FAQs

Menu Home About Us Current Issues News FAQs Links Did You Know? Contact Us

Q. With so much being written about the US reducing pollution and global warming/climate change, what about China? It would seem as though it is now the biggest polluter on the planet. A. Refer to our News piece on  that topic. Q. What is that tiny scallop-leaf plant that sprouts equally tiny purple flowers that is spreading throughout our and others' lawns? A. Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea, also nicknamed "creeping charlie") is an aggressive, low-growing, perennial invader (an alien from Europe) of lawns, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. It thrives in moist, shady areas, as well as sunny locations. The scalloped leaves are round or kidney-shaped and are attached by petioles to square stems. Ground ivy roots at each joint whenever it touches the soil, thus making it difficult to hand pull. The small flowers are funnel shaped and bluish-purple in color. Many ground ivy infestations are too severe to control successfully through broadleaf herbicide applications. Complete renovation of an infested area is another alternative. Repeated tilling or an application of Trimec® will kill ground ivy. It may be necessary to treat the area twice with the  product before the weed is completely killed. Lawn seeding can be done 7 days after application. The best time to attempt lawn renovation is mid to late summer. Seeding should be completed before mid September. Always make sure to use herbicides as directed. Q. First it was Dutch Elm Disease, then Purple Loosestrife, zebra mussels, West Nile Virus, and the list of invasive alien species in America just continues to grow.  Is there any way to stop or control these? A. Ecologists have documented the tremendous damage done to natural ecosystems by invasive species in America. It's estimated that more than 50,000 invasive species now exist in the U.S. Economic costs due to invasive species can be separated into direct costs due to production loss in agriculture and forestry, and management costs of invasive species. Estimated damage and control cost of invasive species in the U.S. alone amount to more than $138 billion annually. One of the latest is the Emerald Ash Borer, first discovered in Michigan in 2002, which was  recently discovered in Pennsylvania forests, about 75 miles from the New York border. The insect, an invasive species from Asia, attacks Ash trees, which account for about 8 percent of all N.Y. trees. Preventing the establishment of invasive species is always the best method of control.  However, with today's huge global market, stopping harmful species from "hitching a ride" can be difficult. Many governments try to limit the entry of invasive species into their lands with thorough inspections of international shipments, customs checks, and proper quarantine regulations. The creation of a list of safe and potentially harmful species can be helpful in regulation. The general public can also participate in invasive species prevention by educating themselves about invasive species and by making informed decisions. Q. Why is the burning of trash and refuse on backyards and other residential properties allowed? A. Although open burning by a commercial or industrial enterprise is illegal in NYS unless a special permit is obtained from DEC, burning on private residential property is only prohibited within incorporated villages, cities, and towns with populations above 20,000 people. Agricultural operations are exempted from this provision of the law. Lacking any ordinances in smaller towns (or county-wide) to regulate or prohibit such burning, it is permissible unless a civil complaint is filed. Burning about 10 pounds of trash in a household burn barrel may produce as much air pollution as a modern, well-controlled incinerator burning 400,000 pounds of trash. An EPA/DOH/DEC study showed that smoke from burning trash in a barrel may contain particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, dioxins, furans, and PCBs. Q. Lately, there's been much written about Outdoor Wood Boilers. Is installing one of these units worth considering? A.  Outdoor Wood Boilers (OWBs) require an immense amount of work and are inconvenient for some to use, loading your burner outside in the cold of winter, daily monitoring and adjusting, finding an ample and consistent source of wood, and a large dry storage area is required for the wood. Unlike the indoor woodstove, during a power outage you do not have heat. The OWBs are expensive, costing between $3,000 to $10,000 to purchase and install the unit. Another disadvantage of the OWBs is the amount of wood smoke released from the combustion. This is the source of most complaints against the stoves. The design of the fireboxes encourages a slow burning cooler fire, which is supposed to maximize the amount of heat transfer. However, slower cooler fires are inefficient (Only 40% as efficient as indoor wood stoves) and create more smoke and creosote. The unit's excessive smoke can also be attributed to the incomplete combustion of the wood, wood choice (soft versus hardwood) and the moisture content in the wood. OWB owners sometimes burn trash, household garbage, tires, cardboard and garden refuse, which leads to elevated smoke and toxin level and unpleasant odors.  Many areas have passed ordinances against their use because of these faults. Q. Is all the landfilling that is occurring along river and large stream watersheds  impacting water flow, especially during high water periods? A. The improper filling/displacing of existing flood plain release areas along rivers and major stream flows often has a domino effect as the water moves downstream. As less surface area is available for swollen rivers to "release" the excess, that extra water is forced to move downstream at both an increased flow rate and volume, thereby affecting or overloading release areas/flood plains farther downstream.  Since the  drainage along a watershed system increases as it tracks downstream, shrinking release acreage via reduced flood plain areas along the length of a major flow  magnifies the problems and threats of flood damage the farther downstream it goes. Q. If you have a question suitable for the attention of the CCEMC, please contact us