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Environmental Pollution

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Massive Oil Spill Contaminates Saw Mill River In Westchester Massive Oil Spill Contaminates Saw Mill River In Westchester
Massive Oil Spill Contaminates Saw Mill River In Westchester An environmental hazard unfolded in Westchester County when a ruptured fuel line from a generator dumped nearly 1,200 gallons of home heating oil into a drainage system, sending the pollutant flowing into the Saw Mill River.  The Hawthorne Fire Department responded to the spill around 9 a.m. on Monday, March 17, after reports of a large diesel spill near Skyline Drive and Saw Mill River Road, the department said. When crews arrived, they discovered a substantial amount of home heating oil pouring from a drainage pipe into the river.  Firefighters traced the source of the spill by …

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by Ben Crnic
News
LI Sound Seal Pup Dies Weeks After City Street Rescue: 'Chappy Was Surrounded By Love' LI Sound Seal Pup Dies Weeks After City Street Rescue: 'Chappy Was Surrounded By Love'
LI Sound Seal Pup Dies Weeks After City Street Rescue: 'Chappy Was Surrounded By Love' A seal pup found wandering on a New Haven street has died, unable to recover from illness and malnutrition. The gray seal nicknamed "Chappy" has died, Mystic Aquarium said in an Instagram post on Monday, Mar. 3. The male pup was brought to the aquarium's Animal Rescue Clinic on Sunday, Feb. 16 after New Haven police found him stranded near the intersection of Chapel and East streets. At first, Chappy responded well to treatments for dehydration, malnutrition, and mild pneumonia, but he struggled with digestion after transitioning to eating whole fish. "The Mystic Aquarium st…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Nearly 200 Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across NY, New Study Says Nearly 200 Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across NY, New Study Says
Nearly 200 Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water Across NY, New Study Says Drinking water in some Northeast states contains some of the highest levels of contaminants in the country, according to new data. The latest update to the Environmental Working Group's tap water database analyzed nearly 50,000 water systems nationwide between 2021 and 2023. The nonprofit identified 324 contaminants in drinking water, many at levels exceeding health-based guidelines. New York had the highest number in the region with 197 contaminants detected since 2013. New Jersey followed with 131, Pennsylvania with 123, and Connecticut with 120. Massachusetts recorde…

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by Chris Spiker
Obituaries
Former Beauty Queen, Civil Rights Attorney Killed In DC Plane Crash: Remembering Kiah Duggins Former Beauty Queen, Civil Rights Attorney Killed In DC Plane Crash: Remembering Kiah Duggins
Former Beauty Queen, Civil Rights Attorney Killed In DC Plane Crash: Remembering Kiah Duggins The fight for justice does not end with Kiah Duggins. Friends, family, and supporters are coming together to carry on the mission of the Harvard-trained civil rights attorney and incoming professor who was among the 67 on board the American Airlines plane that crashed over DC.  "She was a radiant light, a brilliant mind, and a fierce advocate for justice," Aisha Duggin wrote in a GoFundMe campaign set up after her death.  "A Harvard-trained civil rights attorney, abolitionist, and global traveler, Kiah dedicated her life to fighting for freedom, equity, and the liberation of marginalized c…

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by Zak Failla
News
Sewage Discharge Prompts Beach Closures In Westchester: Here's Where Sewage Discharge Prompts Beach Closures In Westchester: Here's Where
Sewage Discharge Prompts Beach Closures In Westchester: Here's Where Health officials have closed two beaches in Westchester as a result of an ongoing sewage discharge.  The two beaches, both located in Larchmont, were shut down by the county's Health Department on Thursday, Aug. 8 due to a sewage discharge from the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities Beach Avenue Pump Station.  The beaches now closed are: Larchmont Manor Park Beach; Larchmont Shore Club Beach. Any residents in the area should avoid contact with the water until further notice.  This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.&nbs…

