This week, after eight years of tireless grass roots effort, Governor Pataki signed landmark environmental legislation into law. Environmental organizations, breast cancer activists, civics, residents and local members of the New York State Assembly and Senate worked to see the Neighbor Notification of Pesticide Spraying Bill through to fruition. This piece of legislation requires schools and daycare centers to inform parents of pesticide use, and affords residents within 150 feet of their neighbors property 48 hour notification before commercial pesticide spraying. Homeowners, who opt to apply the chemicals themselves, are required to place flags to alert neighbors of pesticide application. For schools and daycare centers the new law will take effect July 1, 2001. The homeowner and commercial application rules are pending Nassau County legislation prior to implementation. This victory demonstrates that through grass roots effort and bipartisan support positive change can be enacted.

As many of us will be packing our children off to school with pens and paper over the next few weeks, it is a good time for concerned residents to do their part in helping to protect and preserve our environment through writing to our state and local officials expressing views on some of the most pressing threats to our local communities.

Of grave concern are the proposed changes to Republic Airport. This airport is currently permitted to accept flights of FAA Design Group C-2 Aircraft . The New York State Department of Transportation has recommended changes that will accommodate large FAA Design Group C-3 Aircraft, which includes 200,000 pound 727 jets. The plan also includes increasing the usable length of runway #1-19, acquiring approximately 11 acres of land outside the current airport boundaries, construction of new buildings and increasing the storage capacity of Jet-A fuel. Beside the obvious concerns of air traffic accidents, noise pollution, air pollution and increased traffic; this plan creates unnecessary potential for additional ground water contamination. Please send your comments to Governor Pataki, Executive Chamber, The State Capitol, Albany, 12224.

Another challenge to our quality of life and underground aquifer is overdevelopment. You may have read that, in a comprehensive effort to preserve our aquifer and to direct growth, Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Eisler has proposed the creation of a master plan predicated on the philosophy of smart growth. A major benefit of this plan is the inclusion of community input. Please contact the town board at 54 Audrey Avenue, Town Hall East, Oyster Bay, 11771 with your thoughts, as this plan promises to have a significant impact on our community's future.

Along the same line, please continue to contact your state, local and county officials regarding the acquisition of the Underhill property. This magnificent tract of open space is situated over one of only two Special Ground Water Protection Area sites in the Town of Oyster Bay, and is critical to our future supply of clean drinking water.

Please mark your calendars for Sept. 7 to attend the town board hearing on the proposed mall at the Cerro Wire site. If approved, this mega-mall will create a tremendous increase in traffic, noise and air pollution, and undoubtedly will take away business from our local merchants. Support our local retailers and our neighbors in Jericho and Syosset on Sept. 7.

In closing, congratulations to all involved with the passage of the Neighbor Notification of Pesticide Spraying Bill, and especially to Neal Lewis, executive director of the L.I. Neighborhood Network for his insight nearly a decade ago. Let's view their success as an example of what can be accomplished by getting involved and working together.

Carol Meschkow

Concerned Citizens of the

Plainview-Old Bethpage Community