Great Lakes Cheese often polluted Ischua Creek, data shows
It has been nearly a month since the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began investigating wastewater discharge from Great Lakes Cheese that likely killed tens of thousands of fish and countless other aquatic species in Ischua Creek.
Help CCE build on our success, and support our campaigns to protect public health and the environment in NY and CT.
Make a contribution today.
Celebrating at our 40th Birthday Bash!
We’ve reached a significant milestone and had a giant celebration in September. We celebrated our 40th year of working to protect our environment and public health with hundreds of our friends and colleagues who have helped make CCE successful over the last four decades. Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our Birthday Bash and made it a fantastic night! Special thanks to our speakers, NYS DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, NYSERDA President Doreen Harris, NY Deputy Secretary of State Keisha Santiago, Congressman Nick LaLota, and Assemblymember Deborah Glick.
Tackling Marine Debris in the South Shore Estuary Reserve
In honor of National Estuaries Week, the Department of State (DOS) has awarded $2.4M in funding through the South Shore Estuary Reserve Grants (SSER) Local Assistance Program, which will support local communities improve water quality, improve habitat, and advance environmental education along the south shore of Long Island. We received a $238k grant to be used toward marine debris removal and educational outreach with our friends at Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Operation SPLASH. A huge thank you to NYS DOS!
Chemical Waste Management Denied Request for New Hazardous Waste Landfill in Western NY!
In September, the New York State Facility Siting Board officially denied CWM’s request to build a new hazardous waste landfill in Niagara County in WNY. For over 10 years, we have opposed this ill-conceived, unnecessary proposal that would have brought more than four million tons of hazardous waste to an already overburdened community for decades to come. This is a major victory for the community and the health of our Great Lakes!
Opposing Federal Funding Cuts to Clean Water
New York and Connecticut’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is aging and failing, putting our economy, health, and environment at risk. Regrettably, the President and Congress have proposed to cut funding for critical clean water infrastructure programs. Significant funding cuts would hamper our ability to stop sewage overflows, treat drinking water for toxic emerging contaminants, make drinking water affordable to all, and create good-paying jobs. As Congress works to finalize a federal budget, we are pushing for NY and CT’s Congressional Delegations to reject these draconian cuts and protect clean water funding! Contact your two U.S. Senators and Representative in the U.S. House today and urge them to support full clean water funding!
Pushing to Hold Water Polluters Accountable in WNY and Beyond
This summer, a failure of the wastewater system at the Great Lakes Cheese facility in Cattaraugus County killed tens of thousands of fish and other aquatic life in Ischua Creek (after the facility had already violated its permits several times in recent months). Not only was it critical to address this specific issue and hold the company accountable, but it has raised concerns about other facilities that are polluting our waters and not being held accountable by New York State. In a recent Buffalo News article, we called for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to be held accountable for enforcing the Clean Water Act—a primary function of the agency—not only at Great Lakes Cheese, but other polluting facilities across the state.
Updates on Our Work to Advance Offshore Wind:
• New York State Energy Plan: The New York State Energy Planning Board recently released the Draft 2025 State Energy Plan. We held a big pro-renewable energy rally and press conference before heading into a public hearing in September with many of our Wind Works partners to testify. Environment, labor, and community leaders urged New York State not to backtrack on our climate goals and to move forward with clean, renewable energy projects including offshore wind. We are telling New York State that sticking with our climate and offshore wind mandates will enable us to have cleaner air, grow our green economy, bring economic benefits to our communities, make our electric grid more sustainable, stabilize electricity rates, and increase our local, domestic energy supply.
• South Fork Wind Shows Success in First Year: It's officially been ONE YEAR since South Fork Wind, America's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, began its operations. To highlight it's success, Ørsted U.S. has released its first-year report showcasing strong performance and reliability. During the first half of 2025, South Fork Wind performed a notable 53% net capacity factor making it a favorable competitor against legacy power plants and generated electricity 92% of time displaying a steady generation profile throughout the day that rose in the afternoon when New York needs to meet peak daily load. This new report emphasizes how offshore wind can provide enough reliable, cost-effective energy to power to New York, even in times of higher energy demand; all while supporting the local economy by creating thousands of jobs!
• Saying Yes to Battery Energy Storage: As part of NY’s transition to renewable energy, especially offshore wind, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS systems store energy from renewable energy sources and deliver it when electricity demand is greatest, helping to create a more reliable grid. This summer, New York’s Intra-Agency Fire Safety Task Force adopted the most stringent, protective fire code in the country for BESS to ensure they can be built safely and sited properly. However, several Long Island towns persist with moratoriums on BESS. In September, we went to Town of Islip to urge the Town Board not to approve a 12-month moratorium on battery storage systems. Unfortunately, the Town moved forward with the moratorium. We are keeping up the fight for BESS, so stayed tuned for more updates on how you can support these critical projects.
