Albany Watch

Democratic attorney general candidate Richard Brodsky released an environmental policy platform this afternoon, taking stances on citizen lawsuits, drilling for natural gas and strengthen enforcement of the state’s oil spill fund.

“I plan on being the most aggressive defender of our natural resources to ever hold the office of Attorney General,” said Brodsky. “It is imperative that the Attorney General hold private industry, public utilities and local governments accountable for their actions when they pertain to the environment. We owe it to future generations to take swift, decisive action to ensure that this great state’s precious ecosystems remain in tact into perpetuity.”

Brodsky, a Greenburgh, Westchester County assemblyman, said he would appoint a watershed inspector general to monitor the water quality when and if drilling takes place for natural gas in the Marcellus shale formation of the southern tier. The process, known as a fracking, uses a mixture of chemicals and water to drill beneath the surface for natural gas. Opponents of hydraulic fracking believe it could have a detrimental effect on the water quality in the area and New York City.

Brodsky said he would clamp down on special taxing districts that fund water and wastewater management efforts. He said that in many cases the districts don’t function the way they should.

“New York’s various state agencies, public utilities and local governments need to all work together to protect our environment and public health,” Brodsky said in a statement. “As Attorney General, I will enact sweeping reforms and enforcement provisions that will enable us to jointly reach this goal.”