Legislation & Government Issues

HRBYCA, Inc.
P.O. Box 416
Crompond, NY 10517

Dredged Material in Abandon Mine Reclamation

The Bark Camp Demonstration Project - October 2006
New York/New Jersey Clean Ocean & Shore Trust
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

"In 1995 the New York/New Jersey Clean Ocean and Shore Trust, the bistate marine resources commission known as COAST, approached the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), Bureau of Abandon Mine Reclamation with a proposal to test dredged materials from the Hudson and Raritan estuaries and the Delaware River for use in abandoned mine reclamation. Facing the legacy of 300 years of coal mining, PADEP has been a national leader in mine reclamation research and applications, and saw the potential for using dredged sediments as an aggregate in a coal ash amended grout. After a careful analysis, the department determined that in spite of the negative public perception of dredged materials, the levels of contaminants involved were not excessive and were well within their regulatory experience. Furthermore, the contaminant binding capacity and low permeability of coal ash grouts were perfectly suited to immobilize any contaminants present. In order to ensure that only acceptable materials were used, the Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste Management applied regulatory limits for contaminant levels from existing programs and forbade the use of any hazardous materials whatsoever."

The following news article was provided by
HRBYCA, Inc., President John Dmytryszyn

Sea Grant Study Finds New York’s Recreational Boaters Spent $2.4 Billion in 2003

Recent survey shows boating has $1.8 billion economic impact and creates 18,700 jobs

STONY BROOK, NY. September 27, 2004. The national economy may go through highs and lows, but in a New York Sea Grant-funded study out this month, Cornell researchers found that the state’s recreational boaters spent a whopping $2.4 billion last year despite the poor summer weather. The effort is the first of its kind to directly measure expenditures related to recreational boating and their impact on the state’s economy. Using questionnaires sent to a sample of New York’s half a million registered boaters, researchers estimate that in 2003 recreational boating had a total statewide economic impact of $1.8 billion, accounted for approximately 18,700 jobs, and contributed $728 million to labor income.

Researchers Nancy Connelly, Tommy Brown and David Kay of Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources found that for boating trip related expenditures such as launching fees, lodging, food, and gas, boaters spent over $431 million statewide. The survey also tabulated how much boaters spent on boat purchases, equipment, boat repair, insurance, and annual fees associated with the use of marinas and yacht clubs. Overall in 2003, almost $2 billion was spent statewide on these non-trip related expenses. Of this figure, $1.2 billion was for boat purchases.

“With these research findings, it is clear that recreational boating is big business and an important economic generator for the people of New York State,” said Jack Mattice, New York Sea Grant Director. “The intent of the study was not only to quantify the impact of boating, but also to provide information that will help managers, planners, and other decision makers make more informed decisions regarding coastal resource use and development,” adds NYSG’s coastal processes and facilities specialist Jay Tanski who served as project manager.

As one of the nation's major boating states, boating is a key recreational industry in virtually all areas of New York, especially the marine waters, Hudson River, Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, the Finger Lakes, and Lake Champlain. The economic data will be used to develop tools that will allow managers to better evaluate the impact of boating on a regional scale.

The New York Sea Grant study broke out expenditure and economic impact figures by boating region and major water body:

Trip related expenditures:

• $173 million associated with trips to and in regions bordering the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes
• $53 million associated with trips to and in the Hudson River area
• $162 million associated with trips to and in the New York City/ Long Island Metropolitan Area

Non-trip related expenditures:

• $661 million associated with the economic regions bordering the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes
• $194 million associated with the Hudson River region.
• $907 million associated with the New York City/ Long Island Metropolitan Area

Total economic impact by region:

• $600 million associated with the economic regions bordering the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes
• $184 million associated with the Hudson River region
• $843 million associated with the New York City/ Long Island Metropolitan Area

The study was conducted in 2004 with the aid of an advisory panel of agency and boating industry experts from around the state. The estimates were based on a mail survey of 6,000 boaters registered in New York State in 2003. These figures may be conservative for the marine region since data indicate boating activity may have been suppressed due to the weather that year. “Last June was one of the wettest on record and the threat of Hurricane Isabel striking New York’s marine coast in September resulted in many people pulling their boats early, further shortening the season,” said Tanski. In addition, the figures do not include spending by transient boaters and others who are not registered in the state. Additional expenditures are most likely made in water bodies bordering other states, especially around Long Island and New York City. Non-motorized boaters, such as kayaks, canoes and small sailboats, are also likely to have made economic contributions throughout the state, but were not included in the study since they are not registered by the state.

