Interesting story from Hoard's Dairyman.
Check it out at http://hoards.com/article-21219-New-York-manure-lawsuit-is-a-pile-of-poo.html this link.
Showing posts with label New York State department of Environmental Conservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York State department of Environmental Conservation. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
2 Permits Renewed for CAFO Water Pollution Programs
From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine
From Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office
Two general permits have been renewed for technical programs designed to reduce the potential for water pollution on large livestock farms.
State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced Jan. 25 the renewal of the permits that were developed with input from the agricultural and environmental communities.
The permits provide new requirements for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to ensure proper management of nutrients while increasing water quality protection.
“DEC has been working with stakeholders for more than two decades to balance environmental, agricultural and civic interests in order to protect the environment while developing workable protections for New York’s farmers,” said Seggos. “The permits are an important measure to safeguard public health and the environment.”
These new permits provide farmers with a better understanding of permit terms and conditions to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
In addition, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recently announced proposal for the $2 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 will invest resources for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and other water quality protection across the state, including funds for ensuring proper management and storage of nutrients such as manure on farms.
“The governor’s historic clean water initiative will be an important contribution of resources to our permitted livestock farms as they strive to maintain nutrient recycling year round,” said Richard Ball, commissioner of the state Dpartment of Agriculture and Markets. “This proposed new source of funding also builds on the governor’s plan for a robust $300 million Environmental Protection Fund, which is critical to the growth and development of the state’s agricultural industry and to ensuring the quality and sustainability of our natural resources for years to come.”
DEC developed the initial renewal drafts after nearly two years of outreach and communication with stakeholders. The draft permits were made available for public comment Dec. 23, 2015 through Feb. 7, 2016. Throughout this process, DEC held numerous meetings with stakeholders to hear their concerns. DEC also received hundreds of written comments.
Since 1995, DEC has worked with the CAFO Workgroup, an active technical working group including the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, the state Soil and Water Conservation Committee, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cornell University experts, farmers, civic groups and environmental groups to develop and implement a robust CAFO program.
“New York Farm Bureau was a major collaborator in a workgroup with our agricultural and environmental partners from the very beginning of the new CAFO permit process. We appreciate the time and effort that DEC staff took in preparing the permits,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher.
“They worked to balance the need of protecting our important natural resources with having permits that are workable for the state’s livestock farmers,” Fisher said. “New York Farm Bureau is committed to educating our members about what is in the permits and helping them address any challenges they may have in meeting the new regulations.”
“This new CAFO permit strikes the right balance in providing New York’s farmers with clear direction on how to farm cleaner and greener, while ensuring they remain competitive in the global market,” said William Cooke, government relations director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the state and the farming community to ensure they have the resources necessary for swift and full implementation of this permit,” he said.
New York state has more than 500 CAFO farms, the majority of which are dairy farms with 300 or more cows and associated livestock operations. A CAFO is a farm that meets certain animal size thresholds and confines animals for 45 days or more in any 12-month period in an area that does not produce vegetation.
The first CAFO permit was issued in 1999. CAFO permits must be renewed every five years to meet state and federal requirements, as well as to respond to concerns from stakeholders.
To learn more about CAFOs and the renewed permits visit DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6285.html
From Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office
Two general permits have been renewed for technical programs designed to reduce the potential for water pollution on large livestock farms.
State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced Jan. 25 the renewal of the permits that were developed with input from the agricultural and environmental communities.
The permits provide new requirements for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to ensure proper management of nutrients while increasing water quality protection.
“DEC has been working with stakeholders for more than two decades to balance environmental, agricultural and civic interests in order to protect the environment while developing workable protections for New York’s farmers,” said Seggos. “The permits are an important measure to safeguard public health and the environment.”
These new permits provide farmers with a better understanding of permit terms and conditions to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
In addition, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recently announced proposal for the $2 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 will invest resources for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and other water quality protection across the state, including funds for ensuring proper management and storage of nutrients such as manure on farms.
“The governor’s historic clean water initiative will be an important contribution of resources to our permitted livestock farms as they strive to maintain nutrient recycling year round,” said Richard Ball, commissioner of the state Dpartment of Agriculture and Markets. “This proposed new source of funding also builds on the governor’s plan for a robust $300 million Environmental Protection Fund, which is critical to the growth and development of the state’s agricultural industry and to ensuring the quality and sustainability of our natural resources for years to come.”
DEC developed the initial renewal drafts after nearly two years of outreach and communication with stakeholders. The draft permits were made available for public comment Dec. 23, 2015 through Feb. 7, 2016. Throughout this process, DEC held numerous meetings with stakeholders to hear their concerns. DEC also received hundreds of written comments.
Since 1995, DEC has worked with the CAFO Workgroup, an active technical working group including the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, the state Soil and Water Conservation Committee, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cornell University experts, farmers, civic groups and environmental groups to develop and implement a robust CAFO program.
“New York Farm Bureau was a major collaborator in a workgroup with our agricultural and environmental partners from the very beginning of the new CAFO permit process. We appreciate the time and effort that DEC staff took in preparing the permits,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher.
“They worked to balance the need of protecting our important natural resources with having permits that are workable for the state’s livestock farmers,” Fisher said. “New York Farm Bureau is committed to educating our members about what is in the permits and helping them address any challenges they may have in meeting the new regulations.”
“This new CAFO permit strikes the right balance in providing New York’s farmers with clear direction on how to farm cleaner and greener, while ensuring they remain competitive in the global market,” said William Cooke, government relations director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the state and the farming community to ensure they have the resources necessary for swift and full implementation of this permit,” he said.
New York state has more than 500 CAFO farms, the majority of which are dairy farms with 300 or more cows and associated livestock operations. A CAFO is a farm that meets certain animal size thresholds and confines animals for 45 days or more in any 12-month period in an area that does not produce vegetation.
The first CAFO permit was issued in 1999. CAFO permits must be renewed every five years to meet state and federal requirements, as well as to respond to concerns from stakeholders.
To learn more about CAFOs and the renewed permits visit DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6285.html
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Oak Wilt Found in Ontario County
From the state Department of Environmental Conservation:
Oak wilt, a tree fungus that causes disease in oak trees,
has been detected in Canandaigua, Ontario County.
This is the third location in New York State where oak wilt has
been confirmed and the second location discovered in 2016. The disease was
confirmed in Islip earlier this year and had previously been found in Glenville
in 2008 and 2013.
"If left untreated, oak wilt is a serious disease that can
quickly spread and kill oak trees," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.
"New York State is taking the detection of oak wilt in Canandaigua
seriously and has already begun implementing survey and control procedures
recently used in Schenectady and Suffolk counties to contain and treat the oak
wilt infestation found in Canandaigua."
A concerned homeowner contacted Cornell Cooperative Extension
after an oak tree on their property began dying with no identifiable cause.
Samples from the tree were sent to the Cornell Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic,
where they tested positive for the fungus that causes the disease.
There is no
known treatment to contain and kill the oak wilt fungus other than to remove
infected trees, as well as any surrounding host oak trees.
An emergency order will be issued establishing a protective zone
prohibiting the movement of oak material out of the immediate area to prevent
the fungus from spreading. Aerial and ground surveys will be conducted during
the next few weeks to identify additional trees that may be infected.
DEC staff
will contact property owners near the infected oaks to inform them about oak
wilt and request permission to examine oaks on their properties for signs of
the disease.
Since the infested tree was discovered late in the growing season,
only a small window exists to look for signs of the disease before the natural
loss of leaves during the fall makes it too difficult. Infected trees will be
removed during the winter months; surveys will resume in the spring when dead
trees and signs of the fungus are more apparent.
Oak wilt is a serious tree disease in the eastern United States,
killing thousands of oaks each year in forests, woodlots, and home landscapes.
Oak wilt is caused by the fungus, Ceratocystis fagacearum, which grows in the
water-conducting vessels of host trees, causing the vessels to produce gummy
plugs that prevent water transport. As water movement within the tree is
slowed, the leaves wilt and drop off, and eventually the tree dies.
The DEC asks the public to report any occurrences where an oak tree
died over a short period of time, especially if it occurred between July and
August, to the Forest Health Information Line toll-free at 1-866-640-0652.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Forestry is Big Business in New York State
From EMPIRE FARM & DAIRY MAGAZINE
New York Land Area: 30.2 million acres. State Population: 19 million
New York Forest Area: 18.95 million acres, 63 percent of land area, about one acre per resident
Publicly-owned Forest Land: at least 3.7 million acres
Privately-owned Forest Land Area: 14.4 million acres; 76 percent of forest land; owned by 687,000 land owners
Northern hardwood forests, dominated by beech, birch and maple, make up over 53 percent of the forest cover.
