CCE in the News

New York forces Brookhaven to address toxic plume coming from its landfill

New York forces Brookhaven to address toxic plume coming from its landfill

Brookhaven Landfill rises behind the Frank P. Long Intermediate School and playground in North Bellport.

An underground plume of PFAS and other dangerous chemicals has emanated from the Brookhaven Landfill for decades. The Town of Brookhaven is now ordered to measure how far they must go to remediate affected drinking water sources.

Hamptons' 'Billionaire Lane' among top water users on Long Island

Hamptons' 'Billionaire Lane' among top water users on Long Island

Five of last year's top 11 residential water users in Suffolk are located in in Southampton Village. Meanwhile, Suffolk County Water Authority officials have continued to sound the alarm on the urgent need for water conservation after a 2022 summer drought. 

Months after a mother went to court, the closure of Brookhaven Landfill is still at stake

Months after a mother went to court, the closure of Brookhaven Landfill is still at stake

Javien Coleman, 13, attended Frank P. Long Intermediate School when he was diagnosed with cancer. He died last year.

Outside Nacole Hutley’s home there is a shrine to her son, Javien Coleman. Decorated for each holiday, it is a place where the family can honor him with photos and his football jersey, number 21.

Inside the house, photographs of young Javien fill the walls and tables, keeping his memory and smile alive.

13-year-old Javien died in 2022, a year after being diagnosed with lymphoma. Just a year before his diagnosis, he had begun attending Frank P. Long Intermediate School, half a mile from the Brookhaven Landfill.

Gillibrand Seeks Bipartisan Buy-In on ‘Forever Chemicals’ Bill Unveiled at Local Event

Gillibrand Seeks Bipartisan Buy-In on ‘Forever Chemicals’ Bill Unveiled at Local Event

Nothing lasts forever — though there are some notable exceptions: love, according to the poet; sadness, according to the painter; and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, or PFAS, according to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

She was at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge last Friday, July 28, to announce that she had introduced the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2023, which sets out to regulate the toxic but widely used “forever chemicals” under the aegis of the Clean Water Act.

Republican legislators fail to approve Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act for public vote

Republican legislators fail to approve Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act for public vote

At yesterday’s Suffolk County Legislature general meeting, Republican legislators voted to recess the hearing on the Water Quality Restoration Act, preventing its presence on the November ballot for a public vote.

Kirsten Gillibrand seeks new regulations for perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl

Kirsten Gillibrand seeks new regulations for perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl

New federal guidelines proposed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to regulate “forever chemicals” and hold polluters accountable could lead, she says, to cleaner drinking water on Long Island.

Long Island MacArthur Airport Superfund site: State DEC, Islip negotiating agreement on cleanup, officials say

Long Island MacArthur Airport Superfund site: State DEC, Islip negotiating agreement on cleanup, officials say

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is negotiating an agreement with the Town of Islip for cleanup at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, which was declared a state Superfund site in February, both the DEC and the town told Newsday.

Calone, Romaine talk environmental problems in county executive debate

Calone, Romaine talk environmental problems in county executive debate

Republican Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine visited Stony Brook University to address Suffolk County’s environmental concerns at a forum against Democrat Dave Calone in the race for county executive. 

Long Island water quality has hit a low point, environmentalist says

Long Island water quality has hit a low point, environmentalist says

“You could see the bottom of the water,” Montefusco recalled Thursday as he stood on the dock with several friends including Marty Lange, 86.

“Now, you can take a bright yellow, a chartreuse piece of line, drop it 2 inches into the water and you can’t see the line anymore,” Lange said.

Just a few feet away, Christopher Gobler, a professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, stood with local environmentalists and unveiled troubling data that showed water quality hitting an “all-time low” on Long Island since he started monitoring it about a decade ago.

Environment Advocates Want New York State To Take Swift Action on PFAs

Environment Advocates Want New York State To Take Swift Action on PFAs

As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues health advisories and proposes tighter regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in U.S. drinking water, environment advocates have urged New York State to take quick action to protect residents from these harmful chemicals.

Water quality is at an ‘all time low’

Water quality is at an ‘all time low’

Dr. Chris Gobler, of Stony Brook University's Gobler Laboratory, met with Citizens Campaign for the Environment and the Nature Conservancy earlier today at Mascot Dock in Patchogue Village to debrief the current Long Island water quality.

Last chance for Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act to get on November ballot

Last chance for Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act to get on November ballot

The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act was designed to establish a countywide sewer district and water quality fund, and extend an existing fund intended to improve resident drinking water. If approved by the county legislature, it will be subject to a mandatory referendum in the November election, but there’s only one more chance to garner majority support before the July 25 general meeting.

What the Equinor survey ending later this year means for Island Park?

What the Equinor survey ending later this year means for Island Park?

It’s been a quiet few months on the Equinor front, until now. The multi-billion-dollar Norwegian broad energy company has begun surveying south shore waters for old munitions and will soon be collecting sediment samples. In addition, “the planned offshore wind transmission act” known as bill A.7764 has passed through the State Assembly and Senate. The bill is intended to expedite wind power plants, much to environmental and labor groups glee and Republican politician’s chagrin.

Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS detected in dozens of LI water districts

Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS detected in dozens of LI water districts

Nearly half of the tap water in the U.S. is contaminated with toxic chemicals known as PFAS, according to a new study, and Long Island is no exception. The contaminants have been linked to weakened immune systems, cancer and other health problems.