New York State’s tough new drinking water quality standards for “emerging” chemical contaminants may be good news for Manorville residents without access to public water in the area south of the former Grumman site in Calverton.
Don’t let Long Island Sound become a victim of pandemic
Unanimous vote sets New York's water standards as among the nation's most strict
Your Used Mask Needs to Make It to the Trash Can
They’re on beaches, in parking lots and on sidewalks. You probably won’t catch the coronavirus from a discarded mask, but the litter poses a risk to the environment.
Helen Lowman looks at litter a lot. It’s her job. But while walking her dog in Westport, Conn., in March, she noticed an alarming trend. First she passed some dirty wipes on the ground. Then there were gloves. And finally a mask. Four months later, she said the litter of personal protective gear has only gotten worse.
Groups Hope New Rules Will Get Likely Carcinogen Out of New York Drinking Water
Groups hope NY rules get pollutants out of drinking water
Water providers say millions more will be needed to meet state standards
Bellone pulls bill seeking to tap open space preservation money
How the government is removing the Brookhaven plume shows possible future for Nassau
Long Island’s largest mass of carcinogenic groundwater pollution, the Grumman plume is expanding a foot a day from Bethpage toward the Great South Bay, centerpiece of the region’s South Shore estuary system.
The spread of its 24 contaminants, most notably the cancer-causing solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE, contrasts markedly with the shrinking of a similarly toxic groundwater plume from the property of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, 35 miles east.
New York To Invest $700M On Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Heat Wave Prompts Water Supply Warning On Long Island
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — There’s a warning on Long Island about the water supply.
The Suffolk County Water Authority says residents should stop watering their lawns during the early morning hours.
Trump EPA proposal to roll back dozens of environmental rules
Another Voice: Aggressive action needed to save N.Y.’s Great Lakes
Highlights and Happenings: June 2020
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
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Highlights
We’re Back Out in Force!
Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that we suspend our direct grassroots community outreach in order to protect the health of our employees and the public (our phone outreach staff and other staff continued to work remotely throughout). As much of NY and CT reopens, we are excited to announce that we are all back in action! While we have implemented new practices to help keep everyone safe as we organize, we are back out in force fighting for a green economic recovery, renewable energy, clean water, and more. Thank you so much to all who helped support us during the height of the pandemic – we could not have gotten through it without you!
Victory! Suffolk County, NY Bans Littering of PPE
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for public health protection, but unfortunately we are seeing more plastic masks, gloves, and wipes littering our parking lots and parks. In June, we worked to pass legislation in Suffolk County to ban the littering of PPE (offenders face increased fines). This will not only help to prevent plastic pollution, it will also protect the health of Long Islanders who are cleaning up or coming in contact with discarded PPE. Thanks to the Suffolk County Legislature for leading the way and passing this bill unanimously.
Happenings
Creating a Buzz for our Pollinators
For National Pollinator Week, we assembled an expert panel and hosted a free virtual forum to provide information about the importance of pollinators, the threats they are facing, and how the public can protect them. Pollinators are un-BEE-lievably important to our ecosystem and food production, yet their populations are rapidly declining. Our expert panelists discussed how widespread use of toxic pesticides, habitat destruction, and other stressors are contributing to the decline as well as ways you can be a bee friendly consumer and manage garden pests responsibly. Missed the forum, but still want to get the BUZZ on bees? Watch the entire recorded forum or watch an abbreviated highlight (approximately six minutes) version.
Calling on Our Elected Leaders to Protect the Health of our Great Lakes
In response to a recent report on the health of the Great Lakes—which diluted and minimized the ongoing suffering and degradation of our lower Great Lakes system in New York State—we joined with our friends at Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper to call on our elected officials to take action in support of our lakes.
Defending Our Ocean National Monument
On June 5, President Trump signed an Executive Order to allow commercial fishing restrictions in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument. This monument, off the coast of New England, was established under the Antiquities Act in 2016 and has since become a virtual treasure trove of marine life, including threatened and endangered marine mammals, sea turtles, rare deep sea corals, and many others. We fought to get this area declared a national monument and we will continue to fight to keep it protected from commercial fishing and other threats. For more information, check out CCE CT Program Director Lou Rosado Burch’s recent Op-Ed on the importance of this underwater marvel.
Improving CT’s Bottle Bill
Connecticut’s Container Deposit Law (aka “the Bottle Bill) is a proven, effective way to incentive recycling and keep our communities clean and litter free. However, CT’s bottle bill needs to be improved and modernized. Last month, we joined the CT Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to discuss the challenges and pathways forward on modernizing Connecticut’s Bottle Bill. CEQ is Connecticut’s independent environmental watchdog –the council meets monthly to discuss current and ongoing environmental priorities, including solid waste & recycling issues, water protection, pesticide use and enforcement and many others.
Wind Works Long Island
We have joined our environmental, labor, community, and faith-based partners to launch Wind Works Long Island. The coalition is a growing force behind educating the public on the science-based benefits of renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. In June, we continued our work to support responsibly-sited offshore wind farms, including the South Fork Wind Farm, which will bring renewable energy to 70,000 LI homes. If you want to find out more about the coalition and what you can do to support offshore wind, check out the new website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Virtual Public Meeting on Plan to Save the Western Bays
Please Join Important Informational Public Meeting on
Wednesday, July 15, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
The Nassau County Department of Public Works, in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, will host this virtual public meeting to discuss progress on the innovative project to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Western Bays, restore bay ecology, and strengthen storm protection. During the virtual public meeting, the project team will be available to address questions.
The Western Bays are home to the largest concentration of salt marshes within the South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER), they provide critical habitat for birds and marine species, and offer abundant recreation opportunities for residents and tourists. The Bay Park Conveyance Project is a widely-supported, keystone project that will protect sensitive wetlands, restore fish populations, and dramatically improve the overall health of the bay.
The Bay Park Conveyance Project will reduce nitrogen from entering the Western Bays by over 90%. Diverting effluent to Cedar Creek STP ocean outfall will be a game changer for the Western Bays ecosystem. This critical nitrogen reduction will restore the Western Bays. There is broad based support by environmentalists, community members, businesses, and elected leaders because the project improves the health of the marine ecosystem in the Western Bays, as well as protects the health of Nassau County’s South Shore communities.
For more information, visit The Bay Park Conveyance Project website.
Thank you for joining us!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE
Bellone: Due To Budget ‘Catastrophe,’ Suffolk County Considering Reallocating Money Earmarked To Protect Environment
Opinion: An assault on our protected spaces in the Atlantic Ocean
Open spaces and protected natural sites offer unparalleled opportunities to find solace and restore our sense of balance during these challenging times. The beauty and grace of our natural resources reminds us that some things remain untouched, holding promise and comfort as we navigate into the future.
IMPROPER DISPOSED OF GLOVES, MASKS CAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS Litter PPE, Face A Fine in Suffolk
All things political: How to replace local revenue lost to COVID-19
Yes, Long Island is slowly recovering from the devastating financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the three-month shutdown of our public and private sectors has left the local economy in disarray. Nassau County’s 2020 projected deficit was recently revised upwards another $100 million to a stunning $384 million. And Suffolk County’s COVID-19 Fiscal Impact Task Force projected a deficit of close to $1.5 billion over the next three years. If you drill down further, Long Island’s towns, villages, and cities are also on fiscally shaky ground.
