As reported a few weeks ago, the backlash against single-use plastic straws is gaining momentum, with New York City being the latest municipality to consider an outright ban.
A bill being introduced in the City Council today would outlaw plastic straws at bars, restaurants, and other service establishments — from small food carts to large stadiums and other businesses; plastic coffee stirrers would be also be forbidden.
Source: Daily News
An attempt to store liquefied propane gas in Seneca County salt mines has encountered further setbacks as the sponsors acknowledged the cavern may have leaks. An attorney for the company involved asked the DEC to delay a final decision on the storage unit application until well pressure tests determine its suitability as a gas storage unit. Continue reading “Proposed Gas Storage in Seneca Lake Faces Additional Setback”
A new package of 23 bills introduced in City Council aims to protect children from lead poisoning in a variety of ways, from deeper investigation after high blood levels are identified to increased testing at city facilities. The package has been described as “the largest overhaul of city laws on childhood lead exposure in 14 years.” Continue reading “New City Council Bill Would Mandate Lead Testing in Parks”
Beach season kicks off this weekend, but for many residents and fans of Rockaway Beach, this summer will be a bummer.
On Monday, the Parks Department announced that an 11-block stretch of Rockaway Beach, between Beach 91st Street and Beach 102nd Street, will be closed indefinitely due to erosion. Continue reading “Popular Stretch of Rockaway Beach Shut Down Indefinitely”
Many of the New York City’s most luxurious residential buildings are also conspicuous consumers of energy. While sustainability features are ubiquitous in commercial office space, they are largely absent from the city’s luxury condo market, with developers failing to invest in even the most basic green systems. Continue reading “Your Luxury Condo is an Embarrassing Energy Hog”
Governor Cuomo announced Tuesday his opposition to a proposed 48-acre trash incinerator in the Finger Lakes region. The facility would burn 2,600 tons of solid municipal waste brought in by truck and or rail each day, and produce what proponents call “clean electricity.” Continue reading “Cuomo, Environmentalists Oppose Waste-to-Energy Incinerator in Finger Lakes”
A new report from the state comptroller estimates that 6.5 billion gallons of combined sewage and storm water were released into the environment last year in New York state. That sewage reached more than 200 water bodies, including rivers, streams and lakes that are used for recreation and in some cases, drinking water.
About half of the state’s sewage overflow comes from New York City.
In many communities in New York, storm water runs into the same system as sewage. During heavyt rains or snow melt, the treatment plants are overwhelmed and forced to discharge raw sewage into creeks and lakes.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that correcting the problem would cost $5 billion statewide.
Source: Syracuse.com
Note: This story has been updated. Residents of Dutchtown, a small neighborhood in Rockland County, awoke Sunday morning to the stench of diesel fuel blowing in off the nearby Hudson River. Residents saw the rainbow sheen of a fuel spill extending some 40 feet out onto the water. Continue reading “UPDATE: Source of Hudson Diesel Spill Remains Mystery”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is asking the federal government to extend the public comment period on proposed new lease sales for offshore wind in the New York Bight, a step that could delay the process for up to six months.
Murphy requested more time because the areas under consideration for wind-energy development include New Jersey’s main fishing grounds.
Source: New Jersey Spotlight
While government officials argue amongst themselves over plastic bag bans or fees, consumers and businesses are taking matters into their own hands. The latest object of their wrath: single-use plastic straws.
Some New York businesses have stopped offering the straws completely; others provide alternatives like paper straws, or only hand them out when requested.
Source: New York Times
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