Appropriations committee approves flood warning funds

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has secured the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of $200,000 for the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). Hinchey, who is a member of the committee, worked to secure the funds for the continued upgrade and enhancement to the basin’s flood warning system as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill.

The DRBC is expanding on improvements to its flood warning system that Hinchey initially helped fund in Fiscal Year 2008. These improvements will enable the basin-wide flood warning system to be further enhanced and maintained. These funds would upgrade the stream gage network, improve emergency forecasting for flash flooding, increase outreach and flood preparedness education, and improve coordination among the local, state and federal emergency response agencies.

Committee approval is the first of a series of legislative steps that must be completed for the funding to be passed into law.

Hinchey’s fracking provision comes a step closer to reality

WASHINGTON, DC — A provision on fracking authored by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and approved two weeks ago by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, has now been approved by the entire House Appropriations Committee as part of the report accompanying the Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010.

The provision would formally urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a new study on the risks that hydraulic fracturing for natural gas exploration and drilling pose to drinking water supplies.

Now that the full committee has passed the bill and report, the measure now moves to the floor where it will be voted on by the full House. As of press time, it was possible the bill would be voted on this week.

Sullivan gets stimulus funds for bridges and road signs

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — More than $3.3 million in stimulus funding for local infrastructure projects has been certified. Local projects slated for stimulus funding include $2.2 million to paint 22 local bridges in Sullivan County (expected to be finished in 2010); $94,000 for a project to replace approximately 132 signs on various county roads in Sullivan County (expected to be finished in 2009); and $333,000 for a project to construct pedestrian facilities in the village of Monticello, including repairing existing sidewalks and building new sidewalks to connect residential areas, businesses and the Monticello Central School (expected to be finished in 2011).

Groups urge action on voting machines

WASHINGTON, DC — Several government groups have written to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney General asking them to limit the impact of optical scanning voting machines that will be used in the primary and general elections in the fall.

According to the letter, New York is planning a pilot project using the scanning machines that will involve 1.4 million voters in 46 counties and scanning machines that “have not yet been used in real elections anywhere in the country, and still have not completed either New York State or Federal certification tests.”

The groups ask that, in order to protect against possible voter disenfranchisement, a process be developed to allow counties to limit their participation in the pilot to 10 percent of their populations, and that other strict measures be undertaken to ensure the accuracy of the vote count.

PA budget cuts hit environment

HARRISBURG, PA — At an emergency cabinet meeting this week responding to Pennsylvania’s budget deficit, Governor Rendell issued a series of target cuts to each cabinet member. They include the elimination of $5 million from the Departments of Agriculture, $7 million from Environmental Protection and $4 million from Conservation and Natural Resources. Funds for these agencies had also been cut late last year, by $3.4 million, $9.7 million and $5.1 million respectively.

In addition, the Governor transferred $174 million in revenue from leasing Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling rights in state forests from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the general fund to help balance the current year’s budget. He has also proposed a severance tax on natural gas production earmarked for the general fund, not to environmental programs.

As of press time, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee was expected to consider severance tax legislation and an amendment is expected to devote a significant percentage to fund environmental programs this week.

Goldsack said to be leaving the Pike Board of Elections

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Press, a recently created newspaper, is reporting that Yolanda Goldsack, the director of the Pike County Board of Elections, has submitted a letter to the board of commissioners requesting a transfer.

The reporter quotes commissioner Karl Wagner, who says that Goldsack’s new position will be free of any ties with elections. Wagner is quoted as saying, “There have been some problems over the years, and now, with this perceived conflict-of-interest issue, I suppose the writing was on the wall.”

The conflict of interest referred to centered on the fact that Goldsack’s husband was running for office on the school board.

Wagner could not be reached for comment.

When contacted, Pike Commissioner Harry Forbes said, “We do not comment until actions have been taken. Yolanda Goldsack is still the director of the election board.”