News - Press Releases

For immediate release: April 18, 2018 Contact: Cliff Weathers, Communications Director [email protected]; 845-445-8257 Hosted by CNBC’s Steve Liesman, with a special performance by Zeshan B Outgoing Board Chair Joe Boren and activist Mary McNamara also to be honored   New York — Riverkeeper, New York’s Clean Water Advocate, will honor Patagonia at its annual Fishermen’s Ball on May 16 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. Hundreds of clean water advocates from around the state will attend this year’s event, making this one of the largest gatherings of environmental activists in New […]

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  ALBANY, NY – More than 8,000 citizen petitions were delivered to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office today, urging him to launch a comprehensive, equitable, and ambitious energy efficiency initiative for New York. The petitions were delivered to the governor’s office following a news conference where speakers representing utility customers, homeowners, environmental advocates, and energy efficiency businesses stressed the importance of a strong state energy-savings target to improve public health, lower energy bills, create local jobs, and avoid the pollution that causes climate change. Cuomo has promised by Earth Day (April […]

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Goshen, NY — Riverkeeper joined with County and State lawmakers to seek the suspension or revocation of air quality permits for the Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) power plant. Riverkeeper and the elected officials filed the petition on Friday with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In addition to co-signing this petition, Riverkeeper continues to support and work with Protect Orange County, which has led the fight to stop the natural-gas plant from going online and has, for years, been asking Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to address the […]

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New York – Today, Congress approved the Omnibus spending bill that maintains funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 2017 levels ($8 billion). In addition, the bill includes a $700 million increase for water infrastructure projects. By agreeing to a fully-funded EPA, Congressional leaders not only rejected President Trump proposal, but also earlier versions from Senate and House leaders. Members of the New York Campaign to Save The EPA celebrated the vote, and thanked members of both the House and Senate for siding with public health and the environment. […]

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Town of Cortlandt, NY, March 22, 2018 — Prominent elected officials, leaders of local and national environmental organizations, and residents of the region joined at a press conference on March 22, 2018 at Cortlandt Town Hall to call on Governor Cuomo to release the risk assessment for Enbridge/Spectra’s AIM high-pressure gas transmission pipeline at Indian Point that he promised over two years ago. In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on February 29, 2016, signed by the Commissioners and Chairs of the Departments of Homeland Security and […]

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Riverkeeper, Waterford & Halfmoon call for DEC investigation as decision is pending on property’s future Waterford, N.Y. – Local leaders from Waterford and Halfmoon, together with Riverkeeper, announced new sampling results that raise concern about contamination of the Mohawk River by the Town of Colonie Landfill, and renewed their call for further investigation by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. Town of Waterford Supervisor John Lawler announced findings from sampling of the Mohawk River and outfalls immediately adjacent to the Colonie Landfill on the shore of the river. Sample results […]

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Diverse coalition calls on Assembly and Governor to follow suit in final budget Safe drug disposal of unused and expired drugs critical to address opioid crisis and protect waters from contamination Albany, N.Y. – A broad group of public health, sportsmen, product stewardship, and environmental organizations are calling on the Governor and Assembly to support the Drug Take Back Act in the final state budget. The Act was included in the New York State Senate’s budget proposal. The legislation would establish a robust, statewide program to provide safe pharmaceutical disposal […]

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Riverkeeper, Newtown Creek Alliance, Guardians of Flushing Bay and the global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will’s New York Studio have unveiled detailed plans to restore, revitalize and transform two of New York City’s most important, but often forgotten, waterfronts – Newtown Creek and Flushing Waterways.

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The U.S. Coast Guard today issued its Hudson River Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment Report. According to the Coast Guard’s announcement, the key recommendations stemming from the November workshops are the establishment of a Hudson River Safety Committee; increased recreational boater safety information, and clarification of current U.S. Coast Guard regulations on the river. “The result of the PAWSA is a welcome next step toward resolving the very contentious proposal by the tug and barge industry for new anchorages on the Hudson,” said Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay. “The Coast Guard […]

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