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The name "Jamaica Bay" is derived from "jameco," a word from the language of the Lenape Indians, who lived here first. Learn more about a major financial commitment that will help restore this precious natural resource to good health.
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New York Harbor School teacher Ann Fraioli took a cellphone picture of this dolphin in Newtown Creek on March 3.
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Join Our List
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Events on the Waterfront
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Networking: Regional Community Waterfront Brown Bag Lunch
3/5, SUNY Maritime College, 10a
Fundraiser: Long Island City Community Boat House 3/11, The Foundry 4238 9th St, 5p
Gala: Award Reception for the Working Harbor Committee
3/11, India House, 1 Hanover Sq., 6p
Seminar: Trophy Striped Bass
2/27, Louie's Oyster Bar & Grille, 395 Main St., 7p
Seminar: PCB Remedial Dredging: Phase 1 Results and Relevance to New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary 3/15, Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, Bowling Green, 3p
Conference: Bronx Council for Environmental Quality Water Conference
3/17, Manhattan College, 2:30p
Interactive Panel: Waterfront Parks: Old, New, Green, Blue
3/17, Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, 47 E. 65th St. 5:30p
Seminar: The Archaeology of Environmental Change in the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary
3/24, Hudson River Fdn., 17 Battery Place, 10:30a
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MWA Blue Bulletin Board
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Save the Date: 3rd Annual City of Water Day Festival is July 24, 2010 We've moved! Come see us at 241 Water Street, 3rd FloorNew York, NY 10038. Email Address Update:Our waterwire.net email addresses are no longer in service. All MWA emails end in waterfrontalliance.org.
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CONTENTS: Mar. 3, 2010
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State Environmental Cuts Go Too Deep Howls are heard across the states of New York and New Jersey
Find Out How Upriver PCBs Affect the Harbor Estuary Details on special Hudson River Foundation seminar
Good News for Jamaica Bay
City and State commit $115 million to improve water quality
SOS! All Hands on Deck to Save the SS United States The country's flagship needs you Community Waterfront Center Reps Gather to Brainstorm Gain insight from others' experiences Gowanus Canal is NYC's Latest Superfund Site EPA designation starts a federal clean-up process
Welcome to the Waterfront: New Alliance Partners
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STATE ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDS ARE SLASHED
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PROTESTS ARE HEARD FROM NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AS LEGISLATORS EVISCERATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUDGETS
Proposed reductions to the funding, personnel and oversight of environmental agencies in New York and New Jersey are eliciting forceful objections from the waterfront community.
In New Jersey, suggestions from a special government task force to streamline the Department of Environmental Protection have backfired, leading to charges from leading waterfront advocates Capt. Bill Sheehan, executive director of the Hackensack Riverkeeper, and Debbie Mans, executive director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper, that Governor Christie is moving to abolish the DEP. The two advocates are also concerned that the Governor favors development over access to the waterfront and that there will be greater potential for negative environmental impact from developers taking advantage of the proposed simplified permitting procedures.
In New York, waterfront organizations from all over the state are calling on their constituents to contact state legislators to protest whopping budget cuts to the state Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), as well as reductions proposed for the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of State. The EPF finances capital projects -- many of them at the waterfront -- that protect the environment and enhance communities across the state.
New York State legislators
will negotiate a final
2010-2011 State Budget over the next several months. "Our state lawmakers need to hear from you today!" Environmental Advocates of New York trumpeted to its constituents, offering an easy way to press lawmakers to restore critical funds to the EPF. Similarly, the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) created a Call to Action. "The governor's proposal would slash the EPF by a third, far more
than any other major program," the NYLCV explains as it calls upon readers to advocate for the protection of the Environmental Protection Fund.
