry Stanton-Deputy Comm., Patty Chemka, Richard Steller (WC/DOT); Gudrun LeLash (FCWC).
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m.. The minutes of June 22nd were approved, as amended, on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, with a vote of 4-0.
Chair Kaplowitz publicly thanked Commissioner Marvin
Church, Bill Randolph and the Administration for helping to set up today’s
meeting. He also mentioned that with
the aid of Legislator LaMotte during last week’s Budget and Appropriations
meeting, there was a discussion of purchasing articulated (elongated) buses,
which led to the purpose of today’s meeting.
Chair Kaplowitz then introduced today’s guests, who were invited to
discuss alternative fuels for mass transit.
Chair presented the issue, which is the probability of replacing current
diesel fuel with alternative fuels.
Harry Stanton began the discussion with a (visual) slide presentation
introducing “Current Technology Trends”,
that contained the following three basic trends: stored electric; fuel replacements; and diesel/electric
hybrids. Stored Electric is basically
an electric vehicle with rechargeable batteries. Fuel replacements is costly and needs twice the volume of
expensive fuel. Diesel/Electric
Hybrid, which uses a source of electrical generating power in a vehicle to
recharge the battery, and has been found to be the most promising of current
technology. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is most successful to date. Mr. Stanton continued his discussion
explaining that the big item of the CNG is the cost, noting that all involved
facilities have to be duplicated in a special way. The fuel facility, which is the facility that COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENTTUESDAY, June 29, 1999PAGE 2
is used to pump fuel into the buses, has a basic investment of $1-million or more, just to open the facility. More importantly is the storage facility, to retrofit one garage, the cost is in the area of $20-million. He further explained that to store buses, the garage would have to be retrofit with spark-free electrical systems for ventilation to accommodate fuel leaks. The electrical and ventilation systems also require an alarm system to alert for the smell of leaking fuel vapors, which can be very dangerous. He added that the MTA will have 500 buses operating out of three garages, and has invested in the use of CNG for fuel. From an environment standpoint, the carbon monoxide levels are the same in CNG as in diesel fuel. Chair Kaplowitz emphasized that he has to stay focused on replacing the existing buses, because the amounts of money being spent to save the old buses is too costly. A brief discussion continued.
Chair thanked Stanton and guests at 4:10 and the meeting continued with a review of the upcoming calendar of meetings and maintenance on the remaining Agenda items. There are two openings on the Pest Management Committee as Dr. Michael Lemke is moving out of state. A candidate being considered for the Pest Management Committee, James Grefig, will be invited to the July 20th meeting for an interview. The following Environment Agenda items were received and filed on the motion of Legislator Maisano, seconded by Legislator Pinto, with a vote of 4-0: D, E, YY, F-4, T-4, F-5, L-5, M-5. On the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Maisano, with a vote of 4-0, Environment Agenda items I-5 and J-5 were received and filed.
Legislator Maisano mentioned that the Long Island Sound
Subcommittee held their first meeting and made plans for the summer months to
host a public information campaign in places such as public concerts, street
fairs, parks, etc. - to educate the public on how to take action to avoid
non-point source pollution in everyday life. COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENTTUESDAY, June 29, 1999PAGE 3
The subcommittee members will set-up tables in different areas and distribute various helpful information and materials.
Chair Kaplowitz suggested that during the next legislative session that the Environment Committee meet in several different middle and high schools throughout the County (during the day) and invite students who are involved in environmental science, natural science and such studies, to the auditorium, along with County environmental policy-makers, to interact with them regarding day-to-day environmental issues. Gudrun LeLash suggested starting with the middle school in Armonk, because they have been active in this capacity. Legislator LaMotte added that the middle schools in her legislative district have also been actively involved in environmental projects. She also suggested seeking students in the Community Colleges for their participation to help distribute written informational materials.
Legislator Pinto gave a brief update on the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Subcommittee meeting, noting that the members have also been involved with the distribution of written informational materials. He stated that he will prepare an agenda for the next subcommittee meeting to give proper direction to the topics being discussed.
With no further business to discuss and on the motion of Legislator Maisano, seconded by Legislator Pinto, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
TAPE OF THE MEETING ON FILE. |