Cuomo Vetoes Stream Protection Bill

Water Front:  Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill to protect 41,000 miles of New York State streams regularly used for fishing and boating — legislation that major environmental groups consider an essential response to the Trump Administration’s rollback of federal stream and wetland protections.

The following statement was submitted by to Rob Hayes, Clean Water Associate at Environmental Advocates NY.

“The State Legislature gave Governor Cuomo a chance to protect thousands of miles of New York’s streams, and he didn’t take it – what an incredible missed opportunity. Healthy water is a foundation for healthy people, thriving wildlife, and vibrant communities. With the federal government weakening protections under the federal Clean Water Act, it is up to New York to bolster safeguards for our beloved streams, wetlands, and watersheds.

In citing the current fiscal climate as the reason for his veto, Governor Cuomo sadly overlooked the wisdom that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ It will cost the state much more to clean up contaminated streams than it will to protect them in the first place. We urge the State Legislature to pass this bill again next year and work with the Governor to ensure that our streams receive the strongest protections against pollution.”