For a downloadable copy of the report, go to:
http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/coastalgeo/boatingexpenditures03.htm
or go to New York Sea Grant’s home page www.nyseagrant.org and follow the links.

Hudson, Kissimmee and St. Croix Rivers Short-Listed for Global Riverprize

July 26, 2005 â" By Coastal Cooperative Research Centre

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA â" Three large river restoration programs in North America â" the Hudson in New York State, the Kissimmee in Florida and the St. Croix in New Brunswick, Canada â" are finalists for the 2005 International Thiess Riverprize awarded for excellence in river management.

The International Thiess Riverprize of AUD $150,000 is awarded at the annual International Riversymposium hosted in Brisbane, Australia. The Riversymposium highlights how science, policy and community action contribute to best practice river management. Delegates from over 30 countries attend each year to discuss river and watershed management issues.

The Hudson River estuary and watershed, when combined with the Raritan Bay watershed in New Jersey, is the most populated watershed in the United States. Like many waterways, it is threatened by rapid population growth, agricultural and urban runoff, erosion, dams, loss of riparian vegetation and reduced groundwater recharge.

An estuary program, led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, coordinates legislation, research, management and public education activities to improve the ecosystem health of the estuary. Through a series of community partnerships, an estuary action program has helped restore populations of striped bass and Atlantic sturgeon. The program has mapped the aquatic habitat of the Hudson River allowing key habitat to be identified and protected.

The Hudson estuary program has established new approaches to biodiversity conservation and watershed management with over 35 local and 7 county governments, 14 local land trusts, 8 watershed planning groups and a new Watershed Alliance of over 30 regional organisations. Improvements in water quality have led to the reclassification of much of the river to suitable for all uses, including drinking water. Today, the Hudsonâ(tm)s waters flow cleaner than they have in decades.

The Kissimmee River restoration project involves a series of joint partnerships between the South Florida Water Management District, several federal and local organizations, and stakeholder groups. The project entails acquiring 37,000 hectares of historic floodplain, filling in 35 kilometres of drainage canal, removing two dam and navigation lock structures and reconnecting 74 kilometres of historic river channel.

The St. Croix watershed, located on the eastern seaboard on North America, drains an area of 4188 square kilometres between the State of Maine (USA) and the Province of New Brunswick (Canada). In the 1970s, water quality in the lower St. Croix River was so degraded by industrial and municipal pollution that fish survival was threatened.

Since 1986, both countries entered into an agreement to protect the river and watershed by forming a locally based commission that would bring together governments, municipalities, landowners and users to create a shared vision and plan to improve the waterways health. The commission provides scientific and technical advice to stakeholders to monitor and improve river health, undertakes water quality tests and has initiated a community water forum to assess water level and flow needs.

The St. Croix International Waterway Commission ensures the safety of dams through regular inspections and reporting and has improved the management of shorelines by standardizing zoning plans. Management plans have helped to limit erosion and runoff, maintain the waterwayâ(tm)s visual character and enhance property values while still allowing for development. The commission coordinates fisheries research to protect sea-run fish stocks, raise and stock Atlantic salmon and educate recreational fishers.

The three entries will compete for the prestigious International Thiess Riverprize against the Sha River Restoration Project (China) and the Drome River project (France). The winner will be announced at a gala award ceremony on 7 September 2005, attended by delegates from over 30 countries, in Brisbane, Australia.

Past winners of the International Riverprize include the Siuslaw River Restoration Project (USA, 2004); Alexander River Restoration Project (Israel, 2003); Mekong River Commission (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Lao Peoplesâ(tm) Democratic Republic, 2002); Blackwood Basin Group (Australia, 2001); and Grand River Conservation Authority (Canada, 2000).

The International Riversymposium is an event held during Brisbaneâ(tm)s annual Riverfestival, which is held from 6-9 September 2005. www.riversymposium.com

For information contact
Hudson River - William Dey or Stephen Wilson, (518) 861 8020, wdey@asaac.com
Kissimmee River - Joseph Koebel, (561) 686-8800
St Croix River - Lee Sochasky, (506) 466 7550, staff@stcroix.org

For media assistance contact
Don Alcock +61 418 882 063 don.alcock@nrm.qld.gov.au
Website: www.riversymposium.com

GOVERNOR PATAKI, CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES SWEENEY, LOWEY AND KELLY ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF NEW "HUDSON RIVER CAUCUS" (To read more on this article, click here)