ESFPA E-News

Legislature Passes One House Budget Bills

Earlier this week the State Senate and Assembly passed their “one house bills” which lay the groundwork for the balance of the SFY 2024-25 budget negotiations. From here on out the parties (i.e. three persons in a room) negotiate those items where they do not have three-way agreement on.

Key highlights on where the SFY 2024-25 Appropriations and Article VII Bills stand include:

1. Funding in the Environmental Protection Program for everything we wanted and increased funding for the Climate & Applied forestry Research Institute to $1.5 million which will support research at Paul Smiths College.
2. Capital Funding at DEC to support a $15 million competitive grant program to plant trees and restore forests.
3. Article VII bills that would:
   • Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act which would effectively pre-empt all local land use and regulatory authority over major transmission facilities and consolidates most all state jurisdiction into Office of Renewable Energy Services was included in both houses.
   • Environmental Violation Penalties the Senate advances language to increase environmental fines and penalties 50% to fund the EPF.
   • Sunset the State’s COVID-19 Sick Leave Law both houses include language supporting the Governor’s proposal but continue leave for hospital workers.
   • Increase Short-Term Disability Leave Benefits both houses include language supporting the Governor’s proposal but the Senate deviates some.
   • Increase Taxes both houses increase corporate franchise taxes and personal income taxes on the highest earners.  The Governor has come out opposing any tax increases.

We are now in a dash to negotiate a budget by April 1^st.

Click the link below to read the full summary:

DEC Reminds New Yorkers: Annual Residential Brush Burning Prohibition Starts March 16

Spring Burn Ban Reduces Wildfire Risks, Protects Lives and Property

This week, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded New Yorkers of the start of the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning. Since 2009, DEC enforces the annual brush burning ban from March 16 through May 14 to prevent wildfires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires. 

“Last month, DEC encouraged everyone to be extra vigilant when burning brush because of the risk for wildfires caused by early dry conditions, but starting this Saturday, March 16, it will be illegal to burn brush for the next two months,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Due to the drier and warmer winter, New York State is at a greater risk for wildfires this spring. This ban is essential to protecting communities and natural resources, as well as the Rangers and other firefighters called to extinguish the wildfires.” 

Even though some areas of the state remain blanketed in snow, warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures warm and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily, further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are staffed by volunteers, all too often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires. DEC’s Fire Danger Map for the 2024 fire season displays each region’s potential fire risk. 

New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year, but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires occur. Backyard fire pits and campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small cooking fires. Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated, or unpainted wood can be burned. People should never leave these fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE New York webpage. 

Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack and Catskill parks, are designated "fire towns." Open burning is prohibited year-round in these municipalities unless an individual or group has a permit from DEC. To find out whether a municipality is a designated fire town or to obtain a permit, contact the appropriate DEC regional office. A list of regional offices is available on DEC's website. 

New Forest Potential and Current Forest Management Survey

The Division of Lands and Forests is conducting a survey to learn more about how public and private forest land is being managed, as well as the tree planting potential for lands that are not currently forested (ex: lawns, grassland, shrubland, vineland, wetlands, and previously-developed sites). DEC will be using this data to help with reforestation and afforestation (creating new forests) efforts across the state to meet tree planting and forest regeneration goals.

Click the link below to take the survey:

Companies Must Work Together to Rebuild Trust in the Carbon Market

The planet loses more than 24 million acres of forest annually, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. It’s akin to losing a forest roughly the size of Indiana each year. It’s estimated less than half of those trees get replanted. Given the crucial role forests play in the fight against climate change, the loss is devastating.

The voluntary forestry carbon market is a critical way to close that gap, but a crisis of confidence is hindering the full impact of what this market mechanism can do for the planet. These concerns around—and complexities of—the voluntary carbon market, though, can’t be a justification for companies to avoid getting involved. In fact, corporate leaders can play a more pivotal role than they likely assume in driving the market toward greater integrity and transparency.

Click the link below to read the full article and watch a brief video about the voluntary forest carbon market: