
January 7,
2012 SAAS COMMENT LETTER to DEC
ON HYDROFRACKING - The
Revised Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental
Impact Statement (SGEIS) on the Oil, Gas, and
Solution Mining Regulatory Program. This
SGEIS addresses methods and procedures to be used in
hydrofracking, or simply, "fracking." The
letter can be found in its entirety here.
Additional information about the Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) process can be found on the DEC
website. For additional information of
hydrofracking in New York State see the Riverkeeper
website,
the Don't Frack With NY website, and
the Environmental
Working Group.
6/16/2011
SENATE
GIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL TO BILL THAT
PROTECTS NEW YORK’S WATER RESOURCES
BLUEBIRD NESTBOX BUILDING
BLITZ! Students in Pat Boire’s Tech
Student Association at Bolton Central School have
constructed a whopping 75 bluebird nest boxes for
Southern Adirondack Audubon Society.
Six 9th and 10th grade students cut, drilled,
and assembled the rough wood boxes, for the bargain
rate of $2.00 each. The boxes have been placed in
suitable habitat within our chapter, and will be
monitored properly. Several will be placed in the
Saratoga National Historical Park.
The Eastern Bluebird is New York
State’s official bird. Once
declining in population, bluebirds are making a
comeback. Numbers declined in part from nest
competition with House Sparrows and European
Starlings. Use of harmful pesticides and loss of
habitat are other factors. According
to the North American Bluebird Society, the future can
still be promising for the bluebird. The most
important step we can take to help them is to provide
nesting sites by setting out a box, or starting a
bluebird trail.
SAAS is grateful to Bolton’s
Central School’s Tech Student Association for their
woodworking skills and community spirit.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
| Bolton tech class students constructing the bluebird houses | The final product! | |||
Wood Duck Project at
Carter's Pond - April 2011
|
Our chapter recently partnered with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Waterfowl Improvement Association (WIA) to provide wood duck nestboxes at the state-owned Carter’s Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Greenwich. Carter’s Pond is designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon New York and a Bird Conservation Area by NYSDEC. Boxes around the periphery of the lake have been in a state of disrepair for some time. SAAS purchased 10 new boxes for this project. Local decoy company, Dux’ Dekes of Greenwich, generously supplies the lumber, the Waterfowl Improvement Association supplies hardware, and the Greenwich tech class constructs the boxes, which can then be “adopted” for $20 each. On Saturday, April 9, members of the three organizations met to install the boxes. In addition to SAAS member Mona Bearor, the work crew consisted of DEC field technician, Evan Wills, and WIA members Jeff Duxbury, owner of Dux’ Dekes, Jeff’s son Nate, and Dan Spigner, also of the WIA, with his son Kiernan. Many Wood Ducks were seen and heard as the work was completed and, thanks to the late arrival of spring, the boxes were placed in time for this year’s nesting season. |
![]() |
| Jeff
Duxbury of the WIA and Evan Wills of DEC place a
new Wood Duck nestbox at Carter's Pond in
Greenwich. |
The
State
of the Birds 2011
Hydraulic Fracturing in New York
State
SAAS has submitted comments on the Delaware Regional Basin Commission’s (DRBC) Draft Natural Gas Development Regulation. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, has the potential to fragment over 10,000 acres and consume billions of gallons of water. SAAS has urged the DRBC to increase regulations concerning habitat of threatened and endangered species, monitoring of flowback water when re-used at sites outside of the Basin, and other accountability measures. To see the comment letter submitted, click here.
SAAS Opposed HR1, Federal Legislation that Devastates Conservation Funding
SAAS has rallied with 321 Audubon
chapters across the country to voice its opposition to
HR1. This federal
legislation would slash funding to programs that help
provide for clean air, clean water, and vital natural
areas for birds, wildlife, and people.
This bill would cut 90% of funding to the Land
and Water Conservation Fund (which protects National
Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forests), eliminate the
North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (a critical
program that preserves wetlands across the country),
and remove federal funding to State Wildlife Grants
(grants that help states cost-share many conservation
activities). To read the
letter, including all the chapters that voiced their
opposition to this bill, click here.
From the February 11, 2011 Audubon
AdvisoryAn oil spill in the Arctic Ocean could devastate
human and wildlife communities alike. The Arctic is
home to Alaska Natives who depend on a healthy ocean
to support their subsistence way of life. The Arctic
Ocean also supports an abundance of wildlife,
including walrus, seals, whales, polar bears,
seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Audubon has long
called for decisions about oil and gas activities in
the Arctic Ocean to be based on sound scientific
information, thoughtful planning, and a proven oil
spill response plan.
