contamination

Superfund cleanup of Long Island aviation site finally concludes

Superfund cleanup of Long Island aviation site finally concludes

A former aviation facility in Long Island that had contaminated groundwater and nearby drinking wells is ready for redevelopment following a decades-long cleanup, state environmental officials said Wednesday.

A $50 million superfund cleanup successfully restored nearly all of the 125-acre tract of land where Lawrence Aviation Industries once manufactured titanium sheet metal in Suffolk County.

DEC Announces Cleanup Milestone for Lawrence Aviation Superfund Site on Long Island

DEC Announces Cleanup Milestone for Lawrence Aviation Superfund Site on Long Island

Portion of Site Recommended for Removal from State’s Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced that the cleanup of the former Lawrence Aviation Industries site has reached a significant milestone in the removal of contamination from the site of the former industrial manufacturing facility in the town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County. The announcement was made during a visit by the Commissioner and local officials to the long-vacant industrial site on Long Island. Following cleanup and restoration efforts, environmental monitoring shows the site has achieved removal criteria to delist portion of the site from the Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites list (State Superfund Registry). DEC is seeking public review and comment on its determination that most of the site no longer requires further cleanup under the State Superfund (SSF) program.

Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay’s Clean Water Septic System Bill passes Legislature unanimously

Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay’s Clean Water Septic System Bill passes Legislature unanimously

Legislation Expands Access to Modern Septic Systems, Protecting Groundwater and Waterways Across New York 

In a major environmental and affordability win, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay announced the unanimous passage of her legislation (A8807/S8241-A) in both the New York State Assembly and Senate. The bill updates the reimbursement structure of the New York State Septic System Replacement Fund, making it easier and more affordable for New Yorkers to upgrade to advanced septic systems that significantly reduce water pollution, according to a press release.

Plan to convey part of Kings Point Park for community center parking lot dies in Albany

Plan to convey part of Kings Point Park for community center parking lot dies in Albany

A proposal to alienate 2.48 acres of Kings Point Park to create a parking lot for a community center died in the State Assembly on Tuesday. 

The bill, proposed by Assemb. Daniel Norber (R-Great Neck), did not make it to the floor before the legislative session ended Tuesday. A companion bill proposed by State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Old Westbury) passed the Senate on Friday.

Suffolk County to study more sites as it expands water probe near Grumman's Calverton campus

Suffolk County to study more sites as it expands water probe near Grumman's Calverton campus

Suffolk County has launched a new probe into groundwater contamination around the former Grumman plant in Calverton, heeding calls from activists who worry the plume is threatening more private drinking wells, officials said.

U.S. Navy seeks interviews with Grumman retirees as they probe cleanup of Calverton site

U.S. Navy seeks interviews with Grumman retirees as they probe cleanup of Calverton site

When Grumman closed its Calverton weapons plant in 1996, some 3,000 employees lost their jobs.

Now, the U.S. Navy is hoping to connect with those former employees — or family members — as officials search for missing puzzle pieces in the probe of contamination at the sprawling 6,000-acre site.

Port Washington Water District to treat 'forever chemicals' in well with new carbon system

Port Washington Water District to treat 'forever chemicals' in well with new carbon system

New York State has awarded another $5 million grant to the Port Washington Water District to build a granular activated carbon treatment system designed to remove PFOA and PFOS contamination from another of its wells.

The grant will help the water district, which serves about 9,400 households, provide “water that meets or exceeds any standard out there” for removing PFOA and PFOS chemicals, district superintendent Paul Prignano said in an interview.

Organizations Join Forces to Support Next Step in Road Salt Reduction

Organizations Join Forces to Support Next Step in Road Salt Reduction

New legislation would establish New York State Road Salt Reduction Council and Citizen Advisory Committee to protect water, health, and communities

A coalition of environmental, municipal, and public health advocates is calling for swift passage of legislation (A.4481-A/S.6976-A) to establish a New York State Road Salt Reduction Council and Citizen Advisory Committee. This body would be tasked with implementing the recommendations published by the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force in 2023. The Senate passed a version of this bill in 2024, and is poised to pass the bill once again.

