DEC Reports to the Community on Article X

On Thursday, March 8th, the NYS DEC will hold a public hearing in their office on Michigan Avenue at 3pm concerning a new ruling for power plants and other power generating facilities, new and existing.

Article X of the Power NY Act will have a stronger Environmental Justice component taking into consideration factors that the old legislation did not, like:

• Increased funding for local communities to hire legal and technical consultants that will enable them to participate effectively in power plant siting decisions;
• Requiring proposed power plants to avoid or minimize any cumulative impacts on air quality in the vicinity of the proposed power plant; and,
• Requiring proposed power plants that would result in or contribute to disproportionate impacts in an affected community to avoid, offset or mitigate these impacts within that community.

Clean Air Coalition has asked the DEC to take it a step further: on Wednesday, March 7th 6:30PM at Assumption of the Blessed Church at 435 Amherst Street in Buffalo, the DEC will hold a presentation on Article X, its new Environmental Justice component, as well as answer any questions residents have on the ruling.

The session at Assumption Church will allow citizens to learn from the DEC what the legislation includes and to have their questions answered before comments are accepted. True to their new push for Environmental Justice, the DEC is taking into consideration that normal citizens do not have access to information regarding legislation, and that a place for them to ask questions is not always provided. Western New York residents who are concerned with new and existing power generating facilities should feel free to attend one or both sessions. Feel free to call the Clean Air Coalition with any questions at 852.3813.