Public Invited to Meetings on Sea Level Rise

ALBANY, NY (01/12/2009; 1350)(readMedia)– The public is invited to a series of meetings about the effects of sea level rise and the development of recommendations for dealing with rising sea levels, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.

The meetings, sponsored by the New York State Sea Level Rise Task Force, will be held at four different locations. (See the attachement below for locations and schedule.)

The task force is comprised of state agencies, local governments, not-for-profit organizations, community groups and private citizens. Commissioner Grannis serves as chair of the task force.

The geographic scope of the task force report will include the five boroughs of New York City and the counties of Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk. The tidal waters of the Hudson River to the Federal Dam at Troy are also included because of the potential risks from rising waters to Hudson River ecosystems, drinking water supplies and infrastructure.

DEC