News - Press Releases

Plans Would Leave Billions of Gallons of Overflows for Decades to Come, Fail to Meet Federal Health Standards NEW YORK (April 4, 2017) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  quietly announced Friday afternoon that three weeks ago it approved long-term plans to address sewage pollution in five New York City waterways. Approvals were issued on March 7, but documentation was made available only yesterday. The affected waters are Flushing Bay, Flushing Creek and Alley Creek in Queens, and the Bronx and Hutchinson rivers in the Bronx. […]

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Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature have finalized a $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act as part of the initial budget for the current fiscal year beginning April 1 – a huge boost to our efforts to stop sewage overflows and protect drinking water at its source. Paul Gallay, President and Riverkeeper, said: “After decades of underinvestment, New York is finally doing what’s needed to fix its aging water infrastructure. New Yorkers from Montauk to Buffalo will soon have cleaner drinking water and healthier waterways to visit and enjoy, […]

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For immediate release: March 28, 2017 Contact: Cliff Weathers, Communications Director [email protected]; 914-478-4501, ext. 239 OSSINING, NY — Riverkeeper issues this statement from its President, Paul Gallay, in response to President Donald Trump’s plan to scrap carbon emissions regulations from fossil-fuel burning electricity plants — particularly those that burn coal: “The President’s decision to strip the Clean Power Plan is a huge step in the wrong direction for our environment. Global warming is an indisputable fact based on peer-reviewed science. Fortunately, New York has clean energy initiatives in place which can take the […]

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Public invited to learn more, join community science monitoring project April 10 in Utica Utica, N.Y. – A new Riverkeeper report details the results of a water quality monitoring project with SUNY Cobleskill that samples 43 locations monthly in 120 miles of the Mohawk River, the Hudson River’s largest tributary. The report highlights the need to invest in water infrastructure to stop sewage overflows and leaks – such as those likely to result from rain today. Annual investments of at least $800 million statewide are needed for water infrastructure, and Riverkeeper […]

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For immediate release: March 23, 2017 Contact: Leah Rae, Media Specialist [email protected]; (914) 478-4501, ext. 238 Riverkeeper and Wallkill River Watershed Alliance release letter calling for Governor Cuomo and state Legislative leaders to fund DEC Study Public invited to learn more at Wallkill River Summit March 28 NEW PALTZ, NY — Riverkeeper released a new report today, detailing the results of five years of water quality monitoring by community scientists in the Wallkill River, showing that 87% of samples have failed to meet federal guidelines for safe swimming. The report’s finding […]

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Riverkeeper and Wallkill River Watershed Alliance release letter calling for Governor Cuomo and state Legislative leaders to fund DEC Study Public invited to learn more at Wallkill River Summit March 28 For immediate release:March 23, 2017 Contact: Leah Rae, [email protected], (914) 478-4501 ext. 238 Riverkeeper released a new report today, detailing the results of five years of water quality monitoring by community scientists in the Wallkill River, showing that 87 percent of samples have failed to meet federal guidelines for safe swimming. The report’s finding will be presented as part […]

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For immediate release: March 10, 2017 Contact: Cliff Weathers, Communications Director 914-478-4501, ext. 239; [email protected] Albany — On Monday, March 13, Albany County legislators will vote on a bill to ban polystyrene (styrofoam) take-out food containers. Before the vote, local activists will hold a press conference and rally to help convince lawmakers to vote in favor of the ban. Polystyrene is not recyclable and not compostable, and plenty of affordable and environment-friendly alternatives are available. Reducing the use of polystyrene is good for our environment. Polystyrene breaks into small pieces, […]

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Riverkeeper, New York's Clean Water Advocate, will set out to Albany this week to meet with state legislators to support Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed $2 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act and the legislature's proposed $5 billion Clean Water Bond Act for the 2017-2018 fiscal budget.

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Report for Riverkeeper, NRDC Shows Reliable, Affordable & Clean Power Transition Expected With 2020-2021 Shutdown of Troubled Nuclear Plant Near New York City; Implementation of State’s Clean Energy Policies is Critical.

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