Everyday is Earth Day

News From New York State
Senator Shirley L. Huntley
For Immediate Release: April 20, 2012
Contact: Antonio Rodriguez | arodrigu@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

**PRESS RELEASE**

Senator Huntley Celebrates April 22nd as Earth Day

Senator Shirley L. Huntley (D-Jamaica) reminds New Yorkers that April 22nd is Earth Day and encourages everyone to make a commitment to protecting the planet, ensuring clean air and fresh water for generations to come. “Protecting the people of New York goes hand-in hand with protecting the environment,” Senator Huntley explained “By working together to Go Green; we can protect our neighborhoods and communities, as well as create countless jobs and economic development opportunities in green technology to propel our economy through the 21st Century.”

In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin declared April 22nd as Earth Day. A promoter of environmental issues, Nelson struggled for years to thrust the evidence of environmental degradation into the political mainstream. He organized a nationwide grassroots demonstration to allow people throughout the country to speak and express their concern for the land, rivers, lakes and air.  This event brought the nation together and led to the creation of Earth Day.

“Nothing is more important than protecting the health of New Yorkers and the environment where they raise their families,” said Senator Huntley. “I hope to see a continuing effort from everyone to do their part this Earth Day, and truly every day, to create a cleaner, more sustainable New York.”

The New York State Senate passed a package of environmental laws that protect the environment and promote “green” industry developments.

Included in the package:
• S. 3918: Extends effectiveness of provisions relating to the special powers of the New York State environmental facilities corporation. 
• S. 6268-A: Enacts the "sewage pollution right to know act"; requires publicly owned treatment works (POTW) to report discharges of untreated or partially treated sewage.
• S. 6857: This legislation would establish a demonstration drug disposal program in representative rural, suburban and urban areas of the State in order to provide data that could be used to determine the most effective methods of disposal.

As a longtime resident of Queens, New York, Senator Huntley understands the crucial need for more green initiatives to limit pollutants that have an adverse affect on our kids, our parks, and our environment. She urges everyone to think of the Go Green initiative as something more than just recycling. It is a lifestyle change that has numerous benefits from your wallet to your health.

One way to save money and the planet, for example, is walk, bike, or use mass transit as a form of transportation. Another way is to utilize energy efficient products which use less energy and yield less amounts of carbon dioxide emissions which adversely heats up the planet.

For more information on how to make a difference and live green, go to the Department of Environmental Conservation website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/337.html.