Editorial: Carmans needs boost from Albany

For the Carmans River, the good news is that there's a plan to keep it as clean as it is today. The bad news is that it requires Albany action, and the clock is ticking as this legislative session nears its end.

The Town of Brookhaven launched the study group that came up with it, and the town has held its hearing. It's a good plan. One of its best features is the diversion of development from the river's watershed into downtowns. The health of the river is crucial for the region, because its waters contribute significantly to the Great South Bay.

The town will be ready to take final action in a couple of months. But the plan needs help from Albany. The legislature must amend the Pine Barrens Protection Act of 1993, expanding the pine barrens core preservation area to include land covered by the Carmans River plan.

The bill is just in draft form, and the legislature is trying to wrap up before the end of June. So getting this done before the end of session will require a sense of urgency.

If a bill doesn't pass this session it might lie dormant well into 2012. Meanwhile, some major development proposals in or near the watershed are moving toward some kind of town action.

The plan must go into effect soon, so it can be used to analyze those proposals. That means our lawmakers should move fast to pass the bill expanding the core. It's a golden opportunity not only to preserve a river, but also prove that "Albany action" isn't an oxymoron. hN