MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Tuesday, September 12, 2000
3:00 P.M.
PRESENT: ENV. - Chair: M. Kaplowitz. Members: V. Pinto;
U. LaMotte; J. Maisano; G. Latimer.
STAFF: Rafael Vega; Charlotte Ryer
ALSO PRESENT: Paula DeCaro (W/LWV); Katherine McLoughlin (NY/LCV).
DISCUSSION:
Chair Kaplowitz called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m., and reviewed the minutes of June 13th and August 1st. The minutes of June 13th were approved on the motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Chair Kaplowitz, and the minutes of August 1st were approved on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte. Both minutes were approved with a vote of 4-0.
The schedule of upcoming meetings was reviewed next. It was noted that next week’s (9/19) topic has been changed to discuss the Davids Island IMA (agenda #80). A community meeting has been planned for Tuesday, October 10th, in the Town of Somers, at 7:30 p.m., which will be finalized and announced at a later date.
Next, the Committee reviewed the final revisions for the Pesticide Reduction Law, to submit to the County Attorney for the preparation of Committee signing (of the legislation) for public hearing purposes.
Board Chairman Latimer discussed the watershed diversion, noting that the process for analyzing has not started yet. He suggested that the Environment Committee and related subcommittees organize their own meetings (preferably joint), or plan a community forum, as well as contacting the elected officials in the communities along the northern tier, to inform them of the intent to discuss the public policy of water diversion.
MINUTES
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
TUESDAY, September 12, 2000
Chair Kaplowitz and Legislator Maisano suggested having a two-hour Environment Committee meeting to tackle both issues. Legislator LaMotte suggested inviting the Watershed Subcommittee to attend.
The rest of the meeting consisted of receiving and filing the following agenda items: 23, 49, 53, 57, 58, 59, 69, 73, 77, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93 and 94. (The items are filed in the Environment Committee files.) Legislator LaMotte suggested sending a letter to EPA, DEC and NRDC in regard to item #85 [Green-house gas emissions.] Chair Kaplowitz also referred item #88 to the Committee on Public Works [Debris Collection System on Waterways]. Legislator Pinto requested that a letter be written to
Chair announced the notification (DEC/08-23-00) of a public hearing, dealing with persons who have interest in the re-classification of waters in the lower Hudson River, Upper East River, Long Island Sound drainage basins, etc., in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester Counties. The information hearing will be held October 3rd in White Plains, and October 4th in Kingston, and the remaining two sessions of hearings will be held October 16th in White Plains. Chair requested that the notification be circulated to all Legislators.
Legislator Pinto requested that the Chair submit a letter to the County Attorney to get a response regarding item #26 [Localized Interpretation of Clean Air Act], which is corresponding to the memo dated August 1, 2000, regarding Auto Body Shop Fees.
Lastly, Chair Kaplowitz suggested that a letter be written to the Governor as a follow-up of the Tappan Zee Bridge, requesting an independent study.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, at 4:35 p.m.