Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News is the newsletter of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund, published five times per year. The News is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin.
Volume 14, Number 3 • Summer 2006
Great Lakes Water Quality Bill Vetoed in NY
By Vince Agnello, Residents for Responsible Government
Residents for Responsible Government, Inc,
based in the northwest corner of New York
State, were appalled when Governor Pataki
recently vetoed the Great Lakes (Water
Quality) Systems Protection Bill (A-11713). This
was a “missed opportunity,” stated RRG’s
President Vince Agnello, “a last chance to
leave office with a legacy of truly being an
environmental governor.” Pataki signed two
related bills, one to establish a New York
Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem
Conservation Council.
“The purpose of all three bills was to protect
our Great Lakes watershed and the millions
of people who depend on that water, both
sides of the border,” explained Bill Choboy,
RRG legislative liaison. The vetoed bill would
have protected the Great Lakes System from
the potential of leaking commercial hazardous
waste landfills. Niagara County has
the northeast’s only commercial hazardous
waste facility, and it can take over 400,000
tons annually, which it currently receives
from 30 states, Canada and off shore. It is
only two miles from Lake Ontario and the
Niagara River, and a mile from a school with
3,000 students and staff.
RRG has built a credible community response
to the activities of Chemical Waste
Management’s 700 acre site, with water
sampling, legal actions and public
awareness. Recently, RRG sponsored a
strategy session, drawing state and local
legislators, many residents and environmental
groups from across the state. Both state
legislators, who sponsored the bill in Albany,
after it was initiated and unanimously
passed by the Niagara County legislature,
were on-hand to discuss various options.
At the meeting the group strongly agreed on
the need to get more details out – around the
state, throughout the Great Lakes states, and
to build a strong Canadian connection – and
asked RRG to take the lead. At this point, a
concentrated effort is unfolding to get
broader media coverage on water quality
concerns, and to especially collaborate
to expand Canadian awareness and support.
For more information:
Residents for Responsible Government, Inc.
P.O. Box 262, Youngstown, NY 14174-0262
E-mail: info@rrg-wny.org
PH: (716)791-4562 (Ask for Jan)
Website:www.rrg-wny.org
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