Forest ownership – New York’s forests continue to be largely privately owned by individuals/families and business who together own over 76 percent of the forest
Number of tree species: more than 100 commercial and non-commercial
Most common forest type: maple/beech/birch (53 percent of forest land area)
Economic Importance of New York’s Forests and Harvest Information
$300 million in annual payments to private landowners
488 million board feet of logs
2.1 million green tons pulpwood and wood chips
25 percent of New York timber harvest is exported for processing
Economic contribution of forest products-related manufacturing and services: $14 billion (US Census)
Forest-related tourism: $1.9 billion products made from wood: bowling pins, snowshoe and baseball bat
With proper planning and management, forests provide renewable natural resources
By DEBRA J. GROOM
EMPIRE FARM & DAIRY
About 63 percent of New York state is covered with forests.
That’s a lot of trees. And students who graduate with forestry degrees from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Morrisville State College and Paul Smith’s College help keep these forests vital, sustainable and thriving for everyone in the state to enjoy.
That goes for the intrepid outdoorsman who likes to hike through the forests. The same for the farmer or private landowner who wants to sell some timber for a little extra income. Ditto the paper companies like Finch in Glens Falls, Warren County, or International Paper in Ticonderoga, Essex County.
“Foresters work on management issues, purchasing timber to feed a mill or working with regulatory issues,” said SUNY ESF Professor David Newman, who also chairs the forest and natural resources management program. “They have to help plan the timber harvest in such a way that you get value now, but also get good value in the future.”
HackCollege’s school directory states that each year in New York, about 85 students graduate with credentials in forestry. SUNY ESF is the state’s largest forestry school. Newman said about 15 to 20 students graduate with forestry degrees each year.
In addition to forestry, there are many other forest, tree and environmental programs offered at SUNY ESF.
Some of these are:
** Forest technician program
** Natural resources management
** Environmental natural resources technicians, who work primarily with wildlife
** Aquatics and fisheries, which deals with invasive species, ecosystems management and marine studies
** Conservation biology, which focuses on conserving the earth’s imperiled species and ecosystems
** Environmental health, which deals with analysis, prevention and mitigation of potential environmental hazards, and
** Landscape architecture, dealing with urban and regional planning and community and environmental design
Morrisville State College offers an associate degree in natural resources conservation. Within this degree, students who want to specialize in forestry and silviculture may complete the forest technology concentration minor, said spokeswoman Franci Valenzano.
The Society of American Foresters Accredited Forest Technology concentration minor is how it is listed in the college catalog. Along with this minor, students must complete an internship in natural resources at an approved forest industry internship site.
Paul Smith’s College in Franklin County offers bachelor’s degrees in forestry, ecological restoration, environmental science, fisheries and wildlife sciences, natural resource conservation and management and sustainable communities and working landscapes. Associate degrees are offered in forestry and arboriculture and landscape management. There also is a minor in forestry.
What do foresters do?
Newman said foresters are important for people like farmers who may have large acreage in forests on their land. He said some people think they can simply go into a woodlot and chop down some trees to manage the forest. Others want to do the management themselves to save money.
But it doesn’t work that way.
He said if there is no planning in how a forest is harvested, then “what you get back is not very healthy. With species like maple and other desirable species, you have to plan to get out what you want.”
He said some SUNY ESF students with forestry degrees go to work for consulting companies who “work with landowners to help manage their forest land.”
“Helping landowners is a big part of what a forester does,” Newman said. “And farmers often have forest land to help with erosion, wind damage and for alternative income.”
But if the farmers or landowners want to manage the forested land and ensure the forest continues to be sustainable in the future, they need the help of a forester, he said.
Employment for foresters in New York state does not look to be strong, according to statistics from the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. But Newman said every one of the SUNY ESF grads finds a job in forestry upon graduation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the mean salary for a forester in New York state is $62,800 to $79,400.
Using marginal farmland
Timothy Volk, a senior research associate at SUNY ESF, works with farmers who have land they can’t use for crops. It might have poor soil quality or it might not drain well.
So instead of just letting that land sit barren, he teaches them how to use it to make some money.
Volk said land that won’t sustain vegetables or fruits often will grow crops such as shrub willow or other woody biomass plants that can be harvested, burned and used to create energy.
“The wood ships products are sold for heating and to power markets,” he said. “The woody biomass also can be used for making other biofuels or other products.”
