For Release: Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Environmental Justice Workshop Focuses on Use of "Green" Techniques To Deal With Runoff, Overflows
While wet weather is a welcomed sign of spring for some, many communities often face numerous challenges in handling rain's impacts on infrastructure and the environment - such as stormwater runoff and sewer overflows that can drive up local energy costs and pollute water bodies. Increasingly, they are turning to "green" infrastructure approaches to handle precipitation and reduce pollution. On Thursday, May 7, the New York State Environmental Justice Inter-Agency Task Force, created by Governor David A. Paterson, will hold a workshop focusing on how municipalities can manage wet weather incidents by using "green" infrastructure approaches.
The conference will focus on the benefits of using innovative and proven strategies that improve water quality, reduce air pollution, and restore natural resources when dealing with stormwater runoff, combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows and non-point source runoff. Green infrastructure entails enhancing the use and/or reuse of water to provide additional environmental benefits. Approaches involve allowing stormwater to percolate through the soil where it recharges the groundwater and the base flow for streams, as well as capturing and reusing water to help ensure adequate water supplies for humans and stable aquatic ecosystems.
Specific examples include rain gardens, green rooftops, the use of wetlands in wastewater filtration and infiltration planters at buildings or vegetated median strips on roads that capture potential runoff while improving air quality and reducing temperatures in urban areas. Other practices include installing porous or permeated pavements to aid in the recharge of groundwater, and employing vegetated swales to replace gutters and curbs while helping to reduce stormwater runoff.
Speakers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tetra Tech, the New York City Mayor's office, Onondaga County, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, and the state Environmental Facilities Corporation will be participating in the workshop.
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said: "Green infrastructure techniques will be a part of slowing climate change by reducing energy demands and increasing carbon sequestration by vegetation. What many of us felt intuitively all along - that trees and other plants provide necessary environmental services - has now been proven. This workshop is an important step in promoting the statewide use of green infrastructure."
Live video-conferencing will be provided at each of the nine DEC Regional headquarters, as well as some Regional Sub-offices. Space is limited, so registration is open to all on a first-come, first-served basis at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/NewYork/
For more information about Green Infrastructure or the workshop, please contact Karen Engel, Green Infrastructure Coordinator by mail: NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233, by phone: (518) 402-9517, or by email: kmengel@gw.dec.state.ny.us .
WHO: Governor Paterson's New York State Environmental Justice Inter-Agency Task Force, and joined by officials from several agencies and local governments.
WHAT: A workshop for municipalities and others interested in learning about green technologies that help reduce negative impacts from excessive stormwater and wastewater.
WHEN: Tomorrow, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Includes a kick-off address by DEC Commissioner Grannis at 10:15 a.m.
WHERE: DEC headquarters at 625 Broadway in Albany, as well as DEC regional offices across the state. Specific locations can be found at http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/NewYork/locations.htm
* MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND ALL OR PART OF THE PRESENTATIONS *
