DEC invites the public to comment about a proposal to address contamination related to the CE – Pelham MGP Offsite #360165 (Pelham Manor, Westchester County) within New York’s Manufactured Gas Plant Program. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through June 19, 2022.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the proposal and how to comment.

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/360165/

And at:

Town of Pelham Public Library
530 Colonial Avenue
Pelham, NY 10803
(914) 738-1234

DEC invites the public to comment about a proposal to address contamination related to the Former Carter Spray Finishing Corp. site #C224218 (Brooklyn, Kings County) within New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through June 20, 2022.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the proposal and how to comment.

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C224218/

And at:

Brooklyn Public Library - Greenpoint Branch
107 Norman Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Tel: 718-389-4394

Brooklyn Community Board 1
Attn: Dealice Fuller
435 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel: 718-389-0009
Email: bk01@cb.nyc.gov

DEC invites the public to comment about a proposal to address contamination related to the Wallace Campus site #C314134 (Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County) within New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through June 20, 2022.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the proposal and how to comment.

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C314134/

And at:

Adriance Memorial Library
93 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 485-3445

New York State Public Hearing on Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria -- North Country/Capital Region (online/virtual)

Criteria to Guide Equitable Implementation of State’s Ambitious Climate Law
 
May and June In-Person and Virtual Hearings to Provide Public Opportunities to Share Input on Draft Criteria
 
Comments Accepted Until July 7, 2022
 
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will hold 11 public hearings across the state to receive public input on draft disadvantaged communities criteria and advance the finalization of criteria to help guide the implementation of the State's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
 
New York’s Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG), which consists of representatives from environmental justice groups from across the State and representatives of several State agencies, voted in December to release the draft criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities for public review. The Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria Public Comment Period commenced in March with a 120-day public comment period that ends July 7, 2022.
 
The criteria are based on geographic, public health, environmental hazard, and socioeconomic factors, and once approved, will be used to help meet the directives of the Climate Act related to reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to inform regulatory impact statements and the State's clean energy and energy efficiency investments. 
 
Public Hearing  
 

Event: North Country/Capital Region 

Location: Webex

Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 12 p.m.  

Call-in Number: 518-549-0500
Event Password: DACHearing-2022 (32243275 via phone)
Event Number: 2340 052 0495

Please check the DEC calendar of events to confirm if the Public Hearing in your area of the state is in-person or online/virtual.
 
All persons, organizations, corporations, and government entities are encouraged to attend the public hearings and submit oral or written comments. Each participant will be given two minutes to provide public comment. Lengthy statements should be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. PowerPoint presentations are not allowed, but individuals may provide written supporting documents or visuals. 
 
If in-person hearings cannot be held due to changing COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, hearings will shift to virtual at the same date and time. Pre-registration for virtual hearings is strongly encouraged but not required. 
 
Priority in speaking will be given to those who pre-register based on their place of residence for the regional hearings. Individuals can pre-register using the WebEx link for the meeting. All hearings will be professionally recorded and transcribed as part of the official record and posted on the Climate Act website.
 
Members of the public who want to provide oral comments must attend either in-person or join a virtual hearing. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements.
 
The virtual public hearings will include live closed captioning. American sign language and language interpretive services shall be made available upon written request at no charge. Requests for interpretation must be received at least 10 days before the hearing date. Requests for interpretation should be directed by mail to NYSDEC, Office of Communication Services, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4500), by telephone (518-402-8044), or by email (language@dec.ny.gov). 
 
Written comments can be submitted through July 7, 2022, via the online public comment form, Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria Public Comment Period , via email to DACComments@dec.ny.gov, or via U.S. Mail to Attention: Draft DAC Comments, NYS DEC, Attn. Office of Environmental Justice, 625 Broadway, 14th Floor, Albany NY 12233.
 
For more information about the Climate Justice Working Group, visit the Climate Act website.
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandate of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings. 
 

Please note -- this is an education session and not a hearing. As a result, comments will not be taken for the record.

