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Environmental Protection

Norwalk Firefighters Battle Construction Machine Blaze, Contain Fuel Spill Norwalk Firefighters Battle Construction Machine Blaze, Contain Fuel Spill
Norwalk Firefighters Battle Construction Machine Blaze, Contain Fuel Spill A construction milling machine caught on fire Wednesday, Nov. 20, sending Norwalk firefighters rushing to the scene to mitigate any potential spread.  Firefighters were called to the construction equipment fire on Betmarlea Road around 3 p.m. The blaze, which produced thick smoke in the residential area, was contained without any injuries reported. The state remains under a severe fire warning as dry conditions and high winds have turned much of the underbrush into a tinderbox. Containing small fires before they can spread into larger ones is key.  Fire crews used an absorbe…
Jennings Creek Fire In Warwick Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Response Jennings Creek Fire In Warwick Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Response
Jennings Creek Fire In Warwick Near Containment As Governor Mobilizes Multi-Agency Response As the wildfires continue to burn across the state and in the Hudson Valley, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined the extensive efforts to combat them, highlighting the crucial roles played by local and national agencies in tackling the blazes. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Hochul provided an update on the ongoing wildfire situation in the state, prompting a robust response from more than 400 fire departments and over 1,300 personnel.  These teams have worked tirelessly to contain fires in Orange and Ulster counties, closely coordinating with local fire departments and first responders. Hochul said th…
Burn Ban Issued In Rockland County Due To Red Flag Warnings, Numerous Fires Burn Ban Issued In Rockland County Due To Red Flag Warnings, Numerous Fires
Burn Ban Issued In Rockland County Due To Red Flag Warnings, Numerous Fires In response to ongoing dry conditions and an increased fire danger, Rockland County Executive Ed Day has issued an executive order for a countywide burn ban, effective immediately.  This action was issued for Rockland County on Friday, Nov. 1.  Day said the ban was made in consultation with the Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services in light of the National Weather Service's red flag warnings indicating heightened fire risk. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning activities, including but not limited to the burning of brush, leaves, and other yard debris, along with…
Construction Starts On $23 Million Clean Water Project In Village Of Tivoli Construction Starts On $23 Million Clean Water Project In Village Of Tivoli
Construction Starts On $23 Million Clean Water Project In Village Of Tivoli Construction has begun on a $23 million wastewater treatment plant and sewer project in the Hudson Valley, which will help ensure reliable wastewater service and protect water quality. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday, Oct. 24, the start of the project in Dutchess County undertaken by the Water and Wastewater Authority to modernize clean water infrastructure in the village of Tivoli.  Hochul said the $23 million in state and federal investments will modernize the village’s 1930s-era sewer system, ensuring reliable wastewater service for the community and protecting the …
Large Brush Fire Erupts In Kent Near Country Club Large Brush Fire Erupts In Kent Near Country Club
Large Brush Fire Erupts In Kent Near Country Club Several fire and police departments are battling a large brush fire near a country club in the Hudson Valley.  The fire began in Putnam County on Thursday, Oct. 24 around 11:30 a.m. in the area of Golf Ridge Road and China Circle Court near the Sedgewood Club golf course in the town of Kent, the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services announced around 12:45 p.m.  Several departments are now operating at the scene of the fire. A Department of Environmental Protection helicopter is also circling the skies over the blaze providing images from the air, officials said.  M…
Boater Dumped Fuel, Untreated Human Waste Into Norwalk Harbor: Police Boater Dumped Fuel, Untreated Human Waste Into Norwalk Harbor: Police
Boater Dumped Fuel, Untreated Human Waste Into Norwalk Harbor: Police A 79-year-old Connecticut man admitted to police that he dumped diesel fuel and untreated human waste from his boat into Norwalk Harbor last week, authorities said.  Stanley Sikorski, of Norwalk in Fairfield County, was charged with discharging sewage in a no-discharge zone, misuse of a marine sanitation device, and littering in the water, police said on Tuesday, Oct. 15.  Norwalk Police were called to a reported diesel spill just before 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, at Manresa Island. Officers could see a sheen on the water and smell fuel in the air.  They spotted an…
