5 Things You Need to Know | June ADK Conservation News
By: Dana Mancini - Adirondack Council Advocacy and Outreach Assistant
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Adirondack Conservation News is a collection of the most current events taking place in New York’s Adirondack Park, a unique national treasure and legacy we inherited over 100 years ago, that we have to protect for future generations. Adirondack News aims to highlight both threats and opportunities concerning the Park’s ecological integrity, wild character and community vibrancy.
Study Finds State-Spread Salt Has Contaminated Groundwater
At a meeting in May, the Adirondack Watershed Institute announced the results of a study on the impacts of salt on state highways. The study found that salt used in the wintertime had contaminated the groundwater and seeped into private wells. State highways contribute 55 percent of the road salt used within the Adirondack Park.
Unsafe Levels of Ozone Found at Whiteface Mountain
An air-pollution monitor measured unsafe levels of ground-level ozone on Whiteface Mountain on a day in May. Whiteface ozone meters registered above 70 ppb -- the federal health standard set in 2008 -- for over eight hours, which is unusual for the Adirondacks. This comes as a result of Environmental Protection Administrator Scott Pruitt refusal to order the nations 36 dirtiest coal-fired power plants to turn on their already-installed pollution controls.
Federal District Court Rules EPA Failed to Regulate Air Pollution
In Manhattan, a federal district court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to protect New York and Connecticut from air pollution, and that it needs to begin. This court decision requires the EPA to take action on the petition in New York and Connecticut by Dec. 6.
Lake Placid and Saranac Lake Commit to Being Climate Smart Communities
Both Lake Placid and Saranac Lake have announced they are committing to become Climate Smart Communities. The program is in partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation and several other state agencies, and provides communities with a framework to guide localized climate action. Through the program, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become more resilient to our changing climate.
Number of Oil Trains Traveling to the Northeast Increasing
The number of oil trains traveling on local railroads is increasing, as so are concerns about their safety. Senator Chuck Schumer wrote to both the federal Departments of Energy and Transportation urging them to require crude oil to be stabilized before its loaded into rail tankers for shipment. In the last year, it appears that oil train traffic has increased through the state and the Adirondack Park.
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