Federated Conservationists of Westchester County

Historical Issues

As the premier environmental watchdog in Westchester, the organization’s advocacy efforts have influenced local, county, and state governments on many issues, including the following highlights:

1965 to 1970

Worked to increase local and county recycling
Worked to close the Croton Point landfill, located on the Hudson River in a wetlands area
Opposed channelizing Westchester’s rivers to prevent flooding
Helped pass NYS General Municipal Law (GML) Section 239-x in 1970, establishing Conservation Advisory Councils

1970s

Focused attention on the storage of nuclear power plant waste and Indian Point evacuation policies
Improved protection of wetlands and the water quality of the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, and other water bodies
Worked to get the Tidal and Freshwater Wetlands laws and State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) enacted into state law
Promoted environmental review of all proposed real estate developments
Helped communities set up Conservation Advisory Councils under the 1970 New York state law and sought lay representation on the new County Environmental Management Council in 1973

1980s

Spurred the environmental review of the Peekskill Resource Recovery plant
Worked for passage of the first New York State Bottle Bill in 1982
Promoted energy and water conservation
Worked on issues of pesticide safety
Worked for nearly a decade to preserve the 170-acre natural area by Playland Lake in Rye as a park known as the Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (named to honor the conservationist and FCWC Board member who worked so diligently in the preservation effort)
Played a key role in presenting to the Westchester County Board of Legislators the need for a local law to designate Critical Environmental Areas Supported the addition of the Lasdon estate in Somers to the Westchester County park system

1990s

Worked with local partners to have the Jay Property preserved as an historic resource
Helped defeat massive development plans for Davids Island in Long Island Sound (FCWC supports a county park on the island. Read our position paper)
Supported the Long Island Sound Task Force’s Citizen Water Monitoring Project
Helped implement the Habitat Protection for Biodiversity in Westchester County Project together with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Wildlife Conservation Society
Including spearheading efforts to identify habitats and species in country parks, resulting in the designation of biodiversity preserves in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Supported and urged mass transit alternatives to reduce traffic, air pollution, and sprawl and also limiting the impact of Westchester County Airport

2000-2005

Led the effort for Westchester County to acquire Davids Island for parkland
Took an active role through individual Board members in the County’s Watershed Advisory Committees (WACs) effort with local reservoirs, rivers, and streams
Promoted energy conservation, efficiency, and green buildings with a county-wide two-day Energy Expo at the County Center
Helped pass the Pesticide Neighbor Notification law in Westchester
Focused attention on urban environmental issues such as brownfields
Worked to protect the quality of the drinking water in the Croton Watershed
Held several air pollution roundtable discussions and identified the non-attainment status as defined by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including spearheading the Healthy Air for Westchester Campaign (HAWC) and chairing the County Healthy Air Task Force, resulting in the successful adoption of air quality policies ahead of federal mandates
Worked for remediation of the Hudson River PCBs
Was instrumental in winning an extension of the legal agreement with the airlines that provides a ceiling on the number of Westchester County Airport commercial passenger flights and passengers