750-Plus Acres Added To State Park In Carmel: Provides Access To Appalachian Trail 750-Plus Acres Added To State Park In Carmel: Provides Access To Appalachian Trail
750-Plus Acres Added To State Park In Carmel: Provides Access To Appalachian Trail Two several-hundred-acre land parcels have been added to a popular state park spanning two counties in the Hudson Valley, officials announced.  In an announcement on Thursday, Oct. 3, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed the addition of 763 acres to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park in Putnam and Dutchess counties.  The added acres will go towards meeting the state's goal of conserving 30 percent of its land and waters by 2030, Hochul said. The land acquisition consists of a 530-acre parcel with a new access point for the park's recreational facilities and the long-dist…
Sewage Truck Overturns, Spills Contents On I-684 In Goldens Bridge Sewage Truck Overturns, Spills Contents On I-684 In Goldens Bridge
Sewage Truck Overturns, Spills Contents On I-684 In Goldens Bridge Traffic on a busy Northern Westchester interstate was backed up for miles following a crash involving a sewage truck that resulted in two people being hospitalized.  The incident happened on Thursday, Sept. 5, just before 2 p.m., when three vehicles collided on Interstate 684 South just south of the Route 138 overpass in Goldens Bridge, according to the Goldens Bridge Fire Department.  As a result of the crash, a septic company truck overturned, spilling some of the contents on the roadway. Additionally, a passenger car jumped the highway's guard rail and veered into a gully next …
Boy Airlifted After Stepping On Hot Coals Illegally Dumped On Sandy Hook Beach, Officials Say Boy Airlifted After Stepping On Hot Coals Illegally Dumped On Sandy Hook Beach, Officials Say
Boy Airlifted After Stepping On Hot Coals Illegally Dumped On Sandy Hook Beach, Officials Say A boy was airlifted to a hospital after officials say he stepped on hot coals that had been illegally dumped on a New Jersey beach. Paramedics and EMTs from Sea Bright and Robert Wood Johnson were called to Sandy Hook near Guardian Park, where they found the boy with burns to both feet around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, Gateway National Recreation Area spokeswoman Daphne Yun said. Witnesses said the child had stepped on hot coals that had been illegally dumped between rocks in the area, Yun said. The child was flown by Hackensack Meridian to a local burn center, and the area wher…
Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park
Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park Although a large, squirrel-sized snail found in a New York park may have looked harmless, it posed enough of a danger to people and the environment that its discovery prompted a police response.  The invasive giant African land snail was discovered within Brooklyn's Prospect Park in early May following a report from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  After it was seen in the park, it was surrendered to the City Parks department in a box, officials said, promoting a response from …
Van Plunges Into Lake In Hudson Valley Van Plunges Into Lake In Hudson Valley
Van Plunges Into Lake In Hudson Valley Firefighters had to ensure no hazardous fluids entered a Hudson Valley lake after a van plunged into it. The crash happened in Putnam County on Tuesday, July 30, when a van drove into Lake Mahopac on South Lake Boulevard, according to the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department. After the incident, crews used hazardous material absorbent booms around the van to absorb any potential vehicle fluid leaks as it was removed from the water. The cause of the crash was not released. 
Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Mount Pleasant Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Mount Pleasant
Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Mount Pleasant A groundbreaking was held for an underground tunneling project in Northern Westchester that is planned to improve the operations of a drinking water supply used by over 9 million people, officials announced.  Work on the $1.9 billion Kensico-Eastview Connection tunneling project began in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, July 23, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced.  The two-mile-long tunnel, which will run around 500 feet below ground, will run between the Kensico Reservoir and the Catskill-Delaware Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Facility in…
$26.1M Flood Mitigation Project Starts In Cortlandt $26.1M Flood Mitigation Project Starts In Cortlandt
$26.1M Flood Mitigation Project Starts In Cortlandt Work has started on a $26.1 million flood mitigation project in Northern Westchester just east of the Hudson River. The project will elevate the Annsville Circle as well as a half-mile stretch along Route 6/Route 202 in the town of Cortlandt, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday, July 15. “Last July, dozens of state roads in the Hudson Valley were affected by one of the most intense and devastating storms in years, causing mass flooding and road closures, and overwhelming communities,” Hochul said. “Resilient infrastructure is necessary to ensure public safety, and this project in Wes…
