O'Mara's district includes Steuben County. There is currently no representation for Allegany County in the NY State Senate.
Put together a list of the all-time grassroots legislative victories in New York State and I cannot recall many in my experience more worthy than this one.
I’m referring to the “Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act” that Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a little over one week ago. Following a two-year legislative struggle, this new law is finally aimed at stopping the construction of trash incinerators within the Finger Lakes region, including the proposed Circular enerG project at the former Seneca Army Depot in Romulus (Seneca County).
The new law prohibits the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and others from issuing waste-to-energy permits for proposed trash incinerators if the facility is within the Oswego River/Finger Lakes Watershed; there is at least one landfill or other Department of Environmental Conservation permitted solid waste management facility operating or located within a 50-mile radius of the proposed facility; and within 10 miles of a state-designated priority water body.
I have welcomed the opportunity to help co-sponsor the new law and join legislative colleagues to fight for its approval. I have appreciated working to help make the case that these trash incinerators are a serious threat to the quality, health, and overall safety of communities throughout the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions. Incinerators of this magnitude, with their associated air and ash pollution, would do great harm to local tourism as well as the wine and agricultural industries.
Noteworthy as well, they would result in the daily delivery of tons of trash, transported by an ever-growing fleet of heavy trucks traveling across Southern Tier and Finger Lakes roadways throughout area communities. By some projections, the proposed Circular enerG incinerator, for example, would result in the burning of more than 2,600 tons of trash daily, fed by nearly 250 trash haulers rumbling along our roads day after day – with more trucks needed to remove the toxic ash that’s produced.
No thank you.
The Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act helped coalesce what became a first-rate grassroots coalition comprising dozens of local governments and school boards, and hundreds of environmental organizations, winery owners, farmers, business and community leaders, and everyday citizens.
My Finger Lakes colleague in the state Senate, Senator Pam Helming, said, “As a region, we believe in clean water, clean air, and a high quality of life for our children and families and we fought hard to make our voices heard and protect our lakes and natural resources from further harm. This is just one example of what we can accomplish when we set aside our differences and work together in a bipartisan effort for the good of our communities.”
Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said, “I am so thankful and proud of our local governments, the business community, environmental communities and local residents who worked so hard to get this done…This is a great day for the Finger Lakes Region!"
Seneca Lake Guardian President Joseph Campbell added, “With the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act becoming law, communities should now be able to refocus their energies on growing the Finger Lakes economy without the looming fear of an environmental or economic disruption.”
Will Ouweleen of the Finger Lakes Wine Business Coalition summed it up this way, “Our vineyards are our livelihood and help fuel the burgeoning local tourism business. The Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act gives us a chance to continue making our small community a world-class wine producing and tourism destination.”
Amen to all of the above. In the end, this effort bodes well for the future quality and strength of local communities, local economies, and local environments.