Buffalo Education Session (In-Person)
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 6 p.m. ET
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14211
*The education session is not a hearing and comments will not be taken for the record.
 
This new education session on the disadvantaged communities criteria will be held on Tuesday, June 21, at 6 p.m. at the Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway Buffalo, NY 14211. This session is an opportunity to review the Climate Justice Working Group process and to ask technical questions about the criteria and interactive map. The education session being held in advance of the Buffalo public hearing on June 23 is not a hearing and comments will not be taken for the record. This in-person session is in addition to two virtual education sessions held in April. You can review recordings of the earlier sessions. 

The folklore around flowers is fascinating. Join us as we focus on the flowers that bloom at the time of the solstice, with showy blooms of gold and yellow, mimicking the brightness of the sun on this longest day of the year. Space is limited.

Call 518-475-0291 by Friday, June 17, to register.

Day of Safety Workshop in Buffalo on June 22^nd. This full day workshop is supported by funds from the US Forest Service to our Urban Forestry program and organized by the Western NY ReLeaf committee. Training is provided by Arbormaster and attendees will rotate through three stations over the course of the day in road side safety, aerial lift safety, and chain saw safety. We strongly encourage municipalities to participate in this event designed based on training requests from communities across the state. Please see the attached brochure for complete details.

Lunch and a mid-morning break are provided, this event will be mostly outdoors except in the event of inclement weather. $25 for ReLeaf and NYS Urban forestry council members, $50 for general public. Registration required, walk-ins won’t be accepted. Registration fees are non-refundable, but may be transferred to another person. Register online: https://nysufc.org/releaf-workshop-reg-r9/ If you need an invoice please register then send us an email.

ISA credits will be available for this program.

Tired of high fuel prices? Find out how to move toward a fossil fuel-free lifestyle! Each session provides local resources to help you make improvements, and maybe even save money along the way.

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to all our programs. If you call ahead (716-683-5959) to let us know your needs, we will be happy to learn how we can serve you.

PLEASE NOTE

• Pre-registration is required for ALL programs. For virtual programs, please register online at www.reinsteinwoods.org/events.
• Participants will be emailed a link for the presentation.
  
• We cannot accommodate organized youth/civic groups at these programs. Please call to make other arrangements.
  

For more than 15 years, data collected at Five Rivers has been contributed to this continent-wide citizen science project conducted through the University of Minnesota. Join volunteers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in conserving monarchs and advancing the understanding of butterfly ecology and migration in general. Wear long pants and bring a sun hat and water. We will meet at the visitor center. 

Go to www.mlmp.org to learn about the project. Space is limited.

Call 518-475-0291 by the Saturday prior to register.

Learn how to fish for free with DEC from 5pm-7pm on the NW shore of the Harlem Meer in Central Park. This free fishing clinic event, sponsored by DEC, offers participants the opportunity to practice basic fishing skills and learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics, aquatic ecology and more! Rods and reels will be available to borrow, and fishing bait will be provided. All ages are welcome to attend.

No freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the recreational marine fishing registry is required for participants during the event; however, all other statewide fishing regulations remain in effect.

Address/Directions:
Central Park - Harlem Meer, 111 Central Park N., New York, NY 10026 (northwest shore)

Visit the Free Fishing Clinics page for additional information on this and other upcoming clinics.

At this free fishing clinic you and your family can learn how to fish for free! This event held on Knapps Lake at Brookwood Hall Park in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County is co-sponsored by NYSDEC I Fish NY and the Town of Islip Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs. In addition to learning how to fish, participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics, aquatic ecology, and more! No freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the recreational marine fishing registry is required, but all other statewide fishing regulations remain in effect. Rods and bait will be provided free of charge

Registration for this event is required as space is limited. Please contact Mary Fromhan with the Town of Islip at 631-224-5430 for availability and additional details.

Address/Directions: Brookwood Hall Park, 50 Irish Lane, Islip, NY 11751

Visit the Free Fishing Clinics page for additional information on this and other upcoming clinic events.

