ALBANY (AP) -- The state Assembly's environmental conservation committee is hearing testimony on the impact of budget cuts on the Department of Environmental Conservation. Among those slated to testify Thursday morning are former DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, recently fired by Gov. David Paterson after a budget memo was leaked to the media, and acting DEC Commissioner Peter Iwanowicz . Environmental, labor, and conservation groups are also expected to testify.
The Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York is sending a petroleum engineer to warn against cutbacks in field inspectors needed to oversee an expansion of natural gas exploration.
The agency stands to lose 150 jobs as part of Paterson's plan to lay off about 900 state workers by year's end.
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