New bill would restore protection to vulnerable waters

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jim Oberstar (MN) has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to restore critical Clean Water Act protections for streams, lakes, wetlands and other important waters. The America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act (H.R. 5088, frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h5088ih.txt.pdf) would reverse two Supreme Court decisions that severely limit the effectiveness of the Clean Water Act. (See our March 11 editorial, “Mighty are the Small.”) It would provide a more specific definition of “waters of the United States” that closely follows the definition the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have successfully used for decades. It would also delete the term “navigable” from the Clean Water Act to clarify that congressional intent was to improve water quality rather than sustain navigation.

Welwood Avenue to be closed

HAWLEY, PA — Welwood Avenue is scheduled to be closed to all bike, pedestrian and vehicular traffic starting on Wednesday, May 26 at 6:00 p.m., in connection with the Hawley Silk Mill development. The street closure is temporary, pending the permanent closure of the same portion of Welwood Avenue that will take place later this summer.

Hawley Silk Mill, LLC has launched a voluntary public service awareness campaign to inform the public of the closure, which affects the section between the intersection of Welwood Avenue and Route 6 and the intersection of Atkinson Avenue and Welwood Avenue. The Cocoon Coffee House will remain open during construction, and safe public access to the Cocoon and parking will be maintained.

For more information call 646/236-3400.

County takes title to Smallwood Golf Course

SMALLWOOD, NY — Sullivan County has taken over the former Smallwood Golf Course, a 200-acre property that had been owned by Upstate Land and Properties, due to unpaid property taxes, according to Sullivan County Treasurer Ira Cohen.

Three years worth of taxes totaling about $35,000, from 2008 through 2010, are in arrears. According to deputy treasurer Nancy Buck, the owners did make some inquiries but did not ultimately participate in the county repurchase program, which ended on April 30.

The golf course land has been a bone of contention between developer Robert Van Zandt, affiliated with Upstate Land, and the Town of Bethel. Van Zandt claimed that the town had acted illegally in implementing new zoning restrictions that would have prevented him from building a 200-unit housing development on the land. The matter was litigated, and just last month a state supreme court judge handed down a decision in favor of the town.

Hinchey calls for cumulative impact study

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has called on the Delaware River Basin Commission to conduct an environmental impact study on the cumulative effects of natural gas extraction water withdrawals. The study, Hinchey argued, should occur before the commission considers any water withdrawal applications.

“Over 15 million people rely on the Delaware River Basin for clean drinking water and millions more enjoy its scenic views and recreational offerings—we have to make sure we get this right. While permitting water withdrawals on an individual or incremental basis for a limited number of applications might not threaten the basin’s resources, a large volume of applications is expected in the near future and the projected use and diversion of Basin water must be scrutinized in a comprehensive way,” said Hinchey.

Casey seeks EPA investigation of water contamination

WASHINGTON, DC — Pennsylvania’s Senator Bob Casey is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate the apparent contamination of drinking water by natural gas drilling activities in Susquehanna County, such as the methane found recently in a number of wells in Dimock, PA. Writing a letter to the administrator of the EPA, Lisa Jackson, Casey wrote that the incidents “raise the question of whether the necessary steps have been taken to protect Pennsylvania families and communities against the detrimental side effects of drilling.”

Currently, the giant’s share of regulatory authority over the natural gas industry is vested at the state level, in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Both federal and local authority has been limited by special legal exemptions. However, in a news conference last week Casey said that it may take several layers of government oversight to ensure drilling is done safely. He wants the EPA to determine what its authority is under current law, and to ask Congress for more if it does not currently have the power to protect citizens against the dangers of drilling.

Sheriff’s office warns of scam

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office is once again warning residents of a Lottery Scam being perpetrated through the U.S. Mail.

A Monticello resident received notification last week that he had won $125,000 in a lottery he had never entered. Included in the notification was what appeared to be a check drawn on the Wells Fargo Bank that was supposed to pay for the taxes on his winnings. The letter requested that he deposit the check and then send money via Western Union so that his winnings could be processed. The citizen became suspicious and notified the sheriff’s office.”

Sheriff Mike Schiff reminds residents to be alert, and avoid any solicitations that involve sending money to a stranger via Western Union, Money Gram or some other wire service.