Testimonyof

DanShapley,WaterQualityProgramManager,Riverkeeper,Inc.

JointPublicHearingonthe20162017
ExecutiveBudgetProposalEnvironmentalConservation

January28,2016

ThankyouChairmanFarrell,ChairmanYoung,anddistinguishedSenatorsandAssembly
MembersfortheopportunitytotestifybeforeyouregardingtheProposedExecutiveBudgetfor
FiscalYear20162017.
Riverkeeperisa79,000personstrong,50yearoldmembersupportedwatchdog
organizationdedicatedtodefendingtheenvironmental,recreationalandcommercialintegrityof
theHudsonRiverandsafeguardingtheWatershedthatprovidesdrinkingwatertoninemillion
NewYorkCityandHudsonValleyresidents.TheHudsonRiverWatershedcoversnearlya
quarterofthestateslandareawhereroughlyhalfofthestatesresidentslive.Imheretospeak
fortheHudson,thepeoplewhoswimboatandfishinitswatershed,andallofuswhodrinkthe
water.
Wehaveseveralprioritiesthatwewouldliketohighlight.
I.

WaterInfrastructureImprovementActof2015

WerepleasedtheGovernorhasproposedanadditional$50millionineachofthenext
twoyearsfortheWaterInfrastructureImprovementAct,andasktheLegislaturetobuildonthis
successfulandneededprogrambyincreasingspendingonwaterinfrastructureto$800million.
The$75millioninfirstroundgrants,announcedinDecember,willleveragemorethan$440
millionintotalprojectcoststoimprove45drinkingwaterandwastewatersystemsstatewide,
savinglocaltaxpayers$284millionthrougha59%reductioninmunicipalcosts.1 Weurgethe
Legislaturetoinvestmoreatotalof$800millioninthecomingfiscalyeargiventhatNew
YorkStatecommunitiesfacethenationslargestdocumentedneedforinvestmentinwastewater,
at$31.4billion,2 and$39billioninneedfordrinkingwaterinfrastructure.3
1

Pressrelease,Gov.Cuomo,December15,2015,
availableat
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governorcuomoannounces75milliongrantslocalgovernmentswaterinfrastr
uctureimprovements.
2
U.S.EPA,CleanWatershedsSurvey2012,
availableat
http://www.epa.gov/cwns.
3
NYSDepartmentofHealth,
ReporttotheGovernor:AnAssessmentoftheCapacityDevelopment
Program,2014,
availableat
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/capacity/14govrpt.htm.

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Investmentshavemultiplebenefits,protectingtheenvironment,localeconomiesand
propertyvalues,andqualityoflife.Theimpactsofinsufficientinvestmentareapparentinwater
mainbreaksandsewageleaks.TheSewagePollutionRighttoKnowActdocumentedmorethan
fivereportedreleasesofraworpartiallytreatedsewagetowater
perday
,onaverage,in2015.4
Riverkeepersowndatagatheredbydozensofcommunitypartnersincludingourscience
partnersatColumbiaUniversitysLamontDohertyEarthObservatoryandCUNYQueens
Collegeshowthat23%ofsamplestakenintheHudsonRiverEstuaryfrom20082014failed
tomeetsafeswimmingthresholdssetbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency5 (EPA),
withhigherfailureratesinmanycreeksthatfeedtheriver,andatNewYorkCitywaterfront
accesspoints.Ourcoalitionwhichincludesenvironmentaladvocatesaswellasutility,
municipalandrecreationalgroups,continuesourlongstandingcallfor$800millionforwater
infrastructure.

II.

EnvironmentalProtectionFund(EPF)

WeapplaudtheGovernorsrecommendationtoincreasetheEPFto$300million.The
EPFprovidesneededresourcestomanycriticalprograms,severalofwhichIwillhighlight.
a. WaterQualityImprovementProgram(WQIP)andMunicipalNonPoint
SourcePollution
WerepleasedthattheGovernorhasproposeddoublingthemoneyavailablefor
statewideWQIPgrants,whichafterdesignatedearmarks(forthreespecificNassauandSuffolk
Countyprojects)increasedfrom$5millionto$10million.Likewise,wearepleasedwiththe
proposedincreaseinspendingonMunicipalNonPointSourcePollution,from$4.8millionto$8
million.LiketheNewYorkStateWaterInfrastructureImprovementAct,thesegrantprograms
haveaproventrackrecordofsuccessinfundingneededprojectstostopwaterpollutionwhere
weswim,boatandfish.Thelastroundoffunding,thefirstinthreeyears,announcedin
DecemberaspartoftheRegionalEconomicDevelopmentCouncil(REDC)Awards,provided
$31m
illioningrants.6Requestedaidinapplicationsexceededgrantsbya41ratio.7Wesupport
thegovernorsrequestfor$8millionforNonPointSourcePollution,andsuggestincreasingthe
WQIPavailableforstatewidegrantsto$25million,afterearmarks
.
AnalysisofDECdata,SewageDischargeReports,
availableat
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/90321.html
Riverkeeper,HowstheWater?,(2015),
availableat
http://www.riverkeeper.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/Riverkeeper_WQReport_2015_Final.pdf.
6
2015REDCAwards,
availableat
https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/REDCAwardsBooklet2015_2.pdf.
7
AnalysisofDECdataprovidedto
WastewaterInfrastructureSubcommitteeoftheWaterManagementAdvisory
Committee,December2015.
4
5

