NYC BYOBag Call for Action Today & Tomorrow:NYS Sen. Felder has reintroduced a bill to block implementation of NYC’s #BYOBag law. See action steps and details below.
New MS4 legislation for NYC: Testimony and passage status. Scroll down for details.
On January 11, 2017, EPA's 2017 Construction General permit (CGP) was issued. See detailshere.
Call for Proposals:The NYCEF Newtown Creek Fund requests proposals for environmental education, public access and stewardship projects that will benefit communities along Newtown Creek. See details here.
EVENTS:
S.W.I.M. Coalition Public Meeting: Thursday, January 26, Pratt Manhattan. See details below. Click here to register.
Save the date:Monday, January 30: Brooklyn's CB 13 Environmental Committee meeting will provide updates on the status of the illegal sewer connections that have been polluting Coney Island Creek. Stand by for time and location details to come.
Save the date: Saturday Feb. 4, Coney Island Creek MS 4 Community Meeting/Workshop. Stand by for details time and location details. Send us an email with your contact info if you want to receive an email about this meeting.
1. NCY BYOBag Call for Action:Senator Felder is attempting to push his NYS bag preemption bill through the Senate TODAY. It would be really helpful if folks could reach out to their Senators today for a final push against the bill, as well as call/email their Assembly members in advance of their meeting tomorrow. The Senate has the votes, but the Assembly is where we can stop this thing!
A. Action step guide:
Call your Assembly Member in opposition to the Assembly Bill A1750:
- Go to http://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ and type in your address, call the phone number for the legislative office (preferably during business hours but you can leave a message after hours).
- Suggested script:
Hi, my name is _________ and I’m a constituent in Assemblymember ______’s district. My address is _______. I'm calling to express my opposition to Assembly Bill 1750. The bill would preempt NYC’s BYOBag law that’s set to go into effect February 15th. NYC’s law was the result of years of advocacy and compromise and NYC deserves a chance to show that it works. I urge Assemblymember _______ to oppose A1750. Please let me know the Assemblymember ’s position on the A1750, my phone number is _______. Thank you.
B. Links for more info:
If you'd like to read the preemption bill the text is available here:
2. New Legislation for NYC's MS4 Permit: A public hearing was held on December 13 where testimony was heard by the City Council Committee for the Environment. The bill currently awaits passage by the council. We'll update you when it gets passed. In the meantime see all of the testimonies including from SWIM, Riverkeeper, NRDC, Gateway National Park and many others here.
Details about the legislation: The New York City Council introduced a bill, Intro. 1346-2016, to provide the City authority to act in a regulatory capacity to oversee and/or enforce requirements regarding activities that have the potential to contribute pollutants to stormwater runoff and the water bodies surrounding the City.
Two of the programs addressed in the legislation – involving stormwater runoff from commercial and industrial activities, and runoff from active construction sites and newly developed or redeveloped sites – involve the City taking over the administration of existing State stormwater programs within the MS4 area. For more information about the city's MS4 area see our fact sheet here.
EVENTS:
S.W.I.M. Coalition Quarterly Public Meeting:Please join us on Thursday, January 26th. Current Agenda:
hear updates on the new CSO Consent Order draft
catch up on what we're all working on in 2017
hear about the next iteration of NYC STEW-Map from Lindsey Campbell PhD Research Social Scientist at the Forest Service
Richard Winfield, EPA Region 2 representative may join us to talk about their USEPA "Sound Science" & Transparency program.
The meeting will take place from 5 -7 p.m. at Pratt Manhattan, stand by for confirmation of details and click here to RSVP.