The first thing farmers should think about, though, if they are considering growing shrub willow is whether they have a market. Right now, 1,200 acres of willow is grown on private land in Northern New York and is used at ReEnergy Holdings power plants at Fort Drum, Jefferson County and in Lyonsdale, Lewis County.
“Any time we get calls from farmers we ask if they have an outlet for sales,” Volk said. “You plant it once and harvest it every three years or so and it can be harvested seven times. It’s a long-term perennial crop.
And there is a costly upfront investment — $800 to $1,000 an acre to get started. So they should be sure to have a place to sell the willow.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in June kicked off a sign-up period for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. Through this program, the USDA will provide half of the estimated cost of annual land rental payment in the years where there is no harvest for farmers and landowners who plant woody biomass.
The sign-up period is from June 15 through the end of August.
State foresters help farmers
There are many ways in which state foresters help farmers and other private landowners.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Stewardship Program provides free planning and technical assistance to all private forestland owners in the state, including farm owners, according to DEC forestry staffers.
They said it is estimated that about 10 percent of all privately owned forests in New York are associated with farm ownership, and 20 percent of total farm land area is forest, therefore many farmers take advantage of our assistance programs.
Farmers, like all forestland owners, face many of the same forest related issues, such as invasive species and overabundant deer. However, the state forestry staff say proper planning can go a long way to improving the health and resiliency of private forest land to meet both the goals of a landowner and the needs of the forest habitat.
DEC foresters help landowners plan for the future of their forest land by creating a customized forest management plan that provides information on the current status of the forest and what forestry practices will be useful in meeting a landowners short and long-term goals and objectives.
A key part of the plan’s development is to walk the forest with the landowner to describe the current forest conditions and develop specific recommendations of improvements.
Foresters also help farmers with wildlife problems they encounter. In fact, the forestry staffers say wildlife issues are one of the most common reasons forestland owners contact a DEC forester. They can help with issues such as the overabundance of deer or even invasive species that can harm crops.
DEC foresters work with forest owners to identify the presence or absence of a pest and recommend forest management strategies to offset the impacts and to prepare the forest to be healthier and more resilient to combat future pest attacks.
An overabundance of white-tailed deer browsing activity can affect both a farmer’s forest and food crops. In this case a farmer can apply for either a Deer Management Assistance Program Permit or Deer Damage Permit issued by the DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Many forestland owners, including farmers, are interested in improving forest habitat for certain game and non-game wildlife species. DEC foresters work directly with landowners to develop recommended methods of forest cutting to modify the structure and composition of the forest while at the same time allowing the forest to continue to grow for timber production and other benefits.
Forest owners wishing to undertake timber harvesting activities without necessarily considering planning for specific long-term goals and objectives can contact a DEC forester who can provide objective information and other assistance to assure that the best interest of the forest and the owner are met during and after harvest.
Go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5257.html for more information.
There are 25 DEC forestry staff available to provide services to private forest owners, including eligible farmers. Nearly all DEC offices around the state have a professional forester on staff that can provide private forestry assistance.
If a farmer needs help from a forester, he or she can call the area DEC office. Numbers can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/50230.html
New York Land Area: 30.2 million acres. State Population: 19 million
New York Forest Area: 18.95 million acres, 63 percent of land area, about one acre per resident
Publicly-owned Forest Land: at least 3.7 million acres
Privately-owned Forest Land Area: 14.4 million acres; 76 percent of forest land; owned by 687,000 land owners
Northern hardwood forests, dominated by beech, birch and maple, make up over 53 percent of the forest cover.
Forest ownership – New York’s forests continue to be largely privately owned by individuals/families and business who together own over 76 percent of the forest
Number of tree species: more than 100 commercial and non-commercial
Most common forest type: maple/beech/birch (53 percent of forest land area)
Economic Importance of New York’s Forests and Harvest Information
$300 million in annual payments to private landowners
488 million board feet of logs
2.1 million green tons pulpwood and wood chips
25 percent of New York timber harvest is exported for processing
Economic contribution of forest products-related manufacturing and services: $14 billion (US Census)
Forest-related tourism: $1.9 billion products made from wood: bowling pins, snowshoe and baseball bat
With proper planning and management, forests provide renewable natural resources
By DEBRA J. GROOM
EMPIRE FARM & DAIRY
About 63 percent of New York state is covered with forests.
That’s a lot of trees. And students who graduate with forestry degrees from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Morrisville State College and Paul Smith’s College help keep these forests vital, sustainable and thriving for everyone in the state to enjoy.
