None The Nature Conservancy in New York Press Releases Search All Press Releases Sharon Pickett (914) 244-3271 x27 Email: spickett@tnc.org

Eastern New York Chapter, Partners Gather to Congratulate Senator Vincent Leibell 

Support for the Environmental Protection Fund Cited

Putnam County, NY—July 19, 2006—State and regional Conservation groups gathered in Putnam County today to show their appreciation for State Senator Vincent Leibell for his support of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) recently approved in Albany. With this approval, legislators made way for an EPF increase of $100 million over two years. The EPF now totals $225 million. The dedicated trust fund, supported by state real estate transfer revenue, provides for clean water, natural area, farmland and parks protection projects in Putnam County and across the state. In addition, the legislators approved the restoration of more than 50 state environmental and parks agency staff and approved a new Conservation Easement Tax Credit. Katie Dolan, Executive Director of the Eastern New York Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and Paul Gallay, Executive Director of Westchester Land Trust presented Senator Leibell with a "Conservation Champion" award.

Conservation Groups Gather to Honor Senator Vincent Leibell © Sharon Pickett

Senator Leibell commented, "It is an honor to receive this recognition from New York’s leading environmental conservation organizations.  New Yorkers have a longstanding tradition of working together to ensure that our residents live in healthy communities and enjoy clean water, clean air, protected open spaces, working farms and neighborhood parks. I am pleased that Governor Pataki and my Senate and Assembly colleagues have been able to approve this substantial increase in the Environmental Protection Fund." 

Gathering in Patterson at the Lawlor Building, home of the group Friends of the Great Swamp, representatives from The Nature Conservancy, Scenic Hudson, Westchester Land Trust, Friends of the Great Swamp and others were unanimous in their regard for Senator Leibell. Paul Gallay of the Westchester Land Trust said, "The Environmental Protection Fund is essential to the long-term land protection goals of Westchester’s communities. We are grateful to Senator Leibell for being a steadfast supporter of open space funding and of the EPF, which has been a source of significant funding for several of our projects, including the Angle Fly Preserve in Somers."

Summing up the afternoon, The Nature Conservancy’s Katie Dolan, added, "New Yorkers in all parts of the state should be pleased by the leadership shown by Senator Leibell. The sizable increase in the Environmental Protection Fund is a significant step towards the higher level of conservation needed to protect our forests, rivers, and amazing landscapes of New York. The Conservancy is particularly pleased to see additional funding for clean water, open space natural area conservation, protection of natural diversity, management of invasive species, plus monies for the Hudson Estuary, and our oceans, bays and coasts. Additionally, on a truly local scale, the Senator has worked long and hard for the protection of the Great Swamp Watershed; an real ecological treasure right here in our backyard!"