Events and Important Dates

DEC invites the public to comment about a draft plan to investigate contamination related to the 92 Avenue of the Americas Site (Manhattan), within New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. Public comments about the draft plan will be accepted through February 9, 2020.

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

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C231130/

And at:

New York Public Library - Hudson Park Branch
66 Leroy Street
New York, NY 10014
212-243-6876

and

Manhattan Community Board 2
3 Washington Square Village #1A
New York, NY 10012
212-979-2272

DEC invites the public to comment about a proposed expedited cleanup of contamination related to the Ace Suede and Leather Site (East 139th St., Bronx), within New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through February 9, 2020.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the proposal and how to comment (English y Español).

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C203072/

And at:

Mott Haven Library
321 East 140th Street
Bronx, NY 10454
718-665-4878

and

Bronx Community Board 1
3024 3rd Avenue
Bronx, NY 10455
718-585-7117

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), as lead agency, has accepted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed NYS DEC Artificial Reef Program. 

A public hearing on the Draft SEIS will be held on February 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the NYS DEC Marine Resources Office, 205 North Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY 11733

Public comments on the Draft SEIS will be accepted through February 21, 2020 by either direct mailing to the contact listed below or by e-mail at: artificialreefs@dec.ny.gov (enter "Draft Reef SEIS" in the subject line). The Draft EIS is available from the contact listed below and on line at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7896.html.

The action involves an update to the existing NYS DEC Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) and Reef Plan through the completion of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to address proposed programmatic questions in the GEIS. This action is required for future reef permit acquisitions to renew existing reef sites, increase existing reef site dimensions and create new sites located in the Coastal Marine District of New York.

The proposed action involves the continuation and expansion of twelve existing NYS DEC Artificial Reef Program sites, located in the Atlantic Ocean, Great South Bay and Long Island Sound. Additionally, the action proposes the creation of four new artificial reef sites, including three in the Long Island Sound and one in the Atlantic Ocean. This action has the potential to affect the local associated environments and wildlife through introduction of reef building materials used to enhance the local habitat for marine life.

The project is located in the New York State Coastal Marine District and adjacent Federal Waters.

Contact: Christopher LaPorta, NYS DEC Marine Resources Office, 205 North Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY 11733, Phone: (631) 444-0438, Fax: (631) 444-0484, E-mail: artificialreefs@dec.ny.gov

Would you like to take a walk in nature, but would rather not go alone?

Join the "Walkers' Club" at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center on Tuesday mornings, 10:30 to 11:30 am.

Participants will gather at the Visitor Center and choose which trail they will walk that morning. This is an opportunity to walk with others and make new friends. These walks are not guided or led by staff. Walkers' Club is a free activity.

If you would like to be added to our special "Walkers Club" email list to receive updates, email us at FriendsFiveRivers@outlook.com.

Please join us for a public meeting on climate and transportation on February 11 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at NYS DEC located at 625 Broadway, Albany, New York. 

Please register here with your email address to attend.

At this meeting, we will provide an update on the Transportation and Climate Initiative Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement a regional cap and invest program to transition to a more sustainable, resilient, low carbon transportation sector. We hope to engage New Yorkers in dialogue around New York's potential participation in the program, including how auction proceeds might be invested and how to ensure that benefits of emission reductions programs would be realized by frontline/environmental justice communities.

Questions can be directed to climateandtransportation@dec.ny.gov or to Pam Hadad-Hurst or Jason Pandich at 518-402-2794.

Now Offering Guided Walks for Adults
Come Wonder as We Wander Five Rivers

Exploring Winter Activity: Stokes’ Guide to Nature In Winter
Winter is a wonderful time to explore the lives of insects, birds, mammals, mushrooms and weeds.  With Donald W. Stokes’ A Guide to Nature In Winter as our escort, let’s head outdoors to discover life under, in and above the snow.  Each week we will select a chapter and read its general information section, usually 2 to 3 pages, to prepare us for our walk.  Once outside, we will hunt for examples of the subject matter and, once found, delve into its unique characteristics, natural history and finally its identity.
Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy walking shoes/boots, and pack a snack.  Meet at Five Rivers’ Guided School Program Building.
Time:  1:30 -3:00 p.m.
Dates: Wednesdays (January 15, 22, 29 and February 5, 12)
Fee:  $35 for Friends’ Members; $55 for non-members
Registration:  Contact Nancy Conway by email at gsp5rivers@outlook.com.
Maximum Participants:  10 Adults
Deadline for registration:  January 10, 2020

This program fills quickly - register today!

Together, kids and their parents or caregivers can enjoy a different, fun, hour-long outdoor activity. For children in grades K-5.

No registration required.

DEC is holding public workshops on the hazardous waste revisions that DEC is considering, including the Generator Improvements Rule, state-initiated changes regarding secondary containment requirements and the creation of uniform LQG requirements, and the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule. 