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by Ben Crnic
News
New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul
New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to stay safe and hydrated as hot, humid air rolls into much of the state ahead of severe storms predicted to bring heavy rains and flash flooding.  In an announcement on Monday, July 8, Hochul warned that above-average temperatures and high humidity would arrive in the state in the next few days. This includes "feels like temperatures" at or above 95 degrees, which can cause an increased risk of heat illnesses, Hochul's office said.  Related Report - Rounds Of Thunderstorms Expected Over Span Of Days: Here's Timing In res…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Proposed New Bill Would Ban Noisy Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Statewide Proposed New Bill Would Ban Noisy Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Statewide
Proposed New Bill Would Ban Noisy Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Statewide New York lawmakers are promoting a new green agenda as they look to potentially put a ban on noisy gas-powered leaf blowers across the state. State Sen. Pete Harckham (who represents parts of Westchester/Putnam/Dutchess counties) promoted a new bill that would amend New York’s energy laws to require zero-emission landscaping devices no later than 2027. The bill includes a potential ban on lawnmowers, lawn edgers, leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, and other landscaping equipment. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one hour of lawn mower use is the equivalent of driving 300…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Here's When Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags Takes Effect In NY Here's When Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags Takes Effect In NY
Here's When Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags Takes Effect In NY The statewide ban of single-use plastic bags in New York is fast approaching. As of Sunday, March 1, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s legislation goes into effect, banning plastic bags statewide. According to Cuomo, New Yorkers use billions of plastic bags annually, which do not biodegrade, creating massive amounts of litter in neighborhoods and waterways and posing a threat to the health of area residents and the environment. The ban is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic bag production and disposal. Once supplies of plastic bags are finished, reusable …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
New York Likely To Face Paper Bag Shortage, Experts Say New York Likely To Face Paper Bag Shortage, Experts Say
New York Likely To Face Paper Bag Shortage, Experts Say With a plastic bag ban set to take effect statewide in less than a month, New York may soon face a paper bag shortage, according to new reports. Last year, citing pollution and environmental concerns, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that as of March 1, 2020, single-use plastic bags would be banned throughout the state. According to Cuomo, New Yorkers use billions of plastic bags annually, which do not biodegrade, creating massive amounts of litter in neighborhoods and waterways and posing a threat to the health of area residents and the environment. The ban is expected to reduce green…

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by Zak Failla
News
New Tests Confirm High Level Of Fecal Matter In Waters Of The Croton River New Tests Confirm High Level Of Fecal Matter In Waters Of The Croton River
New Tests Confirm High Level Of Fecal Matter In Waters Of The Croton River A new round of tests found high levels of fecal matter in the water at the Croton River, forcing a swimming ban, village officials said. The village announced that on Wednesday, Aug. 21, health officials took a second water sample in the vicinity of Mayo’s Landing to test the levels of fecal coliform. The results came back on Friday, Aug. 23, and still came back with levels exceeding the acceptable rate for swimming. Two areas in the river were initially tested on Friday, Aug. 16, which came back with similar results. Village officials said that the primary sources of fecal coliform bacter…

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by Zak Failla
News
Heavy Rain, Storms Lead To New Hudson River Sewage Discharge Warning Heavy Rain, Storms Lead To New Hudson River Sewage Discharge Warning
Heavy Rain, Storms Lead To New Hudson River Sewage Discharge Warning The thunderstorms passing through the region led to a sewage discharge that flooded into the Hudson River. For the second time in two days, the Poughkeepsie Water Pollution Control Plant has issued an alert after 6,000 gallons of untreated waste was spilled into the Hudson River over the span of 20 minutes on Tuesday. The latest discharge was first reported at 2 p.m. Tuesday and was quickly rectified. It has since been contained. On Monday, 321,000 gallons of untreated waste was spilled into the Hudson River near Rinaldi Boulevard. The WPCP cited heavy rain, thunderstorms and a one-inch ac…

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by Zak Failla
News
Sewer Discharge Alert Issued For Yonkers Sewer Discharge Alert Issued For Yonkers
Sewer Discharge Alert Issued For Yonkers Gallons of untreated waste was discharged in Yonkers on Tuesday morning when a charged manhole overflowed onto a busy sidewalk, potentially affecting a nearby park. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an alert shortly before 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27 stating that the Yonkers Sanitary Sewer System announced the sewage discharge at 146 Tuckahoe Road, when the manhole overflowed onto a sidewalk, entering a nearby catch basin. According to officials, the discharge was caused by a private sewer backup, and as many as four gallons of untreated waste was discharged…

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by Zak Failla