Just how deep do these budget cuts go? Environmental Advocates explains it well. The organization has put together a clear analysis of the State budget, explaining the process and timeline, the recent fiscal history showing how the State got into this dire situation, and the environmental purview of several state agencies. To view the analysis, click here. You'll see that the Department of Environmental Conservation is in for a 35% cut if the Governor's proposed budget is adopted. The Department of State would be unable to rehire 130 staff lost due to attrition and the hiring freeze. The annual budget of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) would be slashed from $222 million to $143 million, a 30 percent cut for the second year in a row. The analysis also shows the history of raids on the EPF. Alison Jenkins, Environmental Advocates' fiscal policy director, explains: "For the past eight years, the Governor and legislature have transferred more than $500 million from the EPF to the General Fund to be used for non-environmental purposes." EPF projects often need a couple years to reach their conclusions, she says, so money transferred out by lawmakers has always been earmarked. "This time the Fund is broke because of the transfers and the reductions in cash. They haven't proposed to transfer funds out because there aren't any left. They can't even pay the bills for the projects in the pipeline. New York needs to honor those commitments." (back to top)
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HOW UPRIVER PCBS AFFECT THE HARBOR ESTUARY
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HUDSON RIVER FOUNDATION PRESENTS A SPECIAL SEMINAR ON DREDGING RESULTS
Phase 1 of General Electric's dredging of PCB-contaminated sediment in the upper Hudson concluded last fall after five and a half months of work. With oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency, the company had expected to address 10% of the material estimated to need dredging. Contamination in some areas was worse than expected, however, and not all dredge areas targeted for Phase 1 were completed. According to the EPA web site, "Phase 2 will start full production only after an evaluation of Phase 1 is made and reviewed by the public and an independent panel of experts. Phase 2 is expected to begin in 2011 and will address the remaining contamination over five years." The map at right, taken from the EPA web site, shows the entire 200-mile Hudson River Superfund site. Dredging is taking place north of Saratoga Springs. For a closer look at this map and a diagram depicting how people and animals are exposed to contaminants in the Upper and Lower Hudson, click here. Over the decades, PCBs have flowed down the Hudson River and settled in the Harbor. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation's Contamination Assessment and Reduction Project concluded that if PCBs continued to settle at current levels, Harbor sediment contamination could remain for 30 years.
On Monday, March 15, the Hudson River Foundation will present "PCB Remedial Dredging: Phase 1 Results and Relevance to New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary," a special seminar about progress and decisions being made now that will impact future conditions in the Harbor Estuary. Walter Mugdan, EPA's Director of the Emergency and Remedial Response Division for Region 2, will discuss the Phase 1 dredging and EPA's findings. The seminar will take place at Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (One Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan) from 3pm to 5pm. The presentation is free, with a reception to follow. Seating is limited. RSVP with name, address, e-mail and phone number to info@hudsonriver.org or 212-483-7667. (back to top)
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GOOD NEWS FOR JAMAICA BAY
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CITY WILL SPEND $115 MILLION ON UPGRADES TO SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND MARSHLAND RESTORATION
The 25,000 acres of marsh, meadows, woods and beaches that make up Jamaica Bay, one of New York City's richest ecosystems, have a healthier, cleaner future thanks to a $115 million commitment from the City to upgrade nearby sewage treatment facilities and restore marshland. The February 25 announcement by Mayor Bloomberg, City DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway, State DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis and Natural Resources Defense Council Executive Director Peter Lehner detailed $100 million worth of new technologies to be installed at four wastewater treatment plants that will cut almost in half the 40,000 pounds of nitrogen discharged daily into Jamaica Bay. High levels of nitrogen lead to reduced levels of oxygen and excessive algae growth in waterways, and contribute to
the increasing erosion of Jamaica Bay marshland. The DEC will exempt the City from $45 million in potential penalties for delays in nitrogen upgrades at other wastewater treatment plants as it focuses work on Jamaica Bay. Fifteen million more is being set aside by the
City for marshland restoration projects. The Mayor said this investment can be leveraged further by applying for Federal
matching funds, netting an additional $30 million for Jamaica
Bay.
