MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

3:00 P.M.

 

 

PRESENT:  ENV:  M. Kaplowitz, Chair;  U. LaMotte;  V. Pinto;

   J. Maisano.

 

 

STAFF:  C. Ryer, Sec’y.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Hope Corbin (Intern-MK);  Greg Julian-Ph.D.;  David Maloney, Cara Thunder (Pace U.);  Edna Sussman (Pace Law);  Bill Randolph, Vasyl Yablonski (CE’s Ofc.).

 

 

DISCUSSION:

The meeting was called to order at 3:10 p.m., by Chair Kaplowitz.  The minutes of January 11^th and 23^rd, were reviewed and approved on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, with a vote of 3-0, Legislator Maisano was out for the vote.

 

Correspondence and highlights of next week’s meeting were reviewed next.  Chair noted that Paula Lebowitz of the Planning Board has been invited to give a report on the Soil & Water Conservation District, and update the committee on any new developments and/or projects.  Memos were sent (dated Feb. 7^th) regarding the establishment of a Stormwater Management Advisory Commission - I am awaiting the reply.  With regard to GE, representatives have been invited to attend our meetings to further discuss the issue of the pending EPA record of decision, which is due in the up-coming summer months, on dredging of the Hudson River.  Chair Kaplowitz would like to complete the proposed resolution or letter by the end of March.  Legislator LaMotte added, that she feels the decision to dredge is difficult to make, at this time.  Chair reiterated that the resolution clause, the document containing the language and words to describe the intent, would cover Legislator LaMotte’s concerns.

 

 

MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

PAGE 2

 

 

With a review of the agenda next, the following items were received and filed on the motion of Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator Maisano, with all in favor:  #’s  7; 25; 45; 50; 78; 92; 99; 125; 133; 140; 141; 144; 2-01; 3-01; 4-01; 10-01; 11-01; and 12-01.  All the items can be found in the Committee files for a detailed description.  With regard to item #25 (Indian Point-2 Leak), Chair Kaplowitz requested that Steve Bass set up a site visit to the facility, within the next few months.  Chair has asked Bill Randolph to follow-up on item #’s 13-01 and 14-01, dealing with the issue of regional survey results for the recycling and/or disposal household hazardous waste and (rubber) tires, in the Hudson Valley.

 

Greg Julian, Ph. D., an Associate Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at Pace University, was introduced next.  Chair Kaplowitz gave him a brief explanation, describing the process of how items are referred to the Board’s various Standing Committees, from the full Board meeting agenda – to arrive at a scheduled committee meeting date.  Dr. Julian explained that he is part of a group called HELP (Hudson Environmental Legislation Project), which prepared legislation to for the EPA to declare the Hudson River as a “no discharge zone” (boats dumping waste).  The legislation was sponsored within a year, the Governor has signed it into the law, along with the EPA actions, and it has been effective as of December 2000.  Dr. Julian further explained that his group is designed to research, educate and assist with environmental safeguarding of disposed waste.  The next group project is to regulate the recycling and/or disposing of old computer monitors from various corporations.  He also noted that George Latimer suggested creating a subcommittee to work with the Environment Committee, to research this effort and come up with an update/report by mid-May on the ramification of burning monitors vs. putting into the waste-stream, or any other possible options for disposal.  Along with the report, the subcommittee hopes to model a bill to be entertained and presented to the entire legislature, dealing with the problems of electronic recycling.

 

MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

PAGE 3

 

 

Chair Kaplowitz entertained a motion to create the new Subcommittee on the Environment.  The motion was moved by Legislator Pinto, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, with all in favor.  Legislator Pinto will chair the subcommittee, the members will include David Maloney and Cara Thunder, of Pace University’s HELP group.

 

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m.