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Highlights
Bill Passed to Protect NY’s Drinking Water from PFAS—Now we Need the Governor’s Signature!
In October, we joined Suffolk County Water Authority, Senator Monica Martinez, Senator Dean Murray, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, and Assemblyman Doug Smith for a bipartisan press conference calling on Governor Hochul to sign legislation that would require NYS to adopt strong, science-based standards to strictly limit toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in our drinking water. Email Governor Hochul today and urge her to sign this critical public health measure into law!
Happenings
Developing a 2027 Clean Water Agenda at our Annual NY Clean Water Roundtable
Last month we kicked off our NYS Clean Water Coalition’s Annual Clean Water Roundtable, sponsored by NYS Senator Pete Harckham. We were joined by representatives from the Governor’s office, along with presentations from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Health, and Environmental Facilities Corporation. Environmental advocates, water suppliers and wastewater treatment operators from across NYS then discussed critical clean water priorities for 2027—including funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, wetlands protections, landfill leachate regulations, and more. Together, we’re working toward stronger protections for New York’s water resources and the health of our communities in 2027.
South Shore Estuary Reserve Plastic Pollution Conference
We joined our partners at Operation SPLASH and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society to host the first-ever South Shore Estuary Reserve Conference focused on challenges and solutions to plastic pollution. We kicked off the conference with New York Department of State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley, who gave inspiring opening remarks! We want to thank all our partners and expert speakers who shared their exciting presentations on the latest science on microplastics, pollution impacts on wildlife, and solutions to eliminating plastic from our bays.
Checking out the Successful South Fork Wind Project
We had another fun opportunity to check out South Fork Wind Farm—a clean energy project providing 132MW of power to 70,000 Long Island homes! We joined many of our environmental, labor, and elected partners to head out and check out the turbines 30 miles off the coast of Montauk. Thank you to the New York Offshore Wind Alliance (NYOWA) and Ørsted U.S. for organizing the perfect day on the water.
Reducing Exposure to Forever Chemicals
Last month, we stood with U.S. Representative Laura Gillen as she introduced bi-partisan federal legislation that would provide local municipalities with funding to ensure clean drinking water. The bill would help communities address pollution from 1,4-dioxane, PFAS, and other contamination in drinking water. Thank you to Rep. Gillen for introducing the Protect Clean Water Act!
Banning Octopus Farming in New York
On October 8th, we celebrated World Octopus Day by urging New York to stop an environmentally destructive industry before it takes hold. Because octopuses are carnivores, farming them at industrial scale would require large quantities of wild-caught fish and crabs as feed, putting even more pressure on already overfished oceans. Industrial marine animal farming has well-documented environmental costs, including nutrient pollution that fuels harmful algal blooms, disease outbreaks, antibiotic use, and escapes that threaten wild populations. The New York Legislature has already passed a bill banning octopus farming (S.7421B/A.8043C) with strong bipartisan support. Now we are urging Governor Hochul to sign the bill into law!
Environmental Roundtable with Assemblywoman Kassay
We joined Assemblymembers Kassay and Giglio for a stakeholder roundtable in Riverhead to discuss methods and challenges of water reuse on Long Island, highlighting the release Long Island Water Reuse Road Map & Action Plan (2023). This was followed by a tour of the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant to demonstrate how wastewater is properly treated and its effluent is reused for nearby golf course irrigation. It was a very informative discussion and tour and it was great to see a successful water reuse project up close.
Upcoming: Film Screening of Where the Sweet Birds Sang
Join us for a free screening of the documentary Where the Sweet Birds Sang by Sarah Teale. When Parkinson's strikes her husband and neighbors, a filmmaker investigates a toxic secret in their valley, confronting a chemical giant's decades of deceit. This film will help inform you of the dangers of Paraquat. We are engaging in a new campaign to ban this toxic pesticide in New York State. After the film, we will be joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Sarah Teale and a panel of experts on the environment and public health for a Q & A. Join us on Tuesday, December 1st from 7:00 – 9:30 pm at the Sayville Theater for the film screening and discussion. This event is free, but space is limited. RSVP is required to attend.