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b. AgriculturalNonPointSourceandAgriculturalWasteStorageManagement
GovernorCuomohasproposedtoincreaseAgriculturalNonPointSourcePollution
Controlfundingby$4.8million,to$19million.WerespectfullyurgetheSenateandthe
AssemblytoincreasetheGovernorsproposedfundingto$25milliontotalandearmarkthe
increaseforwastestoragepurposes8onConcentratedAnimalFeedingOperations(CAFOs).
WealsorequestanincreaseinAgriculturalWasteStorageManagement,from$1.5millionto
$5million,directedtowardsstudyingandaddressingthewastestorageneedsinNewYork.
NewYorkhasover500CAFOs,mostofwhicharedairyfarmsthatsupportNewYorks
yogurtindustry.9Duetothemassamountsofanimalwasteproduced,eachofthesefacilitieshas
thesamepollutionpotentialasamajorsewagetreatmentplant.10 Theneedforadditionalanimal
wastestorageatthesefarmshasbecomeincreasinglydire,asfarmersthatlackadequatestorage
capacityoftenspreadmanureonfrozengroundthroughoutthewinterseason,withdisastrous
environmentalconsequencesassnowmeltandrunoffwashwastesdirectlyintostreams.During
thespringof2014,theDECinvestigatedatleast40surfacewaterandgroundwater
contaminationincidentsmostlikelycausedbylandapplicationofmanureduringthepreceding
winter.InonesuchincidentinOwascoLake,aFingerLakeanddrinkingwatersupplyfor
44,000nearthetownofScipio,N.Y.,residentsdocumenteda75by25footplumeofliquid
manure,whichresultedfromwinterspreadingatadairyCAFO.11
Areasonableinvestmentin
wastestorageformidsizedfarmscouldhaveanenormousimpactonthissignificantpollution
problem.
c. HudsonRiverEstuaryManagementProgram
TheGovernorhasproposedawelcomeincreaseinfundingfortheHudsonRiverEstuary
Program,to$5million,anetincreaseforprogramworkof$300,000.Wearealsopleasedthat
thePeconicEstuaryProgramisnolongeranearmarkundertheHudsonRiverEstuaryProgram
whilethePeconichasrealneeds,fundingtoaddressthemshouldnotbecarvedoutofthe
8

TheExecutiveBudgetinexplicablyproposestodirect$224,000toCornellProDairy.Webelievenoportionofthe
AgriculturalNonPointSourcePollutionControlprotectionfundsshouldbesetasideforCornellProDairyasthat
organizationexistssolelytopromoteeconomicdevelopment.Instead,thisfundingshouldbedirectedtoanimal
wastestorageissues.
9

PressRelease,N.Y.StateDeptofEnvtl.Conservation,DECAnnouncesDraftGeneralPermitsforConcentrated
AnimalFeedingOperationAvailableforPublicComment(Dec.23,2015),
availableat
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/104509.html.
10
N.Y.StateDeptofEnvtl.Conservation,DraftPhaseIIWatershedImplementationPlanforNewYork
SusquehannaandChemungRiverBasinsandChesapeakeBayTotalMaximumDailyLoad,(July6,2012).
11
CarrieChantler,OwascoLakeAdvocatesDecryRunoffofManureintoWater,AUBURNCITIZEN(Apr.6,
2014)
availableat
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/owascolakeadvocatesdecryrunoffofmanureintowater/article_498bd2fea7ec5
994b4ed005111da2e89.html.
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HudsonRiverEstuarysline.WeandourcolleaguesScenicHudsonsupportfundingof$6.5
millionfortheHudsonRiverEstuaryProgram,includingcontinuedfundingfortheMohawk
RiverBasinProgram.ThisnonregulatoryprogramoftheNYSDEChasastrongrecordof
successinhelpingpeopleenjoy,protect,andrevitalizetheestuary,andfundingoverthenext
fiveyearswillallowtheProgramtoeffectivelyimplementtheHudsonRiverActionAgenda,12
achievingsubstantialandimportantbenefitsincollaborationwithorganizationsand
municipalitiesby2020.
d. WaterfrontRevitalization
WesupporttheGovernorsproposaltoincreasefundingforWaterfrontRevitalizationto
$15million,recognizingthatinparticularamongtheprogramsfundedbythislinearewatershed
protectionandrestorationplanninggrantsthatareimportanttoimprovingwaterquality,habitat
andpublicenjoymentoftheHudsonRiverWatershedandthroughoutthestate.
e. HudsonRiverValleyTrailsGrants
WesupporttheGovernorsproposaltoincreasefundingfortheHudsonRiverValley
TrailGrantsto$250,000.Thesegrantswill,amongotherthings,supporttheprogressofthe
HudsonRiverWaterTrail.

