This would be the nation’s first drinking water standard for 1,4-dioxane.
New York has adopted aggressive drinking water standards in the U.S. for toxic chemicals, including 1,4-Dioxane and PFOAs.
Support New York’s Plan to Fight Climate Change
We Must Consider the Potential for Offshore Wind in the Great Lakes
New York State has proposed a plan to implement its nation-leading climate law
In 2019, New York State passed historic legislation to fight climate change—the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) requires NYS to achieve 70% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The goals set forth in the CLCPA are ambitious and absolutely necessary if we are going to step up our fight against climate change. While setting strong goals is important, goals do not have value if they are not met. Fortunately, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently released a White Paper that provides a roadmap for the state to implement and achieve the goals set forth in the CLCPA.
Exploring the potential for Great Lakes offshore wind power
The strong winds on the Great Lakes contain over 20% of the nation’s offshore wind potential, yet they are completely untapped. While multiple offshore wind projects are under development off New York’s Atlantic coast, there are currently no projects being considered in New York’s Great Lakes waters. As part of the White Paper, NYSERDA proposes to conduct a feasibility study to explore the potential for offshore wind in the Great Lakes (if the state study determines it is feasible, specific projects proposed in the future would need to undergo site-specific environmental review before moving forward). Offshore wind in the Great Lakes, which is responsibly-sited and respects the Great Lakes ecosystem, must be considered in order to fight climate change and meet state renewable energy goals.
We need your help! Submit a comment on the White Paper today!
The Public Service Commission is accepting public comments through its online form (comment period closes August 31). Click here to take action and submit a comment to the PSC!
Express your support for a feasibility study to explore the potential for offshore wind in the Great Lakes, and please feel free use the following talking points in your comment:
The feasibility of responsibly-sited offshore wind, which undergoes rigorous, site-specific review before construction and respects the fragile Great Lakes ecosystem, should be explored to help meet NY’s ambitious renewable energy mandate of 70% renewable energy by 2030.
The Great Lakes contain over 20% of the nation’s offshore wind potential, yet this source of clean, renewable energy is completely untapped.
Offshore wind in the Great Lakes can help to fight climate change. Climate change, fueled by our dependence on fossil fuels, has detrimental impacts to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem, including flooding in coastal communities, extreme rain events that cause dangerous sewage overflows, increased runoff that cause harmful algal blooms and a dead zone in Lake Erie, the proliferation of invasive species and adverse impacts on native fish species, and more.
Increasing the use of offshore wind energy improves public health by reducing harmful air pollutants that contribute to heart and lung disease. Air pollution reductions from the first 2,400 MW of offshore wind in New York would be valued at roughly $1 billion and would avoid close to 100 premature deaths each year.
New York can lead the way on Great Lakes offshore wind, spurring much-needed job creation and economic development in Upstate New York. An offshore wind project supports 74 different occupations, including electricians, welders, ironworkers, millwrights, carpenters, engineers, concrete finishers, scientists, and vessel operators.
Over 500 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. make products for the wind industry, 12 of which are in New York. With Western New York’s strong manufacturing base and history, there is potential for the manufacturing of turbine parts such as blades, towers, or the raw materials, such as steel and fiberglass, to be supplied locally.
Compared to rural land-based wind farms, the interconnection distance from offshore wind farms to urban electricity grids is relatively short. By taking advantage of the short distance, offshore wind can lower transmission congestion and losses in Western New York and the Great Lakes region.
Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE
Highlights and Happenings: July 2020
Image by Heiko Stein from Pixabay
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.
Highlights
Victories! Environment Wins Big in NY Special Legislative Session
Several of our priority bills were passed by the NY Senate and Assembly this July during a special session of the legislature. Governor Cuomo has already signed the bill closing the hazardous waste loophole into law, and we are working to ensure he signs all these crucial environmental bills:
Streams protection: Expands state protections to an additional 41,000 miles of important streams throughout the state.
Closing the hazardous waste loophole: Hazardous fracking waste will no longer be able to be sent to traditional landfills or wastewater treatment plants, which are ill-equipped to handle hazardous waste—threatening our health and water.
Banning TCE in products: Trichloroethylene ("TCE") is a solvent and used in paint strippers. It is also unnecessary, causes cancer, and regularly pollutes drinking water sources.