That goes for the intrepid outdoorsman who likes to hike through the forests. The same for the farmer or private landowner who wants to sell some timber for a little extra income. Ditto the paper companies like Finch in Glens Falls, Warren County, or International Paper in Ticonderoga, Essex County.
“Foresters work on management issues, purchasing timber to feed a mill or working with regulatory issues,” said SUNY ESF Professor David Newman, who also chairs the forest and natural resources management program. “They have to help plan the timber harvest in such a way that you get value now, but also get good value in the future.”
 |
| A SUNY ESF student learns to measure trees |
In addition to forestry, there are many other forest, tree and environmental programs offered at SUNY ESF.
Some of these are:
** Forest technician program
** Natural resources management
** Environmental natural resources technicians, who work primarily with wildlife
** Aquatics and fisheries, which deals with invasive species, ecosystems management and marine studies
** Conservation biology, which focuses on conserving the earth’s imperiled species and ecosystems
** Environmental health, which deals with analysis, prevention and mitigation of potential environmental hazards, and
** Landscape architecture, dealing with urban and regional planning and community and environmental design
Morrisville State College offers an associate degree in natural resources conservation. Within this degree, students who want to specialize in forestry and silviculture may complete the forest technology concentration minor, said spokeswoman Franci Valenzano.
The Society of American Foresters Accredited Forest Technology concentration minor is how it is listed in the college catalog. Along with this minor, students must complete an internship in natural resources at an approved forest industry internship site.
Paul Smith’s College in Franklin County offers bachelor’s degrees in forestry, ecological restoration, environmental science, fisheries and wildlife sciences, natural resource conservation and management and sustainable communities and working landscapes. Associate degrees are offered in forestry and arboriculture and landscape management. There also is a minor in forestry.
What do foresters do?
 |
| New York State Forester Mike Giocondo |
But it doesn’t work that way.
He said if there is no planning in how a forest is harvested, then “what you get back is not very healthy. With species like maple and other desirable species, you have to plan to get out what you want.”
He said some SUNY ESF students with forestry degrees go to work for consulting companies who “work with landowners to help manage their forest land.”
“Helping landowners is a big part of what a forester does,” Newman said. “And farmers often have forest land to help with erosion, wind damage and for alternative income.”
But if the farmers or landowners want to manage the forested land and ensure the forest continues to be sustainable in the future, they need the help of a forester, he said.
Employment for foresters in New York state does not look to be strong, according to statistics from the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. But Newman said every one of the SUNY ESF grads finds a job in forestry upon graduation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the mean salary for a forester in New York state is $62,800 to $79,400.
Using marginal farmland
 |
| Willow growing in Canastota, Madison County |
So instead of just letting that land sit barren, he teaches them how to use it to make some money.
Volk said land that won’t sustain vegetables or fruits often will grow crops such as shrub willow or other woody biomass plants that can be harvested, burned and used to create energy.
“The wood ships products are sold for heating and to power markets,” he said. “The woody biomass also can be used for making other biofuels or other products.”
The first thing farmers should think about, though, if they are considering growing shrub willow is whether they have a market. Right now, 1,200 acres of willow is grown on private land in Northern New York and is used at ReEnergy Holdings power plants at Fort Drum, Jefferson County and in Lyonsdale, Lewis County.
“Any time we get calls from farmers we ask if they have an outlet for sales,” Volk said. “You plant it once and harvest it every three years or so and it can be harvested seven times. It’s a long-term perennial crop.
And there is a costly upfront investment — $800 to $1,000 an acre to get started. So they should be sure to have a place to sell the willow.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in June kicked off a sign-up period for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. Through this program, the USDA will provide half of the estimated cost of annual land rental payment in the years where there is no harvest for farmers and landowners who plant woody biomass.
The sign-up period is from June 15 through the end of August.
State foresters help farmers
There are many ways in which state foresters help farmers and other private landowners.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Stewardship Program provides free planning and technical assistance to all private forestland owners in the state, including farm owners, according to DEC forestry staffers.
They said it is estimated that about 10 percent of all privately owned forests in New York are associated with farm ownership, and 20 percent of total farm land area is forest, therefore many farmers take advantage of our assistance programs.
Farmers, like all forestland owners, face many of the same forest related issues, such as invasive species and overabundant deer. However, the state forestry staff say proper planning can go a long way to improving the health and resiliency of private forest land to meet both the goals of a landowner and the needs of the forest habitat.
