Bedford Audubon: Conservation and Advocacy
In part, Bedford Audubon's Mission Statement
says, "We envision ourselves as an organization that is...a credible voice
promoting environmentally sound decisions on local conservation issues."
Following are some of the issues that our chapter is concerned about.
Energy Audit at Bedford Audubon's Headquarters
In the summer of 2009, Bylane Farm, Bedford Audubon's 220
year-old headquarters underwent a home energy audit, which was filmed for a
local cable television station. This audit was the first step in assessing how
much energy the Bylane used and evaluating the measures that could be taken to
make it more energy efficient, thus saving money and reducing greenhouse
emissions.
As a result of this audit, with the help of Green Tree Energy
and a 15% rebate from NYSERDA (homeowners can get an even larger rebate), we
sealed cracks, weather stripped windows and doors, and insulated the attic and
walls of our drafty 18-century headquarters by blowing in cellulose through the
exterior siding. The cost savings are remarkable: we’ll pay back this investment
in less than three years. More importantly, by reducing our heating oil use by
2,000 gallons we prevent 20 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere each
year, reducing Bedford Audubon’s carbon footprint by nearly 30$#37;!
The process was so easy that we had Lewisboro Cable TV tape the
project so homeowners can see for themselves how effortless it is to make their
homes energy efficient. We encourage you to visit NYSERDA’s website at
www.nyserda.org and score a double hit: reduce your heating cost and your impact on the planet.
The video can be seen in two parts on YouTube
Part 1:
http://tinyurl.com/energy-audit-1 Part 2:
http://tinyurl.com/energy-audit-2
Cell Towers and
Wildlife
Cell towers often pose a serious hazard to migrating
birds. These journeys are already long and arduous. The increasing numbers of
communications towers is an added, deadly obstacle course. Click
here to see Bedford Audubon's Cell Towers and Wildlife Fact Sheet. (This is
a large file and may take a while to download.)
email conservation comments and questions to
conservation@bedfordaudubon.org
Other Environmental Issues
| Date |
Subject |
Document |
|
May 2010
|
BAS Bobolink Recovery
Project
|
The Bobolink has suffered a 50% decline in population across the
U.S. due to a combination of increased development of former farmlands and
haying that is taking place earlier in the season. BAS launched the Bobolink
Recovery Project, an educational program attempting to save the remaining
populations of Bobolink and other once common grassland birds.
|
|
February 2, 2010
|
Town of Bedford's Climate Action Plan
|
The Bedford Audubon Society (BAS) supports the Town of Bedford's
Climate Action Plan and its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the
Town by 20% by 2020.
|
|
November 5, 2009
|
BAS Position on Deficit
Reduction
|
Testimony of James F. Nordgren Before New York State Senate
Finance Committee Hearing on Governor Paterson’s Proposed Deficit Reduction Plan |
|
October 2009
|
BAS Position on Wind Power
|
The Bedford Audubon Society
strongly supports properly-sited wind power as a clean alternative energy source
that reduces the threat of global warming. Proper siting is critical because
wind turbines have the potential to be as lethal to birds as communication
towers—which now kill an estimated 5 million to 50 million birds a year.
|
|
April 5, 2005
|
Wetlands Bill Moves out of Committee
|
State Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R, Syosset), Chairman of the
Environmental Conservation Committee, today announced that the freshwater
wetlands bill was moved out of the Environmental Conservation committee. Senate
bill 2081 will strengthen New York State's ability to protect this natural
resource. |
|
March 2005
|
Wetlands Update
|
The New York State Legislation has passed an on-time budget for
the first time in recent memory; however, they did not include wetlands
legislation in the budget.
|
|
March 2005
|
Wetlands Protection
|
The Bedford Audubon Society strongly supports
Governor Pataki's proposal in the 2005/2006 budget to protect our state's
freshwater wetlands by closing the SWANCC loophole that has been created by
court cases on the federal level. |
|
November 17, 2004
|
Wetlands Protection
|
Letter to Senator Leibell: The
Watersheds/Flood Prevention Act S.4480-A would enhance New York State’s wetland
protection program and fill gaps in wetlands protection resulting from the
federal SWANCC vs. US Army Corps of Engineers court case allowing filling of
isolated wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act.
|
|
July 23, 2004
|
Clean
Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act
|
Request for BAS members to write letters in support of this
legislation. |
|
July 14, 2004 |
Eagle River Development |
Letter to Somers Planning Board opposing Eagle River Area
development |
|
May 20, 2004 |
Clean
Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act
|
BAS Board of Directors passes a resolution in support of the
Clean Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act which would close a
loophole that was created by the 2001 SWANCC court decision that removes
isolated freshwater wetlands of between 1 acre and 12.4 acres. |
|
March 25, 2004 |
Seven Springs Development |
Yesterday's announcement from the Trump Organization announcing
the abandonment of their luxury golf course plan and switching gears to a 17
lot, residential subdivision, was a step in the right direction from an
environmental perspective.
|
|
October 8, 2003 |
Water Filtration Plant |
BAS Testimony on Scope of Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for Croton Water Treatment Plant.
|
|
May 29, 2003 |
Water Filtration Plant |
CWCWC/Sierra Club Press Release in
Yonkers Tribune opposing "science" behind need for water filtration
plant. |
|
April 17, 2003 |
Water Filtration Plant |
Letter sent to The New York Times in response to
their editorial supporting construction of the filtration plant. |
|
April 16, 2003 |
Clean Water Act |
Sent to the EPA which was seeking comment on their
proposed rule making regulations on the Clean Water Act, particularly on
wetlands. |
|
March 13, 2002 |
NYC Water
Filtration
|
Comments to NYC DEP on siting of a
filtration plant for the Croton Watershed. "…they’d be speaking to
you and urging you protect our remaining watershed buffer lands,
wetlands and wild open spaces to protect New York City’s drinking water.
|
|
December
17, 2001 |
Development
of Seven Springs Property |
Testimony to NYS DEC. "If all our
members could be here this evening, they would be present to argue
against this misguided proposal to develop the scenic and historic Seven
Springs property." |
| July 30, 2001 |
NYC Water Filtration |
Letter to US EPA "..the only way to
truly protect New York City’s drinking water and its watershed is
through protection of drinking water at its source in both the Catskill
Delaware System and the Croton System." |
|
August 3, 2000 |
Westchester County Airport
and Wetlands
|
Letter urging the County and the FAA to
consider wetlands and protective forested areas when revising airport
layout. |
|
March
16, 1998 |
The
Farm,
Somers, N.Y. |
Letter commenting
on Environmental Impact Statement. "...After
careful consideration of the subject FEIS, Bedford Audubon Society finds
a number of fundamental problems with, and flaws in, the proposed plan."
|
email conservation comments and questions
to conservation@bedfordaudubon.org
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|
