I thank everyone for the spirit of cooperation that made this success happen and Governor Pataki for his commitment to continuing a remarkable natural resource restoration project. We have made a tremendous amount of progress over the last few years in our waterfront region that would not have been possible without the help of the Governor. When combined with the Governor's commitment to building a new state park at the 'Cherry Farm', the future of our waterfront is very bright. DEC Commissioner John P. Cahill said, A The Strawberry Island restoration project is a nationally recognized success story and these Bond Act funds will help us to complete the task. Sportsmen, State and local officials, environmentalists, birders and community activists all rallied to the aid of Strawberry Island when it was threatened.
Today is the beginning of a new chapter in a great conservation story.
State Agriculture Commissioner Donald R. Davidsen said, A Farmers across new York are eager to protect drinking water from the natural byproduct of their operations. This funding from the Governor helps farmers protect watersheds from runoff and will preserve the water quality of the Buffalo River and Twelve Mile Creek. The State Environmental Protection Fund supports State and local programs to preserve and restore the environment by protecting open spaces, farmland, coastlines and municipal parks, closing outdated municipal landfills and improving recycling. During the Pataki Administration, EPF funding has increased four-fold. In 1996, there was a cleanup up of a small portion of the park where oil and asphalt were leaking from underground tanks.