Car Pulled From Waters Of Marina On Long Island Car Pulled From Waters Of Marina On Long Island
Car Pulled From Waters Of Marina On Long Island Firefighters, a dive team, and tactical rescue workers were on standby after a car ended up submerged in the water of a Long Island marina. It happened on Saturday, July 13 in Islip, according to the Islip Fire Department. At approximately 5:20 a.m., the department was notified that there was a car in the waters of Islip Marina, located at the end of Maple Street off Bayview Ave. The department responded, calling a nearby dive team in the event that passengers were still in the car. Once on the scene, the department said it confirmed that nobody was in the vehicle, canceling the nearb…
'Harmful Algae' Closes Gifford Pinchot State Park To Swimmers 'Harmful Algae' Closes Gifford Pinchot State Park To Swimmers
'Harmful Algae' Closes Gifford Pinchot State Park To Swimmers Quaker Race Beach at Gifford Pinchot State Park is closed for swimming until further notice, park officials say.  Due to "harmful algae conditions," the beach is closed until " acceptable water sample test results are received," park management said on Facebook.  Boating and fishing are still permitted, but parkgoers should take caution to avoid direct contact with the water.  Officials say to:  Wash hands after coming into contact with the lake water Shower and bathe pets immediately after "water-based recreation activities" Avoid swallowing the water Avoid contact w…
Water Provider Serving Mamaroneck To Pay $1.25M After Failing To Remove Contaminants: Feds Water Provider Serving Mamaroneck To Pay $1.25M After Failing To Remove Contaminants: Feds
Water Provider Serving Mamaroneck To Pay $1.25M After Failing To Remove Contaminants: Feds A public water provider serving 120,000 people in Westchester will be required to construct a filtration facility after failing to properly remove containments, federal officials announced.  Following a settlement announced by the US Department of Justice on Monday, June 24, Westchester Joint Water Works, which serves residents in Mamaroneck, Harrison, and parts of both Rye and New Rochelle, will be required to construct a drinking water filtration plant by July 2029.  The agreement follows a federal civil lawsuit filed by the US against the public water provider, the Town and Vil…
Multiple Vehicles Burst Into Flames At Stamford Parking Lot Multiple Vehicles Burst Into Flames At Stamford Parking Lot
Multiple Vehicles Burst Into Flames At Stamford Parking Lot Fire officials are investigating after several vehicles were found on fire at a parking lot and storage area for a local towing company in Fairfield County. The incident occurred in Stamford around 10:25 a.m., Saturday, June 22, in the area of 400 Fairfield Ave. According to Capt. Philip Hayes of the Stamford Fire Department, the West Side Fire Station, arrived at the scene and found a fire involving several vehicles inside the parking lot and storage area. Due to the size and location of the parking lot, there was no threat to the adjacent buildings. Firefighters immediately went to work …
Longtime Riverkeeper Captain To Retire After 24 Years Patrolling Hudson River Longtime Riverkeeper Captain To Retire After 24 Years Patrolling Hudson River
Longtime Riverkeeper Captain To Retire After 24 Years Patrolling Hudson River For the past 24 years, Hudson Valley native John Lipscomb has served as the eyes and ears of the Hudson River for Riverkeeper as its patrol boat captain. This month he retires, but not before he trains his successor, conservationist and vessel operator Luis Melendez.  Since 2000, Lipscomb, who grew up in Westchester County in Irvington and Tarrytown, has been the vice president for advocacy for Riverkeeper.  He has patrolled the Hudson, including New York Harbor, the Mohawk, and Upper Hudson, searching out and deterring polluters, monitoring tributaries and waterfront facili…
Absurd Items, Fewer Plastic Bags Found On NJ Beaches By Volunteers In 2023 Absurd Items, Fewer Plastic Bags Found On NJ Beaches By Volunteers In 2023
Absurd Items, Fewer Plastic Bags Found On NJ Beaches By Volunteers In 2023 Volunteers cleaning New Jersey's beaches in 2023 found hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris, from typical garbage to some very strange items. The environmental nonprofit group Clean Ocean Action (COA) released its 2023 Annual Beach Sweeps Report on Thursday, Apr. 4. The report shows data about the litter found on the Garden State's beaches by COA's 3,664 volunteers. COA noted that there were about 60 percent fewer volunteers during the 2023 sweeps due to bad weather. To make it consistent with previous years, 2023 data was also shown as an estimate of items removed per volunteer. The …
