The year 2009 has been a difficult one for the Interstate Environmental Commission (IEC). The recession and fiscal crisis which has affected the country and the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Tri-State Area which the Commission serves has affected the Commission as well, requiring the re-examination of Commission programs, staffing, goals and objectives. I am pleased to report that the IEC has emerged from this process better focused and equipped to fulfill its mission under the TriState Compact to address environmental issues within its Interstate Environmental District with renewed energy and commitment.

The Commission this year reinvigorated and reemphasized the role of IEC’s Environmental Laboratory which has been located on the campus of the College of Staten Island (CSI) since December 1993. The Laboratory is recognized by the Commission’s member states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a nationally accredited environmental facility and is certified by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) through the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH). NELAP is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. IEC’s Laboratory has been, and continues to be, involved in a wide range of sampling and research projects. Many of those projects are described in detail in the Annual Report. A number of them are conducted in collaboration with CSI’s Center for Environmental Science and other organizations.