Environmentalists call for action on state programs to clean up hazardous waste sites and brownfields

By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press
First published: Wednesday, May 28, 2003

ALBANY -- Environmentalists were trying on Tuesday to break a logjam on the state's Superfund and brownfields programs as the legislative session headed into its closing weeks.

Although the groups don't all agree on the same bills, they came together for a news conference to call for a compromise this session.

"We are all united in our belief those differences are resolvable," said Mathy Stanislaus of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.

The state budget approved over Pataki's vetoes includes $90 million for the Superfund, which is used to help clean hazardous sites, $15 million for brownfields, or former industrial properties, and $33 million in an oil-spill fund. That combination of funds and revenue from increased fees on polluters, however, requires the Legislature to reauthorize the programs.

Environmental groups want legislation to refinance Superfund to clean up 800 hazardous waste sites, and the brownfield program that is supposed to clean up perhaps 20,000 additional contaminated sites.

The Senate and Assembly have differing bills, but both sides say they appear closer on the issue this year than in the past.

"I think we're closer," said John McArdle, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick. "It's certainly at the top of our list to get done."

"The two bills, while different, represent a closer jumping off point than in the past," said Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman Thomas DiNapoli.

Pataki, whose budget vetoes were soundly overridden by the Legislature this month, said he will work with the Assembly and Senate to try to agree on the Superfund, brownfields and other outstanding issues.

"It's one of our priorities for the balance of the session," Pataki said. "I will be meeting with legislative leaders about that issue specifically."

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