Dive Operations, Vehicle Recovery Paused At Key Bridge Due To Hazardous Conditions: Officials Dive Operations, Vehicle Recovery Paused At Key Bridge Due To Hazardous Conditions: Officials
Dive Operations, Vehicle Recovery Paused At Key Bridge Due To Hazardous Conditions: Officials Crews continue to work around the clock to contain possibly hazardous materials that were spilled during the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. The US Coast Guard issued an update on Thursday afternoon after dive operations and vehicle recovery efforts were temporarily paused due to the hazardous conditions caused by the wreckage and debris. NTSBgov According to the Baltimore County Police Department, the agency remains on the water to help secure the area around the collapse site, where there were 56 containers of hazardous materials onboard the Dali. Officials said that those container…
$1.5M In 'Critical' Upgrades Coming To Ocean County Wastewater Plant $1.5M In 'Critical' Upgrades Coming To Ocean County Wastewater Plant
$1.5M In 'Critical' Upgrades Coming To Ocean County Wastewater Plant Ocean County is getting more than $1 million for major improvements to a wastewater treatment plant, officials said. The county will receive $1.5 million for work at the Central Water Pollution Control Facilities plant in Berkeley Township. Republican Rep. Chris Smith announced the federal funding in a news release on Friday, Mar. 15. The goal is to improve safety and reduce environmental risks at the plant on Hickory Lane. "This critical federal funding will allow Ocean County to demolish, replace, and rehabilitate the digester tank cover and other mechanical, structural, and electri…
Update: Westchester County Exec Latimer Officially Announces Bid For Congress Against Bowman Update: Westchester County Exec Latimer Officially Announces Bid For Congress Against Bowman
Update: Westchester County Exec Latimer Officially Announces Bid For Congress Against Bowman Westchester County Executive George Latimer has officially announced his intention to launch a Congressional Democratic primary challenge for New York's 16th District seat.  Latimer, age 70, announced his campaign in a video posted to social media on Wednesday morning, Dec. 6, in which he said he is "ready to deliver" for constituents within the 16th district.  The 16th district is made up of the southern part of Westchester, including the suburban cities of White Plains, Mount Vernon, Yonkers, New Rochelle, and Rye, and a small portion of the northern Bronx.  "We're al…
Illegal Dumpers Seen Flipping Off Witness At Long Island Wetlands Get Fitting Punishment Illegal Dumpers Seen Flipping Off Witness At Long Island Wetlands Get Fitting Punishment
Illegal Dumpers Seen Flipping Off Witness At Long Island Wetlands Get Fitting Punishment A Long Island couple will avoid jail time in lieu of a more creative punishment after they were busted dumping their junk in protected wetlands. Husband and wife Fabio and Judith Monasterolo, both of Holbrook, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in Suffolk County Court on Monday, Oct. 16, for illegally dumping cinder blocks and concrete near tidal wetlands in Brookhaven. According to prosecutors, Mr. and Mrs. Monasterolo, ages 51 and 55, respectively, were photographed dumping items from their pickup truck into the wetlands near Jefferson Drive and Grove Road in Mastic Beach in April 2023.…
Police ID Driver Killed In Tanker Truck Transporting Gasoline From VA To MD That Exploded Police ID Driver Killed In Tanker Truck Transporting Gasoline From VA To MD That Exploded
Police ID Driver Killed In Tanker Truck Transporting Gasoline From VA To MD That Exploded New details have emerged after a tanker truck driver was killed and a home destroyed when a tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline exploded in the busy Route 15 corridor in Frederick City last weekend. Maryland State Police investigators have identified Smithsburgh resident Ronald Leroy Heiston, Jr. 58, as the driver who crashed at around noon on Saturday, March 4, in the 500 block of Schley Avenue, setting off an explosion that resulted in a massive response by emergency personnel.  Upon arrival at the scene of the crash, officials say that crews found a large tanker in fl…
Harrison To Replace Cracked Sewer Pipes To Prevent Pollution, Bacteria Exposure Harrison To Replace Cracked Sewer Pipes To Prevent Pollution, Bacteria Exposure
Harrison To Replace Cracked Sewer Pipes To Prevent Pollution, Bacteria Exposure A town in Westchester County is dedicating efforts to clean deteriorated sewer pipes to prevent pollutants from entering the environment and to protect residents from exposure to harmful waste.  To do this, the town of Harrison has entered into a contract with a company called Pipelogix to enlist their help in maintaining and replacing aging and leaking sewer laterals running from residences to the curb, according to an announcement from the law firm representing Pipelogix, Abrams Fensterman, from Monday, Dec. 5.  The goal of the program is to reduce pollution in Long Island …
