Senator Aubertine opposes reductions in
Environmental Protection Fund
Senator Darrel J. Aubertine is calling for Governor David Paterson to prevent further cuts to
Environmental Protection Fund allocations for programs designed to help farmers protect land from development and comply with environmental regulations to keep local water clean.“These programs not only help farmers protect the environment, they benefit farmers and our economy,” Sen. Aubertine said. “We cannot continue to dip into the EPF to balance our budget. These programs help farmers comply with environmental regulations and give them much needed capital to re-invest in their business. Studies of worldwide food production have forecast a shortage of farmland and these programs protect our farms here in New York State.”The senator sent a letter to Gov. Paterson asking for his “support and leadership” in protecting EPF funding, especially for the Farmland Protection Program and Agriculture Nonpoint Source Program.“These programs benefit farmers and help protect our environment, two things we must remain committed to as we pull through this economic downturn,” he said. “While we need to continue looking for ways to close our budget gap, we should not make further cuts that would impact these important programs.Read on..
