Proposed changes to New York’s environmental review law that could exempt developments of up to 100 housing units from scrutiny drew sharp criticism from environmental advocates during a roundtable that included Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski Jr.
“Christmas has come early for the horseshoe crabs!” exclaimed Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, following New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s signing of the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act last month. The new law bans the removal of horseshoe crabs for bait and biomedical uses in New York waters by 2029.
Humpback whale surface feeding on Atlantic menhaden in inshore waters of the New York Bight. Image taken under NOAA Permit No. 26260.
The top two threats facing whales off Long Island's coast are boat strikes and fishing nets.
Larger issue, supe says, is what comes after the closure
On Jan. 8, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, DEC, extended the deadline for completion of the Corrective Measures Assessment period and Report submission to ensure a complete assessment and adequate public engagement for the Town of Brookhaven’s landfill closure.
According to the DEC, the town must host a public meeting and conclude their assessment by April 15, 2026, and submit the Corrective Measures Assessment Report by May 1, 2026, a three-month extension from previous requirements.