Healing Our Waters (HOW) Great Lakes Coalition Conference Comes to Rochester
As a state lead for the Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition in New York, we were thrilled to have HOW bring their national Great Lakes conference to Rochester in September! The conference featured topical and varied plenaries and workshops, exciting field trips in and around Rochester, and abundant chances to meet and network with Great Lakes advocates from around the region. It was great to have the City of Rochester and Lake Ontario highlighted at this major event!
Patchogue Village Composting Program
We are joining the Village of Patchogue to launch a residential composting program, the first of its kind on Long Island! This will help reduce waste and increase organics recycling as Long Island faces a solid waste crisis. We held the first meeting on the composting program at the Patchogue-Medford Library in September and had a great discussion with residents interested in joining. We still have spots available to participate in the program. This program is for Village residents only and it’s free to participate. Sign up for more information here.
Long Island Climate Change Communi-Tea Meetings
Long Island is already experiencing the effects of climate change, from rising temperatures, flooding, extreme weather and much more. It’s more important now to get the facts and hear the truth. We have launched a series of community meetings to deliver an informative, science-based presentation where we will dive into local environmental issues and explore the inspiring work happening across Long Island to transition to renewable energy and strengthen our climate resiliency. We have held great events in Brentwood and Medford so far. Thanks to all who came out and participated in the discussion. We have another scheduled for East Northport in November. Register here.
The Trump administration's plan to rescind a rule used to enforce limits on greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles will jeopardize health and safety on Long Island while undermining billions of dollars New York has spent electrifying the transportation sector, local environmental advocates and scientific experts say.
“Trump’s EPA to repeal core of greenhouse gas rules,” was the Reuters headline this week as Lee Zeldin, chosen by Donald Trump to be administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced what Reuters said “will rescind the long-standing finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health, as well as tailpipe emission standards for vehicles, removing the legal foundation of greenhouse gas regulations across industries.”
You flush and forget about it. But what goes down doesn’t just disappear. On Long Island, where it ends up has been a problem for decades. Outdated septic systems and cesspools leak pollutants into the groundwater. As a result, these aging systems pose serious threats to drinking water, the environment, public health, and the local economy. It’s been a long fight for change, but on July 23rd, Suffolk County took a huge step toward cleaner water.
As the Environmental Protection Agency lays the groundwork to potentially end its own ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, a delegation from the advocacy group Long Island Sound Citizens Advisory Committee went to Washington last week to meet with someone they knew well: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The agenda: ensure consistent protection for Long Island Sound amid harsh federal funding cuts.
Horseshoe crabs have existed for over 350 million years, having shared this planet with the dinosaurs. Sadly, the species is now vulnerable to local extinction unless action is taken soon. Horseshoe crab populations are being depleted! Commercial fishermen catch them and chop them up for use as bait for conch and eel. Horseshoe crabs are an essential species in the food web—a decline in their population is harming the ecosystem and threatening bird species that depend upon the crabs for food.
The New York State Legislature passed a bill to ban harvesting of horseshoe crabs. Now Governor Hochul needs to act and sign this critical legislation into law this year!
Join us for a rally and press conference and urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!
When: Tuesday, October 7th at 11:00 am
Where: The WaterFront Center, 1 West End Ave, Oyster Bay, NY
Even if you cannot attend the rally, you can still help! Email Governor Hochul today and urge her to sign this important bill into law!
Why are Horseshoe Crabs Important?
Horseshoe Crabs are an integral part of the ecosystem and act as a keystone species in the food web. Each spring, horseshoe crabs travel from deep Atlantic waters to the shore for their breeding season. Beaches are stormed with mating horseshoe crabs, with females laying tens of thousands of eggs at a time in clusters buried under the sand. Every year, horseshoe crabs lay their eggs on beaches at full and new moon high tides from April to June.
Millions of shorebirds stop along our Atlantic beaches to nourish themselves on horseshoe crab eggs. These eggs are the single most important food source for migrating shorebirds, including threatened birds, such as the Red Knot. Experts predict that the Red Knot may become extinct in the coming years, unless more protective measures are undertaken to protect horseshoe crabs. The Red Knot was listed as an endangered species in May of this year. Furthermore, sharks, sea turtles, sportfish and other species also feed on horseshoe crabs, making them a critical component of the food web.
Biomedical Uses
The blood of horseshoe crabs contains a critical component, Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate, known as LAL. This unique compound clots when exposed to bacteria or bacterial endotoxins. Some medical equipment and devices such as IV tubing are also tested with LAL. Currently, scientists have created synthetic compounds that reproduce LAL, which are now being used by Pfizer, Eli Lilly and other leading pharmaceutical companies. There have been NO permits issued in over a decade for the harvesting of horseshoe crabs for medical uses in NY waters. All the permitted harvesting of horseshoe crabs is for fishing.