III.

DECStaffingandBudget

TheExecutiverecommendssupportof2,946fulltimeequivalentDECpositions,
unchangedfromtheSFY201516levels.DEChassuffereddisproportionatecutstostaffing,and
nowhasnearly30%fewerstaffthaninthe1990s,despitean11%increaseinpopulation.
Between2008and2010alone,DEClost849ofitsscientists,engineers,andenforcement
13
officials
onequarterofitstotalworkforce.Asaresult,enforcementofwaterpollution
violationsisinfreefall.Thenumberoffacilitiesinsignificantnoncompliancewithwater
pollutionlawsrose19percentbetween2010and2014whilethenumberoffacilitiesfacing
anykindofenforcementforcleanwateractviolations
declinedby64percent
.14Weurgethe
GovernorandtheLegislaturetorestoreDECscapabilitytoenforceNewYorksenvironmental
laws.

DEC,HudsonRiverActionAgenda20152020,
availableat
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5104.html.
PressRelease,TheAdirondackCounciletal.,GroupsCongratulateGovElectCuomo,Send1stGreen
Assignment:RebuildNYsEnvironmentalAgencies&RestoreFunding(Nov.3,2010),
availableat
http://www.riverkeeper.org/newsevents/news/riverkeeper/cuomo1stgreenassignment/.
14
NYSComptroller,EnvironmentalFundinginNewYorkState,December2014,
availableat
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/environmental/environmental_funding_nys_2014.pdf.
12
13

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IV.

LegislationAssuringFinancialResponsibilityforSpillsresultingfrom
PetroleumHandlingOperationsofMajorFacilities,Vessels,andRailroads

Riverkeeperstronglysupportsproposedfinancialassurancelegislation(A.7625
Fahy)/S.5715AAvella)thatwouldrequirethatcompaniesengagedinthestorage,transferand
transportationofpetroleumproductsinNewYorkStatesubmitevidenceofinsurancesufficient
tocoverthecostsofcleanup,decontamination,anddamagesassociatedwithareleaseof
petroleum,andthatthisproofbeapprovedbytheStateasaconditionofoperatinginNewYork.
Thelegislationalsorequiresrailroadcompaniestransportingcrudeoilwithinthestateto
submitinformationregardingtheirabilitytopay.Astheamountofcrudeoilmovingbyrail
acrosswesternNewYorkanddowntheChamplainValley,andbyrail,bargeandtankerdown
theHudsonRiverValley,increases,sodoestheriskofacatastrophicspillinnearby
communities.Anyreleaseofoilcoulddevastateadjacentecosystems,includingthatofthe
HudsonRiverorLakeChamplain,contaminatinglocaldrinkingwatersuppliesandharmingthe
regionaleconomy.Anoiltrainexplosioncouldleadtocatastrophiclossoflifeanddestruction
ofthesurroundingcommunity,asoccurredinLacMegantic,Quebec,in2013.Undercurrent
law,NewYorkertaxpayerscouldbeleftwiththeburdenofpayingforcleanupand
decontaminationafteranoilspillifthecompanyresponsibledoesnothavesufficientfinancial
resources.Riverkeeperstronglysupportsthislegislationtohelpassurethattaxpayersarenotleft
withtheburdenoffootingthebillintheeventofamajorspill,andthatcompanieshandlingoil
inNewYorkStatehaveafinancialincentivetomaketheiroperationsassafeaspossible.

OnbehalfofthetensofthousandsofRiverkeepermembersandsupportersthroughout
NewYorkState,thankyouagainfortheopportunitytoparticipateintodaysJointHearingon
theExecutiveBudgetandfortheimportantroleyouplayinprotectingNewYorksenvironment.
WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeMembersoftheAssemblyandSenatetoimproveupon
someofthekeyprovisionsoftheExecutiveBudgetwehavehighlightedtoday.
Contact:
DanShapley,Riverkeeper,Inc.,9144784501x226,
dshapley@riverkeeper.org

www.riverkeeper.org 20 Secor Road, Ossining, NY 10562 t 914-478-4501 f 914-422-4527