by George Klein, posted April, 2024

In brief: Westchester County Airport is polluted with highly toxic PFAS chemicals. Yet, the Westchester County Board of Legislators on April 8, 2024 approved a land exchange, “the swap”, of 13.4 acres owned by the Westchester Joint Water Works, for the same sized parcel at the airport. This will allow WJWW to build a water treatment plant at the airport.

The problem is that the construction project site is located within the watershed of the Kensico Reservoir. A watershed is the area surrounding a body of water, and any precipitation falling there ends up in that body of water, so a watershed is a basin.

This project could easily dislodge these toxic PFAS chemicals into the nearby Kensico Reservoir. The Kensico is the source of drinking water for 9 million people, including most of Westchester’s population, and many more in NYC. PFAS chemicals have contaminated the drinking water supply for hundreds of communities around the U.S. According to recent findings by the EPA, PFAS are toxic at even the lowest detectable levels and it is extremely expensive to remove them from the water. 

This is an environmental and public health issue.

The 4/10/2024 New York Times article “E.P.A. Says ‘Forever Chemicals’ Must Be Removed From Tap Water” is just the latest evidence that federal and state regulators are judging PFAS to be ever more dangerous to our health. “Exposure to PFAS has been associated with metabolic disorders, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children and increased risk of some prostate, kidney and testicular cancers,” says the article.

Our Board of Legislators could avoid this harm simply by insisting that the WJWW project be sited outside of the Kensico Reservoir watershed.

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When: Saturday, May 4, 2024, 9:00 AM - 2 PM (approximately) (Raindate Sunday May 5)

Where: 
Westchester Landing, Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge, 333 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591 @ 9am
Rockland Landing, Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge, 1200 Rte 9W, Nyack, NY 10960 @ 9:30am

Join us on a fun cycle across the TappanZee bridge, up through the streets of Nyack to Nyack Beach State Park and along the River Trail to the Rockland Lake turn off. The River Front trail is packed dirt/gravel and might not be suitable for some road bikes. Round Trip is 16 Miles.

Rockland Residents can meet us at the Rockland Landing at 9:30am (it might take us longer to get started an cross the bridge so you might have to wait a little.)

On the return leg we will stop at the Runcible Spoon, a cyclist friendly bakery in Nyack to get lunch. This is optional.

Transport: Free Parking is available at the Westchester Landing. Closest Train Station is Tarrytown on the Hudson Line From Grand Central Terminal board the 7:50 AM towards Poughkeepsie (train #8807) Arrive at Tarrytown at 8:29 AM. It is a 10 minute bike ride from the train station to the meeting point.

Bring: Bike, Repair Kit, Water, Snacks, Appropriate Clothing. Money for lunch (optional) No pets.

Map: All Trails

Cancellation/Rain Date: Rain Cancels. Rain date Sunday, May 5th at same time.

Event Organizer:
Liam Robb O'Hagan
   liam@extremeyou.com
   310-435-1843

Register and Sign Waiver

When: Saturday, June 1, 2024, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (approximately) (Rain date, Sunday June 2 at 9:00 AM)

Where: 
 Marshlands Conservancy, 220 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580. (Parking available down the long driveway on the Rye side of the John Jay Estate)

Join us on a gentle 3-mile hike to explore the great variety of terrain: forest, meadow, salt marsh and shoreline, in the Marshlands Conservancy in Rye. The Trip leader, Liam Robb O'Hagan will share some interesting details of the area natural history.

Transport: Free Parking is available at Conservancy Car Park. Closest Train Stations are Mamaroneck or Rye on the New Haven Line from Grand Central Terminal. Taxi to trail head required from station

Bring: Water, Snacks, Appropriate Clothing. No pets.

Map: All Trails

Cancellation/Rain Date: Rain Cancels. Rain date Sunday, June 2 at same time.

Event Organizer:
Liam Robb O'Hagan
   liam@extremeyou.com
   310-435-1843

Register and Sign Waiver

By Joseph Dunnigan, posted March, 2024

On March 12th, 2024 a press release was published by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14) stating that she had secured over $12 million for the Bronx and Queens. Embedded within that funding was $50,000 that was set aside for the Hutchinson River Restoration Project (HRRP). 

HRRP (featured in LHG’s September – December 2023 newsletter article titled “The Hutch – A History of Taming a River”) aims to use the funding for their clean-up efforts of the Hutchinson River, that runs through Westchester and Bronx counties before emptying into the Long Island Sound. 

This river, named in honor of Anne Hutchinson and which is nicknamed ‘The Hutch,’ is in desperate need of maintenance and conservation efforts. And with this grant, The Hutch is one step closer to reverting to the lush ecosystem it once was. 

For more information about this issue and how you can help, you can visit the HRRP website at https://www.hutchinsonriver.org/.

We won a huge victory in June when the New York State Senate and Assembly passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act, an historic, nation-leading bill that will end the unnecessary use of a class of toxic pesticides known as neonicotinoids (neonics). Neonics have caused an alarming crash in pollinator populations nationwide and the EPA has recently reported that the continued use of these toxic pesticides will likely drive hundreds of endangered species toward extinction.

On December 22, Governor Hochul signed this bill into law! Thanks to all the Sierra Club and other activists who joined together to support the bill. Read more here.

For more information about the issue, see the following factsheets: Protect New York’s Birds, Bees, Water, and People from Toxic Neonic Pesticides, Setting the Record Straight on the Birds and Bees Protection Act, and In the Weeds on Treated Seeds.

New York State's Department of State has jobs available for various levels and specialties in their Office of Renewable Energy Siting.

Find out more information about these positions and how to apply here.

Are you confused about the new election districts? Do you want to find out which Congressional, NYS Senate or Assembly district you're in now? See the Redistricting & You: New York website.

Above the map is a box where you can indicate which of the three maps you wish to see. The default for the Congressional and NYS Senate districts is the FINAL Special Master map, but if you move the slider under the choices to the left, the new districts will fade out and the old districts will appear, outlined in gray.  On the right, there is a drop down menu that allows you to view various draft plans that preceded the FINAL Special Master plan.

Looking to get involved in New York? There has never been a better time!  Volunteer with us at the Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group and help us create an environmentally just and clean future in New York!

Visit our Volunteer Page for more information on our teams, volunteer roles, contact information and instructions on how to express your interest. We look forward to working with you to create a better future for New York!

The climate crisis is truly urgent.  We are focusing our work primarily on local action on climate change: stopping gas pipelines and working for local government action on climate change particularly through two very powerful government programs.  Join us to help make change happen in Rockland County!

Community Choice energy is a very exciting program that promotes renewable energy, community solar, geothermal, and electric vehicles. Click HERE to learn more! 

Climate Smart Communities is a New York State program that helps communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.  We are working to get our communities moving ahead in this program! Click here for more information on Climate Smart Communities.