Environment

Ontario County wants residents to weigh in again on how it will handle trash for the next decade, according to the Finger Lakes Times . Officials opened a second public comment period as they plan ... more

State environmental officials will conduct prescribed burns on public lands through early May. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said the effort will take place on lands it manages across multiple regions. The ... more

On a recent episode of Connections with Evan Dawson, panelists discussed New York’s new requirement for climate change education in K-12 schools. The mandate, approved by the Board of Regents, makes New York the second ... more

Dozens of climate activists rallied outside the Capitol while Gov. Kathy Hochul defended her plan miles away, according to Spectrum News. Protesters pushed back hard on proposed changes to New York’s 2019 climate law. Hochul ... more

A state appellate court has upheld a ruling that invalidates a Seneca Falls law aimed at closing the Seneca Meadows landfill. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department affirmed a lower court decision finding the town failed ... more

New York state senators voted down a proposal to repeal the state’s electric school bus mandate. The amendment would have removed the requirement and allowed a study on converting to zero-emission vehicles. Here in the ... more

State officials and conservation partners have started a wetland enhancement project at the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County. The project will restore 50 acres of wetland habitat in the town of Ellisburg. Officials ... more

New York hunters harvested an estimated 1,759 black bears during the 2025-26 hunting seasons, marking the second-highest total on record. State officials said the total was about 4% higher than 2024 and 18% above the ... more

New York environmental officials announced a new statewide plan to address harmful algal blooms, outlining a five-year strategy for monitoring, research and mitigation. The Department of Environmental Conservation said the roadmap will guide efforts to ... more

A state senator is calling for changes to New York’s energy policies, citing rising costs tied to the state’s climate law. In a weekly column, Sen. Tom O’Mara pointed to increasing utility costs and urged ... more

A major rollback of New York’s climate law is on the table, but key lawmakers are already pushing back, according to Spectrum News 1 . Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to delay deadlines and change how ... more

Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling for significant adjustments to New York’s landmark climate law, arguing that the state must balance aggressive emissions goals with the rising cost of energy for residents and businesses. In a ... more

Ontario County officials have opened a second public comment period on a draft solid waste management plan. The comment period runs from March 20 through May 4 as the plan undergoes state review. The plan ... more

Crews will soon tackle invasive plants across hundreds of acres at a popular Lake Ontario park, aiming to restore fragile habitats, according to state officials. State officials plan a multi-year restoration project at Fair Haven ... more

Cornell Chronicle reported that wildfire smoke from Canada reduced bird vocalizations across New York, according to author Caitlin Hayes. The study, published Feb. 19 in Biological Conservation, examined how smoke from 2023 wildfires affected bird ... more

A Cornell University student group is advocating for nuclear energy as part of the transition to clean power. Cornell Nuclear is Clean Energy, founded by students including Diana Michaelson, has hosted events and discussions on ... more

Hobart and William Smith Colleges students are collecting air quality data in Geneva to study pollution and its health impacts. The project is a partnership with BluePrint Geneva and is supported by a grant from ... more

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed new hunting regulations aimed at increasing the harvest of antlerless deer statewide. Officials said the changes are intended to better manage growing deer populations and ... more

Toxic contamination at a longtime Clifton Springs industrial site is moving closer to cleanup, according to the Finger Lakes Times. State officials have opened a public comment period on a proposed plan for the G.W ... more