Emily Manley Environment

Household Cleaners Must Reveal Their Chemical Ingredients

New disclosure rules passed by New York State apply to soaps, detergents and other cleansers used for households, dishes, utensils and fabrics.

New rules passed in New York State will require manufacturers to reveal the chemical ingredients in household cleaning products. Companies must also disclose internal research conducted on whether ingredients have any potential impacts on human health and the environment.

Under the Household Cleansing Product Information Disclosure program, this information must be posted on Internet web sites, initially in July 2019, with further details added by July 2020 and January 2023. There are exceptions for information considered a trade secret.

Source: Times Union

Emily Manley Government

Hudson Communities Join Forces to Protect River, Drinking Water

Forming a council was among the top recommendations of a report commissioned by Riverkeeper and written by the Center for Watershed Protection. Photo by John Menard/Creative Commons

Seven communities representing 100,000 people who rely on the Hudson River as a source of drinking water have signed an agreement creating the Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council.

Also known as the “Hudson 7,” the group will focus on the long-term protection of the Hudson River. The towns of Esopus, Lloyd, Hyde Park, the city and town of Poughkeepsie and the village and town of Rhinebeck signed a formal agreement last week.

This collaborative effort is expected to make the region more competitive for grants and other support associated with the state’s $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act.

Source: Mid-Hudson Valley Patch

Emily Manley Government

Gowanus Rezoning Framework Released

The framework aims to foster a thriving, inclusive and more resilient Gowanus where existing and future residents and workers are able to participate in civic, cultural and economic activities. Photo by Dan DeLuca/Creative Commons

After 100+ hours of meetings and neighborhood events, the Department of City Planning has now released a framework for rezoning the Gowanus Canal neighborhood. While it is subject to change, the plan attempts to lay out the priorities of residents, the city administration, and elected officials representing Gowanus.

Some important parts of the framework include:

  • Buildings and infrastructure that will be prepared for rising sea levels and floods.
  • More open and green space along the Gowanus Canal.
  • Promoting walking and biking in the neighborhood; and promoting safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
  • Preserving the existing NYCHA buildings in the neighborhood, and requiring that new residential development have an affordable housing component.

Source: Curbed

 

Emily Manley Environment

Floating Weed Harvester Gobbles Up Invasives in Prospect Park

Prospect Park Alliance has purchased a new $140,000 aquatic weed harvester to control invasive species. Photo via Prospect Park Alliance

A new “aquatic weed harvester” is being used to control unwanted invasive species in Prospect Park Lake. The machine will “gobble up” loads of aquatic primrose and duckweed, which grows across the surface of the lake in large mats, crowding out native flora. Continue reading “Floating Weed Harvester Gobbles Up Invasives in Prospect Park” →

Emily Manley Environment

Your Challenge, Should You Choose to Accept It: I BIRD NY

2018 has been named the Year of the Bird by the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Photo via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the launch of two birding challenges for 2018. Continue reading “Your Challenge, Should You Choose to Accept It: I BIRD NY” →

Emily Manley Environment

Dead Pigeons, Rats, Cockroaches Found in NYC Drinking Water Towers

The drinking water supply for offices of the New York City Department of Sanitation doesn’t even have a roof – just a tattered tarp. Photo by Frank G. Runyeon via City & State

New York City drinking water flows from some of the nation’s cleanest, most pristine reservoirs, but if your building or workplace relies on a water tower to store it, you may be consuming water that’s been contaminated by some very unsavory elements. Continue reading “Dead Pigeons, Rats, Cockroaches Found in NYC Drinking Water Towers” →

Emily Manley Environment

Silt from the Buffalo River Used to Create New Habitat

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using clean dredging material from the Buffalo River to create a shallow wetland habitat where a deep pond exists on the northern end of Unity Island. Photo via Buffalo News.

For years, sediment dredged from the bottom of the Buffalo River was considered so toxic it had to be hauled to a special disposal facility.

Now, after a $75 million cleanup, the sand, silt and gravel from the river is healthy enough to be used to build a new habitat for fish, shorebirds, turtles and other aquatic wildlife on Buffalo’s Unity Island.

Source: The Buffalo News

Emily Manley Environment

Warm Weather has Arrived, and Toxic Algae Blooms are Here for it

Certain environmental conditions, such as elevated levels of nutrients from human activities, warmer temperatures, still water, and plentiful sunlight can promote the growth of cyanobacteria. Photo via Christian Fischer/Creative Commons

It’s not even June, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation has already confirmed blue-green algae blooms in eight water bodies across New York. These blooms can produce toxins harmful to both people and animals, and any contact with affected water bodies should be avoided.

Most of the blooms are on Long Island and in New York City, typical for this early in the season. More blooms are expected across the state as temperatures rise. Continue reading “Warm Weather has Arrived, and Toxic Algae Blooms are Here for it” →