Environmentalists in New York are giving state legislators mixed grades when it came to passage of environmentally-friendly legislation during the just concluded session.
Peter Iwanowicz of Environmental Advocates of New York says he was mostly pleased. But he was critical of lawmakers and the Governor for failing to take action once again on reducing diesel emissions from trucks.
"People get sick from diesel and die prematurely, all because state legislators and the governor decided to delay clean-up of the state's diesel trucks for another year," Iwanowicz said.
Appearing on the Capitol Pressroom heard on WBFO, Iwanowicz did say there were some victories. Chief among them, he said, was an increase in funding for the Environmental Protection Fund to $300 million.
Iwanowicz said another $200 million was earmarked for clean water infrastructure upgrades across New York -- a key for municipalities struggling with lead contamination problems and outdated sewage treatment plants.