Events and Important Dates

Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan for the 1997 & 2006 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Carbon Monoxide Limited Maintenance Plan for the NY Metropolitan Area; and Repeal of 6 NYCRR Part 203, Indirect Sources of Air Contamination

Location:  NYSDEC Region 2 Office, 1 Hunters Point Plaza, 47-40 21st Street, Room 834, Long Island City, NY  11101

Please refer to the ENB (http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/20130206_not0.html) for the complete Public Hearing Notice.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP), co-lead agencies of New York's Open Space Conservation Plan, are hosting a meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 6 p.m. at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, 311 Curtis St. in Jamestown, to solicit input regarding the update of the NYS Open Space Conservation Plan.

This plan serves as a blueprint for the State's land conservation efforts to increase protection of the State's significant natural, scenic, recreational, historic and cultural resources. The Open Space Plan was last updated in 2009 and New York State Law requires that the plan be revised every three years to adapt to shifting conservation priorities. The Open Space Regional Advisory Committee (RAC), which has multi-disciplinary regional representation that includes the Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Economic Development, is required to review and update their regional portion of the plan and submit an update in mid-2013. This meeting is among many that will hosted by the State throughout the region between now and late May.

Residents are encouraged to attend to provide input and identify projects, processes, and collaborations in Chautauqua County that would assist the State in preserving and promoting treasured open spaces.

Interested residents who are unable to attend the meeting can also send their suggestions to the DEC by email at region9@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

In addition, there are several meetings upcoming for other counties in Region 9.  

Allegany County 
April 10, 2013 at 7 p.m.  
Crossroads Commerce & Conference Center
6087 NYS Route 19 
Belmont, NY 14813 

Cattaraugus County 
April 18, 2013 at 7 p.m. 
303 Court St.
Little Valley, NY 14755

Niagara County
Last week of April; date and location to be determined

Join us for a moonlit walk through the woods as we look for nocturnal critters during the first full moon of spring. Bring binoculars if you have them. For adults only. Registration required; call 716-683-5959 to sign up.

Visit Lake Ontario for the spectacular spring raptor migration and leave the driving to us. Travel in the Montezuma Audubon Center van to witness hundreds and perhaps thousands of bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, turkey vultures and many more! If weather conditions do not cooperate, the program will be moved to Thurs-day, March 28. This program is offered in cooperation with the Onondaga Audubon Society. Pack a lunch.

Fee: $15/child; $20/adult.

Join us for a moonlit walk through the woods as we look for nocturnal critters during the first full moon of spring. Bring binoculars if you have them. Registration required; call 716-683-5959 to sign up.

Once considered to be the “king” of waterfowl, the American Black Duck is in severe decline. Participants will explore the reasons for this decline through games and activities. Then, we’ll take a trip to explore another birding hotspot in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and participate in an American Black Duck survey. Fee: $7/child.

Thursday, March 28, 2013, 10:30 a.m. – Noon

Green infrastructure provides additional capacity to handle stormwater runoff.  This webinar will present NYS climate change projections, green infrastructure options, case studies, and an evaluation matrix to help communities decide on what green infrastructure might work best in their community.

 Additionally at this webinar, information will be provided on how communities can apply for NYSDEC’s 2013 Environmental Excellence Awards.

The webinar will be accessible to anyone via an Internet connection and telephone. Webinar participants must use the telephone call-in number; no audio signal will be transmitted over the Internet. To join the webinar, go to http://www.webdialogs.com, click the “Join a meeting” button and enter Conference ID 58089 in the “Meeting Login” screen. On your telephone, dial 1-866-394-2346 and enter conference call code 1982360347# when prompted. 
 
Please respond with both your name and community affiliation via either e-mail or telephone to the Office of Climate Change at climatechange@gw.dec.state.ny.us or 518-402-8323.  In the event that we have to cancel or postpone this webinar respondents will be notified.

Join us for our weekly after-school outings for gradeschool children. A brief indoor introduction to the season will be followed by an outdoor exploration along Five Rivers’ trails, searching for signs of the season. Each week will feature a different nature theme, with a strong emphasis on direct interaction with the outdoors. These programs are free of charge, but space is limited. Registration for any date is required by the preceding Tuesday. Parent(s) and child(ren) must accompany each other. In the event of inclement weather, outings will be cancelled. To register or for more information, call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291.

Enjoy a one-hour program for kids featuring a different, fun, outdoor activity each week. For children in grades K through 5. No registration required.

NOTE: Extension of public comment period.

DEC is encouraging public comment on a renewed draft State Hazardous Waste Management Permit for CWM Chemical Services, LLC's facility in Model City, New York. The public comment period began on November 28, 2012 and the last day to comment has been extended through March 29, 2013.

Click the web link above to access an electronic copy of the draft permit.

DEC also has scheduled a Legislative Public Hearing to provide an additional opportunity for the public to comment on the draft permit and a Public Availability Session to answer related questions. These meetings are scheduled for Monday, January 14, 2013. The availability session is scheduled from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm and the public hearing is scheduled in two sessions that will begin at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm respectively. All meetings will be held at the Lewiston-Porter High School, 4061 Creek Road, Youngstown, NY. Click the web link above to access a fact sheet for more information.

Once considered to be the “king” of waterfowl, the American Black Duck is in severe decline. Participants will explore the reasons for this decline through games and activities. Then, we’ll take a trip to explore another birding hotspot in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and participate in an American Black Duck survey. Fee: $7/child.

Once considered to be the “king” of waterfowl, the American Black Duck is in severe decline. Participants will explore the reasons for this decline through games and activities. Then, we’ll take a trip to explore another birding hotspot in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and participate in an American Black Duck survey. Fee: $7/child.

This hands-on workshop will introduce Project Learning Tree’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood, forest-themed instructional activities geared for ages 3-6, which integrate nature-based exploration, art, literature, math, music and movement. Participants will receive a free PLT Environmental Experiences Activity Guide full of activities correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards and the Head Start Domains. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register by Wednesday, March 27.

Hop along with us as we share eastern cottontail rabbit facts, make a craft and search for rabbits on the trail. For children age 9 and under. Registration required; call 716-683-5959 to sign up.

Join us for a cook’s tour of maple sugaring, from sap to syrup. You’ll get to twirl a brace drill, pound a spile, inspect the sap flow in our sugarbush, enjoy the aroma of sap boiling down in our evaporator and take the maple taste test. A local maple producer will be on site to answer questions and to offer a variety of maple products for sale. Organized groups are welcome but are asked to please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register.