Community Leaders Warn of Destructive Impacts of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Community Leaders Warn of Destructive Impacts of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Leaders of Long Island’s health care, social service organizations and environmental groups warned of the damaging impacts to lives “of neighbors, family, community” as a result of the funding cuts in the Republican budget bill (known as Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”) that passed the House in the middle of the night by a single vote. The bill, while slashing Medicaid, SNAP, clean energy projects and raising costs, delivers the needless tax cuts to the wealthiest, and will explode the national debt by $3.3 trillion.

As the Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee reported, the “GOP Tax Scam” cuts nearly $1 trillion from the health care system – effectively chipping away if not repealing entirely the Affordable Care Act - eliminating health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans including 1.5 million New Yorkers.

Trump administration moves to rescind, delay drinking water standards for PFAS 'forever chemicals'

Trump administration moves to rescind, delay drinking water standards for PFAS 'forever chemicals'

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, a former Shirley congressman who spoke on Long Island last month, said the delayed deadline offers “common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance.” Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp

The Trump administration plans to rescind the federal limits on four "forever chemicals" in drinking water and delay the deadline for compliance for two others, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Wednesday, weakening regulations of toxic contaminants that have been found in Long Island's water.

EPA to rescind and reconsider some PFAS standards, delay compliance deadline for others

EPA to rescind and reconsider some PFAS standards, delay compliance deadline for others

The federal Environmental Protection Agency today announced it is delaying by two years the deadline by which water systems must comply with maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS, two of the “forever chemicals” the agency set national standards for last year. 

EPA ban, phaseout on cancer-causing chemical found in Long Island groundwater partially stalled by industry challenge

EPA ban, phaseout on cancer-causing chemical found in Long Island groundwater partially stalled by industry challenge

'Before we all drop dead'

A federal Environmental Protection Agency measure intended to ban and phase out TCE, a toxin commonly found in contaminated groundwater, including on Long Island, has been delayed, first by a Trump executive order and then litigation.

Defending the environment, for all of us

Defending the environment, for all of us

Adrienne Esposito is executive director and a cofounder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit organization fighting for stronger environmental policies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Esposito: I grew up in Copiague, and I literally grew up with one foot in the water and one foot on the land. As a kid, we went crabbing and fishing and to the beach, and my mom would bring us blueberry-picking in the Pine Barrens. And my dad was a really tremendous fisherman and outdoorsmen, so we grew up on the water. So I think that that really connects you to the natural world and impresses upon you the beauty of it and the need to protect it.

EPA could weaken PFAS rules putting drinking water at risk for millions

EPA could weaken PFAS rules putting drinking water at risk for millions

What It Means For Drinking Water

More than 1.3 million New Yorkers could lose critical protections from toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water if the Environmental Protection Agency weakens new federal PFAS standardsaccording to a report released Wednesday.

More than 1.3M New Yorkers at risk if EPA weakens PFAS standards

More than 1.3M New Yorkers at risk if EPA weakens PFAS standards

Administrator Lee Zeldin will decide fate of landmark ‘forever chemicals’ standards

ALBANY, N.Y. – More than 1.3 million New Yorkers could lose critical protections from the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in their tap water if the Environmental Protection Agency rolls back its historic, science-based PFAS drinking water standards.

Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick's Packaging Reduction Bill Advances in Both Houses

Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick's Packaging Reduction Bill Advances in Both Houses

Boosts recycling, supports municipalities and reduces waste, plastic, and toxins

Albany, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) has successfully advanced through the Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee, which he chairs. 

Lawmakers debate bill that could forever alter lawn care: 'This policy safeguards the health of … our children and grandchildren'

Lawmakers debate bill that could forever alter lawn care: 'This policy safeguards the health of … our children and grandchildren'

Maryland has introduced a bill requiring its Department of Agriculture to ban certain pesticides, including PFAS, or "forever chemicals," according to CBS News. This bill may cause some worry about the impact on lawn treatments, but are fewer chemicals in our environment necessarily a bad thing?

Amanda Lefton Takes the Helm: New York’s Environmental Future Gets a Bold New Leader

Amanda Lefton Takes the Helm: New York’s Environmental Future Gets a Bold New Leader

Amanda Lefton appointed as commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with the trust of Governor Kathy Hochul.