New York State Public Hearing on Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria -- Western New York #1 (in-person)

Criteria to Guide Equitable Implementation of State’s Ambitious Climate Law
 
May and June In-Person and Virtual Hearings to Provide Public Opportunities to Share Input on Draft Criteria
 
Comments Accepted Until July 7, 2022
 
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will hold 11 public hearings across the state to receive public input on draft disadvantaged communities criteria and advance the finalization of criteria to help guide the implementation of the State's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
 
New York’s Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG), which consists of representatives from environmental justice groups from across the State and representatives of several State agencies, voted in December to release the draft criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities for public review. The Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria Public Comment Period commenced in March with a 120-day public comment period that ends July 7, 2022.
 
The criteria are based on geographic, public health, environmental hazard, and socioeconomic factors, and once approved, will be used to help meet the directives of the Climate Act related to reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to inform regulatory impact statements and the State's clean energy and energy efficiency investments. 
 
Public Hearing  
 

Event: Western New York #1

Location: PUSH Buffalo, School 77

429 Plymouth Avenue

Buffalo, New York 14213

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022, at 6 p.m.  

Please check the DEC calendar of events to confirm if the Public Hearing in your area of the state is in-person or online/virtual.
 
All persons, organizations, corporations, and government entities are encouraged to attend the public hearings and submit oral or written comments. Each participant will be given two minutes to provide public comment. Lengthy statements should be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. PowerPoint presentations are not allowed, but individuals may provide written supporting documents or visuals. 
 
If in-person hearings cannot be held due to changing COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, hearings will shift to virtual at the same date and time. Pre-registration for virtual hearings is strongly encouraged but not required. 
 
Priority in speaking will be given to those who pre-register based on their place of residence for the regional hearings. Individuals can pre-register using the WebEx link for the meeting. All hearings will be professionally recorded and transcribed as part of the official record and posted on the Climate Act website.
 
Members of the public who want to provide oral comments must attend either in-person or join a virtual hearing. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements.
 
The virtual public hearings will include live closed captioning. American sign language and language interpretive services shall be made available upon written request at no charge. Requests for interpretation must be received at least 10 days before the hearing date. Requests for interpretation should be directed by mail to NYSDEC, Office of Communication Services, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4500), by telephone (518-402-8044), or by email (language@dec.ny.gov). 
 
Written comments can be submitted through July 7, 2022, via the online public comment form, Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria Public Comment Period , via email to DACComments@dec.ny.gov, or via U.S. Mail to Attention: Draft DAC Comments, NYS DEC, Attn. Office of Environmental Justice, 625 Broadway, 14th Floor, Albany NY 12233.
 
For more information about the Climate Justice Working Group, visit the Climate Act website.
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandate of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings. 
 

DEC has received a Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) application and Draft Remedial Action Work Plan for a site known as 147-35 95th Avenue – Site A, site ID #C241263. This site is located in the City of Jamaica, within the County of Queens, and is located at 147-35 95th Avenue. Public comments about the application must be submitted by June 25, 2022.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the site and how to comment.

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C241263/

And at:

Queens Public Library – Central
89-11 Merrick Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11432

Queens Community Board #13
90-28 161st Street
Jamaica, NY 11435

Learn how to fish for free at an upcoming sport fishing clinic organized and conducted by DEC and numerous other organizations. In addition to having fun while fishing, participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics, aquatic ecology, and more! During these clinics, no freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the recreational marine fishing registry is required, but all other statewide fishing regulations remain in effect.

Location:

Gilbert Lake State Park
18 CCC Rd.
Laurens, NY 13796

Learn how to fish for free from 9:30AM-1:00PM at Chestnut Ridge County Park Pond in the Town of Orchard Park, Erie County. This free fishing clinic event, co-sponsored by DEC and the Erie County Sportsmen Federation, offers participants the opportunity to practice fishing and learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics, aquatic ecology and more!

No freshwater fishing license is required for participants during the event; however, all other statewide fishing regulations remain in effect.

