New York Needs More Staff at State's Environmental Agency
by David Gahl

There is bad news in the New York State Senate's budget proposal -- staff cuts at the Department of Environmental Conservation, including the new Climate Change Office.

In his first executive budget proposal, Governor Spitzer added 109 desperately needed positions to the state's environmental agency, the DEC. These positions ranged from dam safety inspectors and water pollution permit reviewers to staffers for a brand new Office of Climate Change to guide New York in the country's first-ever regional climate pact.

While the State Assembly included all 109 staff in its proposed budget, the Senate cut these positions by about half. Environmental Advocates of New York does not believe that these positions are "extras" to be cut. These DEC staffers are responsible for making sure our dams are safe during heavy rains, that our air quality improves rather than worsens, and that water pollution permits are reviewed regularly, and not only on an ad-hoc emergency basis.

For example, cuts to the state's new Office of Climate Change just don't make sense. Climate change is the greatest environmental threat facing the state. Scientists predict New York could see increased average summer temperatures ranging from five to more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than current levels, making our climate resemble that of states such as Georgia or South Carolina. The negative effects of rising global temperatures also include rising sea levels -- up to 33 inches by the end of the next century -- uncertain effects on agriculture and widespread ecological upheaval.

Recognizing these dangers, Governor Spitzer's Executive Budget included 12 new positions to staff a Climate Change Office at the DEC. The State Senate shortsightedly cut these positions, jeopardizing New York's ability to mitigate the wide ranging and negative effects of climate change.

These cuts sill also hurt the state’s ability to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the country's first mandatory program to stabilize and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The climate pact is expected to be finalized in New York sometime this year & that means getting new DEC staff in place as soon as possible.

New Yorkers deserve better. The final state budget should include the full 109 environmental staffers proposed by Governor Spitzer and the Assembly. Fully staffing the DEC is just one we can keep more New Yorkers safe and healthy while protecting our water, land and air, while also working to make us a leader when it comes to the growing fight to address the threats of global warming.

David Gahl is Air & Energy Program Director for Environmental Advocates of New York. Environmental Advocates' web address is www.eany.org.