Sept 24, 2024 Hurleyville, NY –  On September 19, 2024, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released the Route 17 Project Scoping Report, documenting the evaluation of preliminary concepts for further study. Upon first review, Catskill Mountainkeeper is appreciative that the Department of Transportation has begun to hear the concerns of our communities, and we share the state’s desire to improve safety conditions and create new economic opportunities along Route 17. However, we remain concerned that state officials are still considering a massive highway widening that would bring more traffic, increase air pollution and waste taxpayer monies. This alternative is environmentally and fiscally irresponsible and does not address community needs.

Catskill Mountainkeeper and our allies differ with the state’s approach to address safety and economic opportunities by increasing roadway capacity. We believe this approach is contradictory to our shared goals for the following reasons:

Click 'Read More' for the full release.

Syracuse, NY –  Today, 153 New York organizations, institutions, coalitions, and grassroots groups sent a letter to Governor Hochul, calling on her to protect New York's landmark climate law and keep false solutions like dangerous nuclear power out of the state. The letter was announced at a press conference today in the city of Syracuse (Onondaga land), where New York residents, including people of Haudenosaunee descent, gathered to oppose nuclear energy - old and new - outside Governor Hochul's pro-nuclear "Future Energy Economy Summit". 

Amidst a summer of climate disasters, from deadly flooding to extreme heat and tornadoes, Governor Hochul is considering ignoring legally mandated emission reductions goals. Rather than committing to the State's clean energy transition, Hochul's unacceptably pro-nuclear summit this week threatens to take the state in the wrong direction.

New Report Shows Major State Agencies Violate NY Climate Act

New York State – Today, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) and the NY Renews Coalition released “Flouting the Law: Major State Agencies Are Ignoring New York’s Climate Mandates.” The report details how, on the fifth anniversary of the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), almost every state agency is ignoring the law's , including four of the state’s best-funded agencies, including the Departments of Health, Transportation, Education, and Development (Empire State Development). Catskill Mountainkeeper contributed to the report and its findings regarding the Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) failure.

"In the face of the worsening climate crisis, New Yorkers deserve and demand that state agencies uphold our Climate Law and act in the best interest of our health, safety, and security. In the case of the Route 17 expansion project, should NYSDOT advance its current proposal--one that almost entirely impacts disadvantaged communities--the agency will be hampering New York's efforts to achieve climate justice, while further harming vulnerable towns and cities,” said Taylor Jaffe, Environmental Justice Coordinator of Catskill Mountainkeeper. “Catskill Mountainkeeper supports the thoughtful recommendations that emerge from this report and encourages NYSDOT and every state agency ‘to make the needed course corrections now.’" Click here to read the full press release.

Ulster County Polluter Brought to Justice

J. Karolys and Son, LLC ordered to completely clean up dump sites and pay $8 million in fines

May 15, 2024, Saugerties, NY – In a judgment signed May 10, 2024, New York State Supreme Court Justice Richard Mott ruled that J. Karolys and Son, LLC of Saugerties, NY must remediate three illegally-sited construction and demolition debris dumps and pay $8 million to the State of New York.

Bringing polluters to justice can be very difficult, yet that's precisely what the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Attorney General Tish James, aided by a diligent and highly engaged community in Saugerties NY, has accomplished in the case of J. Karolys & Son, LLC. In a recent ruling by the New York State Supreme Court, the polluters have been ordered to clean up the mess they made and to pay significant, attention-getting fines totaling $8 million. This landmark decision serves as a stern warning to anyone considering illegally dumping or accepting construction and demonstration debris--New York will pursue and prosecute polluters, and convicted polluters will be forced to pay. Our water, air, lands, and communities are worth more than anyone's ill-gained profits.

Click Read More for our full statement

Pause the Environmental Review Process, Environmental Leaders Request a Meeting with NYSDOT to Rethink Route 17

State and federal officials should rethink how to spend earmarked monies on an alternative, sustainable mobility plan for the Route 17 corridor

Jan 16, 2024 Hurleyville, NY – Despite strong local and statewide opposition, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that they are planning to advance the NYS Route 17 Mobility & Access Improvements Project. Documents cited in the project background reference a $1 billion proposal to expand Route 17 in both directions in Orange and Sullivan Counties – a move that will run afoul of state and federal climate laws, increase climate and air pollution, expand sprawl, contradicts documented transit/transportation needs in the area, and will fail to address their stated goal of reducing traffic congestion.

“New York State should not move forward with the out-dated, $1 billion proposal to widen Route 17 in Orange and Sullivan Counties," said Ramsay Adams, Executive Director. Click 'Read More' for the full release.

Join us on November 4th from 3-5pm at 1053 Gallery in Fleischmanns, NY, for an extraordinary art exhibition and panel discussion, Hope and Challenges within the Climate Crisis, featuring Dr. Kathy Nolan, Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Senior Research Director, among an impressive lineup of speakers. The event showcases 'Atlas/Watershed,' a stunning collection of paintings, map collages, and monotypes by the talented Chichester, New York-based artist, Christie Scheele. Click 'read more' for the full press release and speaker information. Click here for event details.

Catskill Mountainkeeper and Catskill Art Space to present a screening and discussion of Michel Negroponte’s film Herd, on Saturday, November 11 at 5pm in the CAS River Gallery

A herd of shaggy Belted Galloway cattle is delivered to a neighboring pasture in the Catskills and instantly inspires a new film. The filmmaker’s growing fascination with the cows leads him to reflect on the modern idea of animal personhood. Michel Negroponte’s essay film is equal part rumination, observation and meditation. It reveals the cow’s essence and challenges us to think differently about our fellow living animal beings.

Join us on 11/11 for the local premier of this inspiring new film. 

Click 'Read More' for the full press release.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LAWMAKERS, & ADVOCATES RELEASE NEW REPORT; CALL ON GOV HOCHUL TO PASS NY HEAT ACT

New report by Concerned Health Professionals of NY and Physicians for Social Responsibility shows the many negative health impacts of burning fracked gas in homes, illustrates urgent need for NY HEAT Act to get off gas and protect marginalized communities

"Children and families should not have indoor air pollutants piped into their homes from combustion heat and cooking appliances," said Dr. Kathleen Nolan, a pediatrician and president of the New York Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Catskill Mountainkeeper's Senior Research Director. "We have worked for decades to reduce indoor exposures to second-hand tobacco smoke only to encounter very similar contaminants, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide, being produced by the indoor burning of fuel oils and so-called natural gas. The NY HEAT Act phases in clean, odorless, safe forms of indoor energy and phases out the use of combustible contaminating oils and gasses. Rather than continue down the mistaken paths of the past, we should take the opportunity now to begin our transition to cleaner and healthier forms of indoor energy."

Click 'Read More' for links to the report and the full press release.

May 12,  2023 — Albany, NY — A Forest Preserve group comprised of 32 organizations and municipalities applauds Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State legislature for the state budget, which includes dedicated funding for the Forest Preserve Parks of $8 million under the EPF’s State Land Stewardship line. In the final budget the EPF was also retained at the historic level of $400 million achieved last year.