DEC foresters help landowners plan for the future of their forest land by creating a customized forest management plan that provides information on the current status of the forest and what forestry practices will be useful in meeting a landowners short and long-term goals and objectives.
A key part of the plan’s development is to walk the forest with the landowner to describe the current forest conditions and develop specific recommendations of improvements.
Foresters also help farmers with wildlife problems they encounter. In fact, the forestry staffers say wildlife issues are one of the most common reasons forestland owners contact a DEC forester. They can help with issues such as the overabundance of deer or even invasive species that can harm crops.
DEC foresters work with forest owners to identify the presence or absence of a pest and recommend forest management strategies to offset the impacts and to prepare the forest to be healthier and more resilient to combat future pest attacks.
An overabundance of white-tailed deer browsing activity can affect both a farmer’s forest and food crops. In this case a farmer can apply for either a Deer Management Assistance Program Permit or Deer Damage Permit issued by the DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Many forestland owners, including farmers, are interested in improving forest habitat for certain game and non-game wildlife species. DEC foresters work directly with landowners to develop recommended methods of forest cutting to modify the structure and composition of the forest while at the same time allowing the forest to continue to grow for timber production and other benefits.
Forest owners wishing to undertake timber harvesting activities without necessarily considering planning for specific long-term goals and objectives can contact a DEC forester who can provide objective information and other assistance to assure that the best interest of the forest and the owner are met during and after harvest.
Go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5257.html for more information.
There are 25 DEC forestry staff available to provide services to private forest owners, including eligible farmers. Nearly all DEC offices around the state have a professional forester on staff that can provide private forestry assistance.
If a farmer needs help from a forester, he or she can call the area DEC office. Numbers can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/50230.html
Thursday, May 14, 2015
New Efforts Announced to Fight Emerald Ash Borer
The state of New York on Thursday announced new efforts to
combat and slow the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive
beetle that
damages and kills ash trees in forested and urban settings.
The state Department of Agriculture and Markets and state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have revised
the state’s EAB management regulations, providing greater protection for
un-infested communities and forests, allowing
municipalities opportunity to prepare and better plan for future
infestation, and easing restrictions on the forest products industry.
After
conducting extensive outreach to the industry, New York state has
revised its regulations and will create 14 restricted zones — which
include a buffer area of five
miles — that allow the free movement of infested materials within the new
boundaries without compliance agreements or permits.
This will make
it easier for municipalities, homeowners and the forest products
industry to remove, treat and dispose of infested
materials in these areas. The revised regulations will help slow the
spread of EAB, providing opportunity for un-infested communities to
better plan for the management of the insect.
Since
the initial discovery of EAB in New York, the invasive species has been
detected in portions of 23 counties. Although the county-by-county
quarantine along with
enhanced firewood regulations has been highly effective in slowing the
spread of EAB, it has also regulated significant portions of the state
that are not currently infested with EAB.
In some instances, the
quarantine and associated regulations have made
EAB management more challenging.
The
new approach to EAB management also will ease regulations on the forest
products industry by eliminating bark, mulch and wood chips from the
definition of a regulated
article (except for the 30 days encompassing April 15-May 15, just prior to EAB emergence), and relaxing the chip size specification.
The DEC
will continue to survey for EAB statewide and coordinate with the
Department of Agriculture and Markets to update the restricted zones as
necessary. New York
state and Cornell Cooperative Extension are available to assist
municipalities with development of EAB management plans.
In
addition, the DEC will also be replacing its current EAB quarantine
order with a parallel quarantine regulation. In coordination with these
changes in state EAB
regulations, the USDA has expanded its federal EAB quarantine to
include all of New York state, and will continue to oversee the movement
of ash regulated articles in interstate and international commerce.
State
Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “One of the best lines
of defense we have against EAB is to continue to update our management
strategy and be proactive
in our planning. Giving our municipalities the opportunity to plan for
future infestation will not only save them time and money, but will
also go a long way in limiting the spread of this destructive insect.”
DEC
Commissioner Joe Martens said, “DEC continues to work closely with the
Department of Agriculture and Markets and other state agencies, federal
departments and regional partners to identify,
contain and effectively manage the EAB. By adopting regulations to
tighten quarantine boundaries to include only areas with known
infestation, we can isolate and better control the EAB, which will
protect trees and forests and help mitigate environmental
and economic impacts.”
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