Address/Directions: Chestnut Ridge County Park Pond, Route 277, Orchard Park, NY 14127

Visit the Free Fishing Clinics page for additional information on this and other upcoming clinics.

Celebrate New York State’s annual free fishing weekend by joining us for a caregiver and child catch-and-release fishing clinic. You will learn the basics of how to fish and discover some of the local freshwater fish who live in upstate New York. Bring gear if you've got it; we have a limited number of rods and reels available for loan. Adults and children must accompany each other. Space is limited.

Please call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, June 22 to register or for more information.

If you currently heat with electricity, propane or oil, heat pumps can save you money! Learn about these systems and options to get your household off fossil fuels. Presented by PUSH Buffalo. 

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to all our programs. If you call ahead to let us know your needs, we will be happy to learn how we can serve you.

PLEASE NOTE

• Registration is required for ALL programs unless otherwise indicated; call 716-683-5959 to register. 
• If you call outside of normal business hours, you will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your name and phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered. 
• Registration is limited to two programs/month. If you want to sign up for additional programs, you will be added to the waitlist. No limit for virtual programs.
• Social distancing and mask protocols are subject to change with current COVID guidelines.
• If you or a family member feels ill, is waiting for COVID test results or have COVID symptoms, please stay at home.
• In case of poor weather, programs may be cancelled.
  
• We cannot accommodate organized youth/civic groups at these programs. Please call to make other arrangements.

Learn how to fish for free from 10:00AM-1:00PM at Pier at West 125th Street, New York County. This free fishing clinic event, co-sponsored by DEC, Riverside Park Conservancy, and Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, offers participants the opportunity to practice fishing and learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics, aquatic ecology and more!

No freshwater fishing license is required for participants during the event; however, all other statewide fishing regulations remain in effect.

Address/Directions: Pier at West 125th Street, Manhattan, New York County

Visit the Free Fishing Clinics page for additional information on this and other upcoming clinics.

Join as we grab nets and scoop in the pond to search for aquatic animals. Wear waterproof boots or old sneakers.

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to all our programs. If you call ahead to let us know your needs, we will be happy to learn how we can serve you.

PLEASE NOTE

• Registration is required for ALL programs unless otherwise indicated; call 716-683-5959 to register. 
• If you call outside of normal business hours, you will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your name and phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered. 
• Registration is limited to two programs/month. If you want to sign up for additional programs, you will be added to the waitlist. No limit for virtual programs.
• Social distancing and mask protocols are subject to change with current COVID guidelines.
• If you or a family member feels ill, is waiting for COVID test results or have COVID symptoms, please stay at home.
• In case of poor weather, programs may be cancelled.
  
• We cannot accommodate organized youth/civic groups at these programs. Please call to make other arrangements.

Celebrate New York State’s annual free fishing weekend by joining us for a caregiver and child catch-and-release fishing clinic. You will learn the basics of how to fish and discover some of the local freshwater fish who live in upstate New York. Bring gear if you've got it; we have a limited number of rods and reels available for loan. Adults and children must accompany each other. Space is limited.

Please call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, June 22 to register or for more information.

They may not be faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive, but many animals have abilities beyond those of humans. On this guided walk, you will learn about some of these amazing residents of the woods. 

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to all our programs. If you call ahead to let us know your needs, we will be happy to learn how we can serve you.

PLEASE NOTE

• Registration is required for ALL programs unless otherwise indicated; call 716-683-5959 to register. 
• If you call outside of normal business hours, you will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your name and phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered. 
• Registration is limited to two programs/month. If you want to sign up for additional programs, you will be added to the waitlist. No limit for virtual programs.
• Social distancing and mask protocols are subject to change with current COVID guidelines.
• If you or a family member feels ill, is waiting for COVID test results or have COVID symptoms, please stay at home.
• In case of poor weather, programs may be cancelled.
  
• We cannot accommodate organized youth/civic groups at these programs. Please call to make other arrangements.