During this workshop staff will talk about the revisions to the hazardous waste regulations that DEC is considering, including an in-depth discussion of EPA's Generator Improvements Rule. This discussion will also focus on state-initiated changes including expanded secondary containment requirements for the storage of liquid hazardous waste and the creation of uniform large quantity generator (LQG) requirements that would apply statewide. DEC would like to encourage stakeholders to attend and provide feedback about these revisions.

This event is being held at:
Henrietta Town Library Community Room
625 Calkins Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623

Those who wish to attend an event need to register using the link below. Each attendee needs to register separately.

Register for this event >>

DEC expects to announce dates for workshops in the Lower Hudson Valley and Long Island areas in the near future.

DEC is holding public workshops on the hazardous waste revisions that DEC is considering, including the Generator Improvements Rule, state-initiated changes regarding secondary containment requirements and the creation of uniform LQG requirements, and the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule. 

During this workshop staff will talk about the revisions to the hazardous waste regulations that DEC is considering, including an in-depth discussion of EPA's Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule. DEC would like to encourage stakeholders to attend and provide feedback about these revisions.

This event is being held at:
Henrietta Town Library Community Room
625 Calkins Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623

Those who wish to attend an event need to register using the link below. Each attendee needs to register separately.

Register for this event >>

DEC expects to announce dates for workshops in the Lower Hudson Valley and Long Island areas in the near future.

How to Do It: Gardening with Native Plants
Albany County Master Gardener, Martie Teumim, will discuss what constitutes a “native” plant and the benefits of using native plants in your garden. She will also speak about what plants are considered non-native and invasive in New York State. She will walk you through what to plant and how to gradually change your yard to native species providing lists of native and invasive plants for you to take home.

NOTE: Organized groups (scouts, schools, hiking clubs, etc.) are welcome, but are asked to call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register.

DEC has received a Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) application for a site known as Mobile Media Inc., site ID #C336093. This site is located in the Hamlet of Pine Bush in the Town of Crawford within the County of Orange and is located at 175 Kelly Avenue. Public comments about the application must be submitted by February 14, 2020.

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/C336093/

And at:

Pine Bush Area Library
227 Maple Ave.
Pine Bush, NY 12566

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will host an informational webinar to provide the public the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the rulemaking to establish statewide greenhouse gas emission limits per Article 75 of the Environmental Conservation Law, as amended by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Chapter 106 of the Laws of 2019).

Date: Friday, February 14, 2020
Time: 11:30a.m.–12:30p.m.

Instructions and Information: Log-in instructions for this webinar as well as the pre-proposal draft terms for 6 NYCRR Part 496 will be available on DEC’s Climate Change Mitigation website. http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/99223.html

Written comments: The public is invited to submit written comments on the potential rulemaking as follows:

• By email to: climatechange@dec.ny.gov ; please include "Part 496 Emission Limit" in the subject line of the email.
• By mail to NYS DEC, Office of Climate Change, 625 Broadway 9th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-1030.
 

Contact: Suzanne Hagell, NYS DEC – Office of Climate Change, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, Phone: (518) 402-8448, Email: climatechange@dec.ny.gov 

Notice of Pre-Proposal Webinar on Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emission Limit Rulemaking

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will host an informational webinar to provide the public the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the rulemaking to establish statewide greenhouse gas emission limits per Article 75 of the Environmental Conservation Law, as amended by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Chapter 106 of the Laws of 2019). Draft terms for 6 NYCRR Part 496 are available for review at https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/draftpart496.pdf. This webinar will be offered on two dates.
 
Date: Friday, February 14, 2020
Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Log-in Instructions: To join webinar, click on this link: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7774ffffcb3babbec5a370f75ae27ab2
 
Date: Friday, February 28, 2020
Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 
Written comments: The public is invited to submit written comments on the potential rulemaking as follows:
• By email to: climatechange@dec.ny.gov. Please include "Part 496 Emission Limit" in the subject line of the email.
• By mail to NYS DEC, Office of Climate Change, 625 Broadway 9th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-1030.
 
Contact: Suzanne Hagell, NYS DEC – Office of Climate Change, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, Phone: (518) 402-8448, Email: climatechange@dec.ny.gov 

Community Science: GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
This weekend, birders all across North America will tally birds in their yard or local parks for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Join us as we count the birds at our feeding station, then venture outdoors for a short field count. Complete information will be provided on how you, too, can help the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology track the mid-winter distribution and abundance of birds from your own yard.

NOTE: Organized groups (scouts, schools, hiking clubs, etc.) are welcome, but are asked to call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 to register.

Learn the basics of cross-country skiing before going on a short guided ski tour. Ski rental: $8/$5 for Friends members.

Registration required; call 716-683-5959.

Join a guided nature walk to learn about snow! No registration required.