Horseshoe Crabs Under Threat
For decades, horseshoe crabs were looked upon as unimportant to our waters. They are slow to mature and therefore are susceptible to harvesting pressures. Horseshoe crabs were once used as fertilizer and livestock feed, which almost led to their populations being wiped out in the 1940s. In the 1970s, the population recovered only to see resurgence in their use as bait for eel, conch, and whelk fisheries. The horseshoe crabs are chopped up and used as bait by commercial fisherman.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reported horseshoe crab stocks have been in decline for at least 15 years. Horseshoe crab populations were rated as “good” in 2009 but declined to “poor” in 2019. Newly published research shows horseshoe crab populations in Long Island Sound are falling by up to 9% each year, according to more than four decades of monitoring data. Study sites for this data include the Inner & Outer Norwalk Harbor, Manhasset Bay, Little Neck Bay, Central Sound, Peconic Bay, and Niantic Bay. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has listed horseshoe crabs as vulnerable to local extinction in our region. The importance of horseshoe crabs to our ecosystem and the growing threat to the survival of the species had led other states, including Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey, to implement policies banning the taking of horseshoe crabs.
New York State Needs a Ban on Horseshoe Crab Harvesting
This year, the New York State Senate and Assembly introduced and passed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.4289 / A.4997), which prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical uses. This legislation will allow New York to restore the population of horseshoe crabs and ensure the survival of this species for future generations. Neighboring states, including Connecticut, have already enacted similar legislation. It is time for NY to step up and ban the harvesting of horseshoe crabs—Governor Hochul must sign this important bill into law!
Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE
Help CCE build on our success, and support our campaigns to protect public health and the environment in NY and CT.
Make a contribution today.
Come Celebrate at our 40th Birthday Bash!
We’ve reached a significant milestone, and we would love to have you celebrate with us! We’re pleased to announce we are hosting a special event this year – a CCE Birthday Bash! Come celebrate our 40th year of working to protect our environment and public health on Thursday, September 25, 2025, 6:00pm–10:00pm at The Piermont in Babylon, Long Island. Tickets and sponsorships can be directly purchased here.
Celebrating Historic Clean Water Investments in New York!
Our advocacy is working! Last month we celebrated historic clean water funding—New York State invested a record $3.4 billion into water infrastructure over the past year. In communities from Buffalo to Long Island, this critical funding is helping to ensure safe drinking water, stop sewage overflows, reduce flooding, and more! Thank you Governor Kathy Hochul for your leadership on clean water and for this game-changing investment in clean water. We celebrated this historic milestone at an event with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton, NY Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley, NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation President Maureen Coleman, Congressman Paul D. Tonko, and our partners at The Nature Conservancy and New York League of Conservation Voters.
Releasing “Elton” the Sea Turtle Back into the Atlantic!
We had a fabulous day at the New York Aquarium last month with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, and NRDC for the release of an endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. The turtle, named Elton, was rehabbed at Atlantic Marine Conservation Society’s facility In Westhampton and then released back into the Atlantic Ocean. These programs are made possible with funding from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. You can watch the event and turtle release here.
Demanding Better from Micron’s Proposed Semiconductor Plant in CNY
A proposed Micron semiconductor facility is currently undergoing environmental review in Onondaga County, and we are working to minimize its environmental impact. We submitted comments with our concerns about the facility’s planned use of PFAS chemicals, which pose significant risks to drinking water, public health, and the environment. We also criticized the destruction of ecologically valuable wetlands and lack of meaningful mitigation measures, as well as the failure to adequately address impacts to water quality in this water-rich region. Thanks to all who helped to amplify these concerns by submitting public comments!
Opposing Federal Funding Cuts to Clean Water
New York and Connecticut’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is aging and failing, putting our economy, health, and environment at risk. Regrettably, the President has proposed to slash critical clean water infrastructure programs by nearly 90%, which if adopted, would severely worsen NY and CT’s clean water challenges. Significant funding cuts would hamper our ability to stop sewage overflows, treat drinking water for toxic emerging contaminants, make drinking water affordable to all, and create good-paying jobs. Congress has the power to fully fund these programs in the federal budget. We are pushing for NY and CT’s Congressional Delegations to reject these draconian cuts and protect clean water funding! Contact your two U.S. Senators and Representative in the U.S. House today and urge them to support full clean water funding!
Updates on Our Work to Advance Offshore Wind:
• Team Green: Our wonderful summer interns finished up this August after a summer of educating the public on offshore wind. They met tens of thousands of Long Islanders at events at beaches, festivals, and events, particularly along the south shore. At the Energy & Infrastructure Open House at Stony Brook University, they joined energy developers, LI Labor unions, and state workforce development representatives to offer valuable insight into career pathways into offshore wind and solar industries—a great event!
