Environmental Groups Want Share Of RVRDA Funds
WADDINGTON - Environmental groups are asking the newly-formed St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency to give priority consideration to applications from environmentally-focused projects and initiatives.
And while their requests may not look like the traditional bricks-and-mortar economic development proposals, the groups urged that conservation and job development are not incompatible and that efforts to preserve the region's natural resources can also help to create jobs, encourage ecotourism and bring in outside investment to stimulate the local economy.
The river agency heard presentations Tuesday from the Environmental Management Council, the St. Lawrence Valley Environmental Coalition and the St. Lawrence Land Trust.
Each of the groups was particularly concerned with giving input on the 5 percent in river agency funding earmarked specifically for community development and environmental projects.
But the groups also asked that the new agency emphasize sustainable development, strategic planning and environmental stewardship when considering applications from any company or project for portions of the $16 million and 20 megawatts of hydropower given to the new agency by the New York Power Authority.
A contract bestowing the hydropower to the group has yet to be finalized, and only the first of two $8 million payments has been made to date, but the agency is in the process of developing a strategic plan, policies and application procedures that will allow them to select projects and companies to which resources will be awarded.
"It concerns me deeply that in a rush to create jobs at any cost, you may lose what brought some of us here and keeps others here: the natural beauty and resources of our area," Environmental Coalition member Lucia D. Dailey said. "As you draw up the procedures for this agency, please consider requiring thorough investigation of environmental histories and environmental liability insurance for applicants."
"As you move forward with your strategic plan and the procedures for applicants to follow, we urge you to think comprehensively and we urge you to think locally," Environmental Coalition member Richard Grover said. "Economic development is far more than building highways and industrial parks. Consider every project on its merits and how it helps realize a vision for a sustainable future that we can believe in.
"It is not necessary to trash this place to create opportunities for people to have successful lives here. Development and conservation needn't be a perpetual cat and dog fight. They can be approached in a cooperative manner; our children's future depends on it."
Jon Montan from the county's Environmental Management Council said his group was very interested in ensuring that projects and proposals funded by the river agency were in line with some type of community planning, such as a local waterfront revitalization plan or an economic development strategic plan, and that environmental experts be consulted on the sustainability and potential environmental impacts of proposed projects.
"We would like to discourage ad hoc, shoot-from-the-hip sorts of applications," Mr. Montan said. "The projects should be rooted in some kind of forethought. We feel very strongly about that."
Mr. Montan said his group also felt environmental projects should be given priority over community development efforts in considering how to carve up the 5 percent, since funds were already set aside in the 2003 St. Lawrence FDR Power Project Relicensing for community development projects in each of the communities included in the New York Power Authority settlement agreement.
The $16 million given to the river agency was left over from the failed St. Lawrence Aquarium and Ecological Center, which was primarily an environmental education and research initiative, and should therefore be used to help achieve the same ends the aquarium project meant to achieve, Mr. Montan said.
"The way the contract currently reads, there is no prioritization of environmental versus community development projects," Mr. Montan said. "There is no assurance that environmental projects will be considered. We think there should be a guaranteed placeholder for environmental projects."
The environmental council felt projects such as preservation of lands through property easements, habitat improvements, environmentally- focused demonstration projects, local matches for studies or grants, an endowment to fund conferences or events or environmental research or education projects not eligible to receive funding through NYPAs other programs should be eligible for the RVRDA funding.
Members of the St. Lawrence Valley Environmental Coalition echoed the need to support several of the same types of projects and noted things like ecotourism, locally-produced food and environmental remediation projects also merited consideration by the river agency.
Ms. Dailey spoke about the importance of environmental cleanup work both to the environment and to future development, as well as the dangers of unchecked industrial development; Pete Skomsky spoke about habitat restoration initiatives and efforts to improve shoreline and wetland habitats in the Great Lakes Basin; St. Lawrence Land Trust President Erika Barthelmess and Vice President Tom Langen spoke about the role land preservation can play in sustaining property values and how preserving natural landscapes can help couple tourism with conservation; Richard Grover addressed the opportunities afforded to communities by encouraging ecotourism and emphasizing locally-grown, locally-produced foods, as well as finding ways to brand the region that will make it more attractive both to those looking to come here and those looking to purchase things produced here and Donald Lucas spoke about how businesses like his fishing charter Muskie Magic can help tie job creation and economic development with conservation and protection of the region's natural resources.
To help give environmental projects a leg up, the environmental council proposed establishing a time period early in the year when only applications for environmental projects would be accepted. Those projects could be reviewed by the river agency and selected for funding, if they were deemed worthy, and the remaining portion of the 5 percent allotment could be opened up for applications from community development projects, Mr. Montan said.
"How do you think the community development people are going to take this," RVRDA member Ed Murphy asked.
"We don't want to pit environmental and community development projects against each other," Mr. Montan said.
"But that's what you're doing," Mr. Murphy said. "If you get to take the first dip..."
"We're saying there should be a priority for environmental projects," Mr. Montan said. "That doesn't mean we want to shut out community development, it just gives environmental an advantage. You have to put environmental in there and give it some status or it's just going to go to the bottom of the list."
RVRDA Chairman Robert O. McNeil pointed out that while $2.1 million was set aside by NYPA in the relicensing agreement for community development in the river communities, most communities have dumped those monies into their general funds to offset regular spending or abate taxes.
Thus, it may not be fair to suggest community development projects already have an option for funding, since those funds are not currently available to fund any new projects, Mr. McNeil said.
Mr. McNeil thanked each of the groups for their presentations and said the river agency would need some time to consider the remarks.
Additional meetings of the river agency have been scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 10, Aug. 17 and Aug. 24.
The agency will meet with the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency board in Massena on Aug. 10, when a contract with the Massena Electric Department and proposed guidelines on loan and grant applications will also be discussed.
Presentations from the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority and the county legislature's Information Technology committee are proposed for the Aug. 17 meeting.
