In good and bad economic times, it is imperative that environmental programs continue to protect drinking water quality, ensure effective municipal recycling programs, preserve open space and farmland , and improve water quality of the state’s coastal water resources such as the Long Island Sound, the South Shore Estuary Reserve, the Finger Lakes, and our Great Lakes. The environment is not a luxury, and must not be sacrificed in short-sighted budget cuts.
What is the NYS Environmental Protection Fund?
Recognizing the need to establish dedicated environmental funding in good economic times and bad, 18 years ago, the NYS Legislature exercised great foresight and created the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to provide a reliable and dedicated source of funding for essential environmental programs in NYS. The EPF invests millions of dollars in every region of the state to protect and restore our shared environment. EPF funds projects to protect and improve water quality, protect air quality, and conserve critical open space and farmland, as well as sustain important environmental education for our next generation of leaders.
The EPF is primarily funded by a dedicated portion of the NYS real estate transfer fee. Since 1993, a small financial portion of every real estate transaction has funded the EPF to implement critical environmental projects. Each year, the NYS legislature appropriates this revenue. The good news is that the real estate market continues to generate significant revenue from the real estate transfer fee in excess of the EPF.
Why is the EPF important?
New York’s environment, economy, and public health are dependent upon the EPF. All New Yorkers benefit from the numerous programs and projects in the EPF, including:
- Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The EPF supports local waterfront revitalization projects, community parks, environmental education at zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens, and important environmental stewardship programs.
- Solid Waste. This category includes program funding for municipal recycling, landfill closures and pesticide reduction
- Open Space & Pollution Prevention. This category includes programs that support the acquisition of open space and the preservation of farmland. Critical pollution control programs, including non-point source pollution reduction, receive funding through this category. Important water quality projects, including programs that benefit the South Shore Estuary Reserve, Hudson River Estuary, Lake Ontario, Finger Lakes, rivers and other essential water bodies, are supported by this category.
Healthy Environment = Healthy Economy
New York depends on a healthy environment to support our economy. The direct economic benefits of preserving open space is $2.74 billion per year on Long Island. Tourism is one of Long Island’s largest industries. Visitors to the state’s parks, including beaches, spend more than $615 million annually in our local economy, generating more than $27.3 million in sales tax. The Great Lakes support a $5.1 billion recreational boating industry and nearly 29,000 jobs in NY.
Victory! In 2011, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature recognized the importance of environmental protection programs that benefit the local economy and public health for every New Yorker by maintaining the Environmental Protection Fund at $134 million in the FY 2011-2012 NYS budget! CCE will continue to advocate for fully funding the EPF.
Funding for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
It is the DEC’s responsibility to protect our wetlands, ensure shellfish safety, clean up toxic waste sites, monitor wastewater discharges, oversee permitting and safety of oil and natural gas activities, and much more. These critical jobs protect human health and our economy. Due to cuts in recent years, DEC staff is at its lowest level in 40 years.
A small sample programs that DEC is responsible for:
- Responding to Sewage Overflows
The DEC Division of Water, which is responsible for testing sewage effluent, has seen its responsibilities double while its staff has continued to shrink. In parts of New York, DEC has stopped inspecting wastewater treatment facilities, resulting in a gap of knowledge verifying that these facilities which are responsible for treating raw sewage are operating properly. The DEC must have the ability to respond and take action when illegal sewage overflows occur. Sewage overflows occur because of treatment plant malfunctions or heavy rain, which leads to untreated sewage releases. Sewage overflows are a public health threat that fouls our waterways and endangers public health. - Cleaning Up New York’s Toxic Waste Legacy, Protecting Public Health
New York State is home to 200 identified Manufactured Gas Plant Sites, with over 12 on Long Island, and there is believed to be 100 more in NY that have yet to be located. These sites are highly toxic and represent a serious and lasting threat to human health and our environment. The principal contaminates are coal tar, carcinogenic BTEX chemicals (benzens, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene). DEC’s oversight and enforcement of clean up is urgently needed to continue remediation, ensure enforcement of cleanups that meet public health protection standards, and promote smart redevelopment at these sites.
While staffing was not further slashed in the FY 2011-12 NYS budget, CCE will continue to work to ensure DEC is adequately funded and staffed so they will have the ability to protect human health and the environment.
CCE Testimony at NYS Assembly Hearings on DEC Funding – Nov. 2010
CCE’s memo of support on the EPF – January 2010
EPF funding history from 1993-2007
Governor’s proposed cuts to the FY 10-11 EPF budget
Updated by mwallach 7/13/11