New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

There have been major developments related to the Norlite Hazardous Waste Facility in Cohoes.

A burn ban went into effect this week across New York. In addition, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is advising residents to enjoy the outdoors, but continue to practice social distancing.

A type of tick that could threaten New York’s livestock industry will appear on an invasive species list. The bill mandating the listing was signed into law this week.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation wants to develop a plan to manage increased use of the Adirondack High Peaks region.

With news that a temporary filtration system is back on track at Stewart Air National Guard base, officials are keeping a close eye on the timeline for the project. The remedial measure is supposed to address PFAS contamination.

Central Hudson is cleaning up the site of a former manufactured gas plant in the City of Poughkeepsie. The remediation is taking place on the shoreline and in the Hudson River. But until there is agreement about plans to protect the river and a drinking water source nearby, the river portion of the cleanup has been delayed.

An interim filtration system at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh was supposed to be up and running by the end of the summer. The remediation effort is intended to trap PFOS-laden water. The U.S. Department of Defense had committed to the measure in December but environmental groups and state officials have concerns.

Area residents who have been pushing to save a lake in Ulster County are encouraged by a new engineering report. They hope the report’s findings will convince state officials to repair rather than remove a dam at the lake. And a New York state Senator supports the group’s efforts.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation held two public hearings Wednesday in Middletown on draft air permits for the CPV plant in Orange County. Opponents urged DEC to reject the permits and shut down the plant.

In New York, the Orange County Land Trust has announced the protection of more than 100 acres in the Town of Warwick.

Over the past three years, there have been numerous meetings regarding the ongoing PFOS water contamination issue in Newburgh. A state senator who represents the city says the meetings have not gathered all relevant stakeholders in one room, and wants to change that, especially with regard to the state’s water filtration system.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued two violation notices, citing illegal dumping at sites in Saugerties, in Ulster County.

Grants from New York state have been awarded for three projects in Westchester County to enhance access to the lower Hudson River.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has deemed an Orange County power plant’s air permit applications complete, and a public comment period has begun. Plant opponents say the CPV plant should never have been allowed to operate in the first place.

The Wallkill River Watershed Alliance is holding its fifth annual Wallkill River Summit Thursday night at SUNY New Paltz.

Three groups are seeking to put an end to what they say is a growing dumping operation in Saugerties, New York. They updated community residents Tuesday night, urging them to put pressure on lawmakers and the state Department of Environmental Conversation to take action.

A recent accidental release of firefighting foam from a hangar at New York Stewart International Airport in Orange County is the subject of debate. The foam made its way into a stream, and testing on behalf of the City of Newburgh shows high levels of PFOA and PFOS. But the company that operates the hangar says the foam does not contain PFOA or PFOS. The state is awaiting separate results.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation has acquired two properties in Columbia County.

Officials from the Department of Defense will be in Newburgh next week. They will visit Stewart Air National Guard base and then hold a public forum about the PFOS water contamination emanating from the base.

New York state’s new budget passed overnight Sunday into Monday includes $500 million in clean water infrastructure. Environmentalists say that while they appreciate the allocation, it’s just a dent in the state’s water infrastructure needs. State officials say it builds on New York’s historic $2.5 billion investment.

Danger was averted when several unstaffed boats were sent adrift on the ice-packed Hudson River this morning. It was a tense few hours, but no one was injured and authorities have secured all vessels involved.

New York state is launching a new initiative to protect drinking water —and looking for volunteers to take part. A leading environmental group welcomes the news.

The New York State Drinking Water Quality Council on Tuesday recommended maximum contaminant levels for three chemicals that turned up a few years ago in Hoosick Falls, Newburgh and other communities.

As the Newburgh city manager prepares to leave his post at the end of the year, he is speaking out against the use of a state-funded granulated activated carbon filtration system. New York had the system built to filter PFOS and other contaminants from Newburgh’s drinking water supply.

The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: After 20 years, the governor and legislature may get a pay raise, our political observer Alan Chartock shares his thoughts GOP leader Flanagan being elected minority leader in the state senate, and will sit down with NYS DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos who is leaving his post.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos is leaving his post. First appointed by Governor Cuomo in 2015, Seggos previously served as Deputy Secretary for the Environment for the governor. Seggos is stepping aside at a critical time for environmental issues in New York.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation held public hearings Wednesday on its denial of a key permit for Competitive Power Ventures’ Valley Energy Center in Orange County. The natural gas plant’s operators are contesting the DEC’s decision.