WINTER QUARTERLY MEETING - Thursday, February 15, 2007

PLACE: Suffern Free Library-Community Room - 
210 Lafayette Ave. (Rte. 59),
Suffern, NY 10901

10:30 A.M. Environmental Reports

11:15 A.M. Program: presentation by David Haas, PhD

Lunch will be provided by the Board of Directors.

Since 1930, the Rockland County Conservation Association has been working to protect and conserve our natural resources. Dues and donations from members and friends have made it possible for RCCA to carry on its work for so many years.

We hope that you will continue to support the efforts of this volunteer organization.
We need you. A membership application and return envelope are enclosed.

The Rockland County Conservation Association is a not-for-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) status. All contributions are deductible as allowed by law.

Carol Ash, Executive Director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission since 1999, has been appointed to the post of Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation of the State of New York by Governor Elliot Spitzer.

We will miss Ms. Ash's reports at our summer meetings. She has been unique in her collaborative approach to environmental concerns, success in acquisition of fast-disappearing park land, bolstering conservation, championing green energy, open space, natural resources and preservation of our historical treasures. As the public stewardship received by that grand gift to the public, the beautiful Palisades Park, moves to the greater NYS parks system, we bid her a reluctant goodbye locally with welcoming best wishes for continued success statewide.

Robert Nelson
RCCA's Representative to the PIPC

 

Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Cornell presents award of recognition to Carol Ash

Photo by Dorice Madronero

RCCA Advocates Local Control of Waste Management in U.S. Supreme Court Brief

RCCA board member, attorney Michael Diederich, submitted to the United States Supreme Court on January 8th a brief on behalf of RCCA advocating that local communities retain the right to require their trash be taken to a designated specific location. Garbage haulers have sought to truck trash to collection points of their choosing.

Diederich has argued that waste is not an article of commerce and that residents should decide where their locally generated trash should be managed under local control. The Journal News of January 7, 2007 quotes the attorney, "I view this as a world environmental issue". It continues that he believes the management of waste should be valued and include reducing waste and recycling that which is collected. RCCA's friend of the court brief was joined by the Rockland Coalition for Democracy and Freedom.

Jeanne Nelson

The program will offer steps that you can take toward maintaining and promoting CLEAN WATER in Rockland County. Daniel Israel, Eagle Scout and his dad Rich Israel will be on hand to explain the Rain Garden Eagle Scout project that was created at Kennedy Dells Park, New City, NY. Also, Margie Turrin will discuss water resources and stream monitoring in the County.

This event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rockland County and the Water Quality Committee of Rockland County. RCCA is pleased to be a co-sponsor.

Photo by Dorice Madronero

UWNY Proposes the Use of Hudson River Water for Drinking

Rockland County's water supply is an ongoing source of debate. Replete with droughts, flooding and contamination the discussion is really centered on supply and demand. As a major supplier of water in Rockland, United Water New York (UWNY) is proposing a desalination plant in order to use Hudson River water as a source of supply.

Clean water sustains life. We must ask whether the proposed use of Hudson River water is intended to sustain life or lifestyle. Does this proposed plant best support the values that we appreciate and identify with, as a community? Does such a plant promote sustainable ecosystems, and watershed protection? What are the implications to planning and development? Will the ever-present PCB's, mercury and very troubling strontium90 found in the fish, along with other toxins be adequately removed? At what cost? Do the standards applied for removal consider the exposures to our most vulnerable population, our children? Such a plant comes with great energy demands. Is it the best solution for promoting improved air quality and reducing global warming?

There are many unanswered questions. We must demand that the review of this proposal is not limited in scope to water needs only, but reflects a complete cost benefit analyses. The values of our community must be factored into the decision process.

On February 8, 2007, at 7:00p.m., in the Rockland County Legislative Chambers, Connie Coker, Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislative Environmental Committee will be facilitating a presentation by UWNY on the proposal. The public is invited to attend to discuss and ask questions about the need for such a plant.

Dorice Madronero

About Our Guest Speaker-David Haas, PhD

Dr. Haas is a scientist by training and has operated a manufacturing business in Rockland for more than twenty years. Since 1996 he has volunteered with Earthwatch Institute (www.earthwatch.org). This is a not-for-profit organization that according its website "engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment."

In his presentation, Dr Haas will speak about his work that includes, four archeological digs on biblical sites in Israel, two dinosaur surveys/excavations in Canada, of fossil bones, several "dark ages" archeological digs in the UK and last May, an annual ecological survey on Lake Naivasha in Kenya.

After ten years of hard work, dust, dirt, rain and mud he has participated in recording the "history of science". He states that "I wanted to touch and feel the pottery, artifacts, and bones before they reached the museums and paleontologists. I wanted to be a part of the biological teams that study and understand what is really happening to our environment."

He will also offer information about how you can participate in such an experience.