Ex-Councilman Calls 911 On Little Girl Spraying Spotted Lanternflies In North Jersey Ex-Councilman Calls 911 On Little Girl Spraying Spotted Lanternflies In North Jersey
Ex-Councilman Calls 911 On Little Girl Spraying Spotted Lanternflies In North Jersey Bobbi Wilson walked outside her North Jersey home on a sunny day in October feeling like a hero. After learning about spotted lanternflies in school, and researching ways to kill them in a non-toxic way, the 9-year-old girl strutted out of her Caldwell home on Oct. 22, spraying a mixture of dish soap and apple cider vinegar around her neighborhood. Bobbi felt a sense of pride: She was doing something good for the environment.  But this feeling didn't last long, as her neighbor who identified himself as Gordon Lawshe — a former Republican council member — called the police to …
Democrat Pat Ryan Prevails In Razor-Thin Redrawn Hudson Valley Congressional Race District Democrat Pat Ryan Prevails In Razor-Thin Redrawn Hudson Valley Congressional Race District
Democrat Pat Ryan Prevails In Razor-Thin Redrawn Hudson Valley Congressional Race District New York Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan has squeezed out a win against Republican Assemblyman Colin Schmitt for the 18th US Congressional District.  Earlier Report - Rep. Pat Ryan Edging Out Republican Colin Schmitt In NY’s 18th District Race (Developing) Ryan won the contest by just over 2,000 votes, earning 50.4 percent of the total votes cast, according to the New York Times. Schmitt compiled 49.6 percent of the vote. In a tweet on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 9, Ryan, the former Ulster County executive, celebrated his hard-fought victory.  Now we begin the real work to unify our country an…
Republican Marc Molinaro On Track To Win In NY’s 19th District (Developing) Republican Marc Molinaro On Track To Win In NY’s 19th District (Developing)
Republican Marc Molinaro On Track To Win In NY’s 19th District (Developing) This story has been updated. Republicans appeared poised to win in New York’s 19th Congressional District, with Marc Molinaro seemingly on track to defeat Democrat Josh Riley early Wednesday, Nov. 9.  Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, was leading Riley by 2.2 percentage points, 51 to 49 percent, as of early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, with more than 95 percent of the votes in. The 19th Congressional District includes the counties of Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster, as well as portions of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery, and Rensselaer counties. …
SInkholes Filled At Jersey Shore Beach, Area Remains Blocked Off SInkholes Filled At Jersey Shore Beach, Area Remains Blocked Off
SInkholes Filled At Jersey Shore Beach, Area Remains Blocked Off Sinkholes that left a Jersey Shore beach unusable earlier this month have largely been filled back in by natural tide cycles, state officials said. The first sinkhole at Bradley Beach was spotted on Thursday, Aug. 11. Several other sinkholes off McCabe Avenue were found the next day.  A section of the beach near the sinkholes remains fenced off as a precaution, according to state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesman Larry Hajna. The holes were caused by breaches in an outflow pipe near the beachfront, local officials said.  The DEP’s Division of Coastal Enginee…
Legislation Banning Smoking At NY State Parks, Beaches Signed Into Law By Hochul Legislation Banning Smoking At NY State Parks, Beaches Signed Into Law By Hochul
Legislation Banning Smoking At NY State Parks, Beaches Signed Into Law By Hochul New Yorkers can no longer light up at state parks and beaches. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Friday, July 15, that prohibits smoking in all state-owned beaches, boardwalks, marinas, playgrounds, recreation centers, and group camps. Those who violate the law could be fined $50. "Smoking is a dangerous habit that affects not only the smoker but everyone around them, including families and children enjoying our state's great public places," Hochul said in a statement. "I'm proud to sign this legislation that will protect New Yorker's health and help reduce litter in public parks and …
State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce
State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce New York State officials announced the acquisition of 1,175 acres of land, more than doubling the size of a a state forest in the region. Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement about the acquisition of the lands in Rensselaer County adjoining Pittstown State Forest on the Rensselaer Plateau in Grafton on Wednesday, April 20. "New York State is laser focused on preserving and enhancing open space, and the Rensselaer Plateau, just a short visit from the Capitol, provides a spectacular outdoor escape from Albany's bustling downtown," Hochul said. "Today's addition to the Pittstown State …