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Greene County officials want NYC to lease, rather than buy land to protect drinking water
Mid-Hudson News reports that the Greene County Legislature unanimously adopted a toothless resolution against the New York City Department of Environmental Protection purchasing more land in the county. The New York City agency buys land locally to protect water that is used for drinking in the city. Right now a State Health Department mandate allows New York City to annually purchase and preserve up to 56,000 acres of privately owned land to protect the drinking water within its reservoirs of the Catskill Mountains. But the legislatures of both Greene and Delaware counties want New York City to purchase leases held by the local municipalities instead. Matt Luvera, acting chairman of the Greene County Legislature, said, “We are the ones who live, work, and raise families here, and we must have the ability to provide opportunities for, and improve the quality of life of our residents. That’s why we need the DEP to limit its land acquisition and work within a voluntary, municipally approved Stream Corridor Acquisition Program.” New York City is required to develop a Long-Term Land Acquisition Plan this year to cover the next decade. The county resolution is only meant to influence that process. Read the full story at Mid-Hudson News.