Stopping illegal dumping: Dangerous construction and demolition debris is all too often dumped in parks and open spaces, threatening our environment and public health. This legislation holds polluters accountable with significant increased penalties for illegal dumping.
Banning PFAS in food packaging: PFAS, a dangerous suite of chemicals that are harmful to public health, are widely used in food packaging to provide water and grease resistance. This bill bans these harmful—and unnecessary—chemicals in food packaging.
Banning glyphosate on state property: Glyphosate is a dangerous herbicide that is a probable carcinogen, is ubiquitous in our waterways, and is harmful to pollinators. This bill makes our state lands glyphosate-free!
Pilot project for Adirondack road salt reduction: The over-application of road salt is damaging ecosystems, harming aquatic life, and destroying drinking water sources. This project will develop best practices to protect the Adirondack Park, and ultimately expand statewide.
NYS Sets Nation’s Strongest Drinking Water Standards for Emerging Contaminants
After three years of hard work advocating for the NYS Department of Health (DOH) to adopt drinking water standards for the toxic chemicals PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane, the DOH officially adopted strong, enforceable drinking water standards for these contaminants in July! The Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL)—10 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 1 ppb for 1,4-dioxane—are the toughest MCLs adopted in the US and will ensure that our tap water is treated for these toxic chemicals. In fact, NY is the first state to set a 1,4-dioxane standard, and we look forward to seeing other states do the same!
Happenings
Working to Improve CT’s Bottle Bill
As part of our continuing campaign on Connecticut’s Container Deposit Law (aka “the Bottle Bill), we participated in the CT Recycler’s Coalition presentation about challenges and solutions for modernizing Connecticut’s Bottle Bill. Some important steps we could take include: increasing the deposit value from 5 to 10 cents, and expanding the deposit to juices, teas, sports drinks and other non-carbonated beverage containers. After creating a comprehensive stewardship program for beverage container recycling, Oregon and B.C. Canada have achieved redemption rates between 80-90% on covered containers (as opposed to CT, which lingers just over 50%). Stay tuned for more information on how you can help push CT to successfully modernize its Bottle Bill.
Big News for Offshore Wind
In July, Governor Cuomo announced the largest combined clean energy solicitation ever introduced in the US. NY's offshore wind projects seek up to 2,500 MW (the largest in the nation's history), and could bring NYS halfway to our offshore wind goal of 9,000 MW by 2035 (when combined with previously approved projects). While New York has once again proven to be a leader in combating climate change, our neighbors in Massachusetts are also making an important stride towards offshore wind. The nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farm (the US has one small project in operation off Rhode Island), Vineyard Wind 1, could be approved by the end of this year. Last month, we submitted public comments, worked with coalition partners, and garnered emails from NY and CT residents in support of the project. We will keep pushing federal leaders to give the final approval for Vineyard Wind 1 by the end of 2020 and make large-scale offshore wind a reality for the US.
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
U.S. House Takes Big Step Forward for Clean Water
As we continue our campaign to urge the U.S. to support a green economic recovery from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, the U.S. House stepped up with a strong budget for FY 2021 that supports clean water and jobs. The House-passed a budget that includes major funding increases for the Great Lakes restoration, upgrades for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and lead drinking water line replacement. We are now urging the U.S. Senate to follow suit!
Protecting Suffolk County NY’s Land Preservation Program
Suffolk County’s land preservation program, which began in the late ‘80s, has been the most important water quality protection initiative in the county’s history (protecting important open spaces is critical to protecting water quality). Due to current budget shortfalls from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Suffolk County Executive proposed putting forth a ballot initiative that would have allowed the county to raid funds from the land preservation program. This pandemic highlighted the importance of our parks and open spaces, and we fought hard in opposition to the potential decimation of one of the county’s pivotal environmental programs. Last month, the Suffolk County Legislature and County Executive decided to withdraw the legislation and keep this landmark program intact!
Connecticut lawmakers need to update the bottle bill
Connecticut’s container deposit law, known as the “Bottle Bill,” has been a critical part of our state’s recycling infrastructure for the last 40 years. Refundable container deposits are a proven, effective way to incentivize recycling of single-serve beverage containers and reduce litter in our communities. Unfortunately, the system has not been updated in several years to keep up with changing market trends and inflation.
New York’s tough new drinking water standards may help local residents without access to public water
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
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.
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
COURTESY NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
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