• Saying Yes to Battery Energy Storage: As part of NY’s transition to renewable energy, especially offshore wind, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS systems store energy from renewable energy sources and deliver it when electricity demand is greatest, helping to create a more reliable grid. This summer, New York’s Intra-Agency Fire Safety Task Force adopted the most stringent, protective fire code in the country for BESS to ensure they can be built safely and sited properly. However, several Long Island towns persist with moratoriums on BESS. In August, we went to Town of Islip to urge the Town Board not to approve a 12-month moratorium on battery storage systems. The vote will be held at the Town Board Meeting on September 16th, we hope you can join us and stand in support of BESS.
Fire Island – Ocean, Bay to Tap
We joined Rob DiGiovanni with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Carl Lobue with The Nature Conservancy on Fire Island for Ocean, Bay to Tap: 2025 Water Quality Update in Fire Island. We had a great panel presentation and discussion with Fire Island residents at the Saltaire Library about how to protect our water and marine life. Topics included PFAS contamination, whale facts, and water quality updates on the bay. Thank you to the wonderful residents for hosting this important discussion.
Long Island Climate Change Communi-Tea Meetings
Long Island is already experiencing the effects of climate change, from rising temperatures, flooding, extreme weather and much more. It’s more important now to get the facts and hear the truth. We have launched a series of community meetings to deliver an informative, science-based presentation where we will dive into local environmental issues and explore the inspiring work happening across Long Island to transition to renewable energy and strengthen our climate resiliency. We held two great events in August, one in Brentwood and one in Medford. Thanks to all who came out and participated in the discussion. We have another scheduled for East Northport this fall. Register here.
Upcoming: Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition Conference in Rochester
We are excited to have this national Great Lakes conference come to Rochester, NY, on September 25 & 26! The conference will feature topical and varied plenaries and workshops, exciting field trips in and around Rochester, and abundant chances to meet and network with Great Lakes advocates from around the region. Learn more and register here.
Upcoming: Patchogue Village Composting Program
This fall the Village of Patchogue will launch a residential composting program, the first of its kind on Long Island! This will help reduce waste and increase organics recycling as Long Island faces a solid waste crisis. This program is for Village residents only. Register here. We hope to see you there on September 17th at 7pm at the Patchogue-Medford Library.
Suffolk County homeowners will soon be able to upgrade to enhanced septic systems that reduce dangerous nitrogen pollution at a higher discounted rate, thanks to a surge of state funding announced Wednesday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Wednesday morning at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood that increases the reimbursement rate for installation of an enhanced septic system to 75%, or up to $25,000. The governor also announced Suffolk County will receive $20 million in new grant funding it can use toward its Septic Improvement Program that provides homeowners $10,000 grants for the upgrade.
Legislation S8241-A/A8807 Makes It Easier and More Cost-Effective for New Yorkers to Upgrade to Advanced Septic Systems That Significantly Reduce Water Pollution
State Septic System Replacement Program Targets Priority Geographic Areas Like Long Island Which Rely on Sole-Source Aquifers
Funding Incentivizes Replacement of Old Septic and Cesspool Systems to Prevent Water Pollution
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was on Long Island Monday to harshly criticize the proposed $8 million in funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget for the National Estuary Program, which supports clean water initiatives, including those on the Island.
U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand paid a visit to Riverhead on Monday morning to warn about President Donald Trump’s proposed $8 million federal funding cut from the National Estuary Program, which could threaten ongoing efforts to maintain and restore the Peconic Estuary and Long Island Sound.
The Village of Port Jefferson is one of several Long Island municipalities and organizations sharing more than $600,000 in grants aimed at creating new pollinator gardens.
Pollinator gardens are floral areas stocked with specific nectar- and pollen-producing plants meant to attract bees, moths, beetles and other pollinating insects responsible for pollinating about three-quarters of the world’s plant life.
Contaminated water can lead to a plethora of health risks; cutting funding to maintain estuary water quality will endanger Americans’ well-being
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sounded the alarm on the proposed $8 million funding cut from the National Estuary Program (NEP) in the president’s FY26 budget. The NEP works to maintain and restore water quality of 28 estuaries across the United States, including the Peconic Estuary and Long Island Sound. Without sufficient funding, the NEP will not be able to monitor New York’s estuaries and keep them safe from threats such as excess nitrogen pollution, pathogens, and harmful algal blooms, which have been shown to be harmful to public health and the environment. Funding to restore and protect our estuaries also boosts coastal resilience from storms, improves tourism and recreation, and supports local jobs.
