Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: April 29th, 2004
CONTACT:
Al Caccese
PHONE: (518) 869-9731

George Drapeau
PHONE: (914) 631-6070

AUDUBON, CIC PRESENT SOUND GUARDIAN AWARDS TO CONGRESSMAN JAMES WALSH, DEC'S ERIN CROTTY FOR LONG ISLAND SOUND RESTORATION EFFORTS

TARRYTOWN, NY- One of the state's largest conservation organizations, Audubon New York and the leading construction trade association in the downstate region, the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, Inc., announced they will honor U.S. Congressman James T. Walsh (R-NY) and Erin Crotty, New York State's Commissioner of Environmental Conservation with awards for their commitments to curtail pollution and enact clean-up efforts for Long Island Sound.

Representative Walsh and Commissioner Crotty will receive the 2004 Sound Guardian Award on Thursday, April 29, 2004, presented by CIC and Audubon at a cocktail reception at the American Yacht Club in Rye, NY, beginning at 6:00 pm. All proceeds to benefit Audubon New York.

Throughout his long career in the House of Representatives, Rep. Walsh has proven to be a strong advocate of clean water programs. Specifically, as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Independent Agencies, including the EPA, he has earmarked funds for Long Island Sound. Even in the most difficult budgetary times, he has recognized the importance of the Long Island Sound Cleanup Program, the coalition formed for its restoration and the need to increase funding levels.

"When we needed support for the passage of the Long Island Sound Restoration Act in 2000 and every year since then ensuring appropriations for the program, he has been there for us," said Ross Pepe, President of the Construction Industry Council and co-founder of the Clean Water/Jobs coalition. "He understands and believes in our coalition's mantra, that clean water and a restored Long Island Sound means a better environment, a better economy and more jobs."

His role as a member of the Committee on Appropriations is vital to the interests of the State. His district includes Onondaga County, northern Cayuga County, Wayne County and the northeastern portion of Monroe County. The New York Times called Mr. Walsh's Chairmanship "important to New York State" and noted that the Congressman is "in a strong position" to assist Gov. George Pataki with New York projects.

An avid sportsman who hunts, fishes and birds on a regular basis, Congressman Walsh and his wife live in the town of Onondaga, a suburb of Syracuse. They have three children, Jed, Ben, and Maureen. Rep. Walsh's father, William F. Walsh, served as Mayor of Syracuse from 1961-69, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1972-78. Audubon is also happy to report that he is an excellent birder and maintains a life list.

"Congressman Jim Walsh is doing what is right for the environment and Long Island Sound," said David J. Miller, Executive Director of Audubon New York and co-founder of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition. "His love for birds, wildlife and their habitats translates into strong leadership for environmental funding to New York State."

As Commissioner, Erin Crotty has exhibited outstanding leadership in the implementation of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and the Governors' 2003 Long Island Sound Agreement. Throughout her conservation career, she was instrumental in the implementation of the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and in allocating funds for the implementation of the Long Island Sound nitrogen reduction plan. Commissioner Crotty is a strong supporter and advocate of Audubon New York's Long Island Sound Program as well as the efforts of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition. Commissioner Crotty serves on the Policy Committee of the Long Island Sound program and testifies frequently before Congress on the needs and importance of the Long Island Sound program.

"Commissioner Crotty has always been there ensuring that the Long Island Sound clean up program stays on course and is implemented on time," said David J. Miller, Executive Director of Audubon New York and co-founder of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition. "Audubon applauds Commissioner Crotty's leadership in holding the city of New York's feet to the fire and her regulatory actions to spur quicker compliance for the City in implementing their clean up requirements."

Commissioner Crotty's public service also includes two years as Deputy Commissioner for Water Quality and Environmental Remediation at DEC, where she was responsible for overseeing the State's programs to clean up contaminated properties, implementation of the $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and all activities impacting New York's water quality. Prior to 1997, Crotty also served as Gov. Pataki's director of Special Environmental Projects, where she was involved in the negotiation and development of the historic New York City Watershed Agreement and implementation of the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.

"Commissioner Crotty has been a friend of the Sound and the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition," said Ross Pepe, President of the Construction Industry and co-founder of the Coalition. "She understands that a coalition of conservation, the construction industry and labor organizations can move public policy and support the state program in a way that is greater than the sum of their individual actions."

Reflecting the widespread importance of this award and the environmental need it underscores, Audubon's and CIC's Sound Guardian Award annual presentations, has been co-sponsored by the KeySpan Corporation, the General Contractors Association of NY, Inc., the Builders Institute of Westchester/Mid-Hudson Valley, Inc., and the New York State Laborers' - Employers' Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET).

Past recipients of the Sound Guardian Award include U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Gov. George E. Pataki, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, Long Island Sound Congressional Co-Chairs Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Christopher Shays (R-CT), and Congressman Sherwood L. Boehlert (R- Utica, NY).

Pollution in Long Island Sound has resulted from years of neglect, and had become a major problem along the New York-Connecticut shoreline. For the past decade, the CIC and Audubon New York, as founding members of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition, have worked with officials at all levels of government to secure funding for clean-up programs.

The plan to restore the Sound stems from the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Long Island Sound, first adopted by the state and federal governments in 1994. Long Island Sound was one of the first National Estuaries identified in 1987 under the National Estuary program when environmentalists and government leaders feared that the Sound might be permanently destroyed because of runoff pollution discharges from sewage treatment facilities.

For more and information and reservations to the Sound Guardian Presentation at the American Yacht Club on April 29th, contact David Miller or Al Caccese of Audubon New York at (518) 869-9731 or George Drapeau of the CIC at (914) 631-6070.

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