Standing with the city and state officials at the announcement were Dan Mundy, president of Jamaica Bay Eco-Watchers, Don Riepe, director of the northeast chapter of the American Littoral Society and Debbie Mans, executive director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper, who had helped negotiate the agreement. City Council Environmental Protection Committee Chair James F. Gennaro and
Major Mike Clancy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also attended. (back to top)Photos of Jamaica Bay courtesy of the NYC DEP web site
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SOS! ALL HANDS ON DECK TO SAVE THE SS UNITED STATES
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FILM SCREENING, FUNDRAISER AND RECEPTION
The SS United States, in service between 1952 and 1969, was the largest, safest, most technologically advanced and perhaps most glamorous ocean liner ever built in this country. She was also the fastest ship in the world. On her maiden voyage, the United States broke the transatlantic
speed record held by the Queen Mary for the previous 14 years by more
than 10 hours, making the crossing in 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes at
an average speed of 35.59 knots. For many years the ship held both the eastbound and westbound transatlantic speed records. In 1990, a wave-piercing Norwegian-built catamaran ferry broke the eastbound speed record but United States still holds the record for fastest westbound crossing. Postcard image of the SS United States
The ship's relatively light weight helped make its great speed possible. Renowned American naval architect William Francis Gibbs had designed the frame and interior surfaces of the United States to be built with aluminum instead of wood, and no wood was used for accessories or decorations. Since 1969, the United States has had several different owners who hoped to return the ship to service but financing was always an issue. In 1999, the ship was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but the designation did not come with the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed for annual upkeep. Today the United States gathers rust in a Philadelphia shipyard, scrapping companies circling hungrily. Owner Genting Hong Kong, through its subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), put the vessel up for sale in February 2009 and is now reportedly accepting bids from scrap merchants. Save Our Ship is the name of the national fundraising and awareness campaign launched by the SS United States Conservancy. A New York reception and screening of the documentary, "SS United States: Lady in Waiting," sponsored by the Conservancy and the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association, is scheduled for March 11, 7pm to 10pm, at the National Academy at Fifth Avenue and 89th Street. Tickets are $25 and may be reserved at www.SSUnitedStatesConservancy.org. "The Conservancy understands that Genting and NCL are reluctant to continue covering the significant costs associated with maintaining the vessel in its current berth in Philadelphia and appreciates the good care the vessel has received since being purchased by NCL in 2003 with the stated intentions of returning the ship to seagoing service," reads part of a statement from the Conservancy. "The Conservancy has begun discussions with NCL with the intent of covering some of the fees associated with maintaining the ship in Philadelphia as it finalizes plans for repurposing the ship as a stationary attraction on a large metropolitan waterfront." That metropolitan waterfront could be New York City. Click here to read about a pitch to bring the SS United States to the Hudson River. (back to top)
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MEET FELLOW REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY WATERFRONT CENTERS
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SHARE EXPERIENCES, GAIN INSIGHT
Representatives from community waterfront centers in the tri-state region are grabbing their brown bags and meeting for lunch this Friday, March 5, 10am to 1pm, at SUNY Maritime College. The meeting is co-hosted by the SUNY Maritime College and the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. Rob Crafa, director of waterfront programs for SUNY Maritime College sees the meeting as an opportunity to gather organizations with the common goal of water-related programming. "The energy of these meetings and the power of the networking is amazing," he said. At the last meeting a few years ago, tall ship representatives found new places to dock, groups arranged to share kayaks and organizations helped each other with personnel needs. "If you're in your own little world, you might not know that someone has already had a problem that you're facing and solved it," Mr. Crafa said. All are welcome to this Regional Community Waterfront Center Brown Bag Lunch. Click here to RSVP. For directions to the college, which is at 6
Pennyfield Avenue, Throggs Neck, click here. (back to top)
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EPA DESIGNATES GOWANUS CANAL A SUPERFUND SITE
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BLOOMBERG ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO AVOID THE DESIGNATION