Audubon
Supports
Gulf
Spill Recovery Legislation
Over the last several weeks, Congress and the Obama
Administration have been focusing on the BP oil spill
that captured the nation’s attention last spring and
summer. There have been important developments over
the last month, all of which coincide with Audubon’s
concerns and recommendations for the region and its
recovery. First, the President’s Oil Spill Commission,
chaired by former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former
President George H.W. Bush EPA Administrator Bill
Reilly, released their report findings and
recommendations regarding BP’s massive oil spill. The
most important part of the report is the
recommendation to designate 80% of the Clean Water Act
Penalties that BP will eventually have to pay to the
restoration of the Gulf region.
Second, two bills were introduced in the House of
Representatives that both include significant new
dedicated funding for Gulf restoration—HR 56 by
Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) and HR 501 by
Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA). Senator Mary Landrieu
(D-LA) is planning to introduce similar legislation
and is working closely with her Gulf state colleagues
to champion her bill. Gulf Restoration and recovery
continues to be a top priority for Audubon.
Child Safe Playing Fields Act Signed into Law
Proposed
Killian's View sub-division in the Fort Edward
Grasslands IBA
Earth Day Lobby Day 2010 On Tuesday, April 21, I
attended Earth Day Lobby Day in Albany. Although
this was the 20th anniversary of this important day
for conservation organizations, it was my first experience,
and I found it an informative and educational one, as well as
an enjoyable day with other environmental advocates who share
my passion for protecting the environment.
The morning session was held in a hall
located near the Capital. Opening
remarks were presented by Rob Moore and Laura Haight,
representatives of Environmental Advocates and New York Public
Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), respectively.
We then heard from representatives of other groups who
summarized the five hot topics we would discuss with our
Senators and Assembly representatives later in the day.
Those presenting and their issues were:
Speakers of note during
the morning session included Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, Chair
of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation;
Senator Antoine Thompson, Chair of the Senate's Environmental
Conservation Committee; NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli; and
Governor David A. Paterson.
Paterson was applauded as the only Governor
ever to attend Earth Day Lobby Day; however, his defense of
the deep cuts to state environmental funding fell far short. Audubon New York’s Sean Mahar,
Director of Government Relations & Communications, refuted
Paterson’s remarks, and was cheered as he pointed out the
disparities in the budget.
After a short lunch break we formed smaller
groups, each led by a seasoned lobbyist, and we marched to the
Legislative Office Building. The
balance of the afternoon was spent visiting Senators and
Assemblypersons and discussing the topics mentioned above. Presenting my views in person to a
member of the state legislature was a new experience for me,
and my group leader, Scott Lorey, Legislative Director for the
Adirondack Council, put me at ease and proved to be
informative in all things relating to state government. When our scheduled meetings were
concluded, he was gracious enough to treat me to a tour of the
Capital building.
I learned a great deal by participating in
this event, and look forward to the 21st annual
Earth Day Lobby Day in 2011.
-Mona Bearor
2/17/09 - DEC's "Guidelines for Conducting Bird and
Bat Studies at Commercial Wind Energy Projects" has been
finalized and published to the web. You can
read the completed document here.
We
are
pleased
that
some
of
the
suggestions
submitted
by
SAAS
have
been
incorporated
into the final document. Raptor migration survey periods
have been extended to include early spring and late fall; this
is important for detecting migrating Golden Eagles.
Songbird migration periods have been expanded as well, and
language in other areas of the document has been tightened to
make for more accurate survey methods. Our congratulations
to Audubon New York staff and members of the Delaware-Otsego
Audubon chapter who also particpated in this important issue.
Please Don't
Move Firewood!
As global climate change
increases, wind becomes a more important source of
renewable energy. Southern Adirondack Audubon
Society's Board of Directors has released its position on
wind power development. This policy paper outlines the
Board's concerns relating to possible harm to birds and
bats, and the results of habitat alteration at any proposed
wind energy facility. Please take the time to
read the "Position
on Wind Power Development."
Draft Guidelines for Conducting
Bird and Bat Studies at Commercial Wind Energy Projects
With over 30 wind farm projects under review by NYS DEC,
in addition to the 11 currently in operation or under
construction, this draft is of huge importance. The guidelines
(PDF, 135 Kb) are now available online. The comment period
closed March 7, 2008;
however, you can read Southern Adirondack Audubon's comment
letter to DEC
NYS Important Bird Areas
Conservation
IssuesSAAS has been actively involved in the following local issues:
