WPCNR's ADAM IN ALBANY. By 89th District Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. October 27, 2003: Westchester County is a beautiful place to live. Keeping its environment healthy will ensure that our future generations enjoy all this area has to offer. Since I took office in January, I have made it a mission to spearhead legislation that protects our environment.
Recently Environmental Advocates, a statewide nonpartisan environmental protection group, gave me a score of 93 percent for my work this year on environmental issues. “Bradley … moved quickly to stake his claim as a leading legislative environmental advocate,” Environmental Advocates said. “We especially appreciate the Assemblyman’s openness to dialogue on complicated legislation.” While I’m proud of the personal distinction, more important is the progress that was made to protect and improve the environment.
One of the pieces of legislation I authored would give municipalities a direct role in reviewing proposed private developments in other communities if they can establish that the development would have a substantial impact on the water or air quality in their locality (A.8672). This would ensure that communities have a say in protecting their environment when their environment is clearly placed at risk by decisions made across their border.
Another piece of legislation would ensure legal standing for those individuals seeking to challenge development which may be harmful to the environment (A.8673).
The Legislature also made a major breakthrough on brownfields, which are contaminated sites that are costly to redevelop. I sponsored a law to help clean up those unused industrial sites and refinance the state’s Superfund program, which pays for the work (Ch. 1 of 2003). The bill was signed into law this fall and when sites are rehabilitated, the land can be put back on the tax rolls, helping strengthen local economies.
An environmental danger in our own backyard is the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. I don’t have faith in the plant’s assurances that all of us living near it are safe. Serious questions still remain about Indian Point’s evacuation plan should an emergency occur there. It is an outrage that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed off on it. I will continue to be an outspoken critic on this critically important matter.
Preservation of our environment is of utmost importance. While the Assembly accomplished a lot this year, more must be done. I will continue to fight for the future of Westchester County so that our children can continue enjoying a healthy, beautiful and natural environment.