On March 2, the Environmental Protection Agency added the 1.8 mile Gowanus Canal to its Superfund
National Priorities List. For 150 years, the Canal has been polluted by factories that line its shores, and more recently by combined sewer overflows and dirty stormwater run-off. Seeking to avoid the stigma of a Superfund designation, the Bloomberg Administration had countered the EPA's proposal last year with its own plan to clean up the contamination and redevelop its shores. Riverkeeper, which recently sued some of the businesses that were dumping garbage into the Canal, sided with the EPA's plan to lead the clean-up, as did other organizations. On March 2, 2010, Riverkeeper released a statement that included this quote from Josh Verleun, its attorney and chief investigator: "After 150
years of abuse and neglect the Gowanus Canal will finally
get the comprehensive cleanup that the residents of the area deserve. The toxic legacy of coal tar, PCBs, pesticides, and other
contamination of the Gowanus can only be cleaned through a
comprehensive Superfund cleanup; we are gratified to see the EPA
stepping up to this task." According to The New York Times, "EPA estimated that the federal cleanup would last 10 to 12 years and cost $300 million to $500 million." This photo of the Gowanus Canal is owned by Riverkeeper.A public information meeting sponsored by the EPA will take place Thursday, March 4, 7pm-9pm at
P.S. 58
(330 Smith Street in Brooklyn). Those who need more information may contact Natalie Loney, the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator at 212-637-3639 or loney.natalie@epa.gov. (back to top)
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GROW YOUR GREEN BUSINESS!
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Sponsored by CBS Television
& Riverkeeper, supported by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance,
and
co-located with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Go Green Expo is the largest eco-event in New York City. Coming to Pier 92/94
March 19-21, it is the only event that combines both
Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer events into one
cost-effective show. Join over 200 companies with speaker sessions
hosted by eco-celebrities including Ed Begley Jr., Mariel Hemingway and
more. A limited number of booths are still available. Contact Bradford
212-655-4505 ext 223 or email brand@gogreenexpo.com (back to top)
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MWA PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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More than 400 Partners strong, and expanding every week, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is more than a coalition; it's a force. We are
ferry captains, shipping executives, park directors, scientists,
sailors, paddlers, swimmers, teachers, urban planners, architects and
more. Together, we advocate for the best possible waterfront in the
best possible city, a waterfront that is clean and accessible to all,
with a robust maritime workforce and efficient, affordable waterborne
transportation. Join us! Contact Louis Kleinman at lkleinman@waterfrontalliance.org. Meet some MWA Partners: - Bronx River Alliance
www.bronxriver.org The Bronx River Alliance serves as a coordinated voice for the river
and works in harmonious partnership to protect, improve and restore the
Bronx River corridor so that it can be a healthy ecological,
recreational, educational and economic resource for the communities
through which the river flows. The Alliance works in close partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to achieve these goals.
Lilac Preservation Projectwww.lilacpreservationproject.orgThe non-profit Lilac Preservation Project is restoring the 1933
steam-powered Lilac, a former Coast Guard lighthouse tender. She is New
York's only historic steamship, is on the National Register of Historic
Places, and eligible to be a National Historic Landmark. Moored on the
north side of Pier 40 in Hudson River Park, Lilac offers educational
and cultural programs related to maritime history while looking forward
to the day when she brings steam back to the Hudson.
Lower East Side Ecology Center www.lesecologycenter.orgThe Ecology Center works toward a more sustainable New York City by
providing community-based recycling and composting programs, developing
local stewardship of green space, and increasing community awareness,
involvement and youth development through environmental education
programs.
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The mission of Spirit Cruises is to be America's best harbor cruise entertainment company. (back to top)
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WATERFRONT NEWSLINKS
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Dolphin spotted in Brooklyn's polluted Newtown CreekNY Daily News, March 4, 2010 Council Increases Penalty for DumpingGotham Gazette, March 4, 2010 The Gowanus, in All Its Gooey GloryThe New York Times, March 4, 2010 A Park for Mr. GreenThe New York Times, March 2, 2010 Trial ferry program sinks under costsThe Queens Courier, March 2, 2010 Mill Pond Park in the Bronx Named Feb Park Of The MonthBroadway World, February 24, 2010 (back to top)
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