Click link to watch video.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin returned to Long Island Friday to speak with local business leaders at an LIA event at Crest Hollow Country Club.
EPA ban, phaseout on cancer-causing chemical found in Long Island groundwater partially stalled by industry challenge
PFAS detected in multiple New York counties' public water supply, environmentalists say
More than 1 million New Yorkers depend on public water systems for drinking water, and some are being exposed to manmade "forever chemicals" called PFAS, environmentalists say.
The tap water in New York is said to be safe to drink as it meets federal and state standards, but according to a study by the Environmental Working Group, as of March 2025, PFAS have been detected in public water systems in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Missed our Climate Change Symposium?
Watch the recording of our recent Climate Change Symposium, featuring expert speakers that discussed the latest science and impacts of climate change
We recently held a free Climate Change Symposium in Babylon, Long Island for Earth Month. A huge thank you to everyone who came out and contributed to a great discussion. This forum was designed for everyone wanting the facts about climate change, its impacts to our communities, and climate change solutions.
We were excited to welcome Dr. Paul Shepson, Dean of The School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, as our keynote speaker. We also heard a fantastic presentation from Dr. J Bret Bennington, Professor and Chair of the Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University. While we are facing an increasing amount of misinformation on climate change and climate science, it was more important than ever to get the facts from the experts.
If you missed the event, be sure to watch the video here.
Thank you for watching!
Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE
New York's wind farms on Long Island face uncertainty after President Trump halts lease sales, permits
Smith Point's Park Beach is where offshore wind energy will soon come ashore. Crews there are laying cables for New York's second wind farm with 84 turbines 30 miles off Montauk.
"We have this untapped renewable resource, the wind... this is going to power millions of homes... with almost zero fossil fuel use," Melissa Parrot, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island said. "The planet is at sake. We see the glaciers melting... you see the storms, you see the floods... and the number one way to curb climate change is top stop our CO2 output, which is fossil fuel use."
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.
WHALE SIGHTINGS ARE UP
PFAS detected in multiple New York counties' public water supply, environmentalists say
More than 1 million New Yorkers depend on public water systems for drinking water, and some are being exposed to manmade "forever chemicals" called PFAS, environmentalists say.
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 standards, according to a report released Wednesday.
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.
Composting program now in force in NYC. Residents must fill special bins with food scraps, leaves, grass.
As Main Street in Kings Park gets ripped up for sewers, business owners have hope for the future
From pro-climate Republican to ‘one of the Trump disruptors’
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s attacks on his agency’s spending and regulations have made him a rising star in the Trump Cabinet, but left some former colleagues mystified.
President Donald Trump’s wild-card pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency has emerged as one of the most devoted public champions for his efforts to demolish the Biden agenda — and MAGA world is taking notice.
Join a Virtual Public Hearing on Propel NY Energy—We Need You to Speak Up in Support of this Important Energy Transmission Project!
Photo by Amanuel Flores from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hand-touching-a-light-bulb-16036409/
On April 29th, the NY Public Service Commission will be holding two virtual public hearings on the Propel NY Energy transmission project to create a cleaner and more reliable energy grid
Long Island, New York City and Westchester need to improve the reliability and resiliency of our energy grid to ensure capacity during high demand times. Our summers are getting hotter, and storms are increasing in intensity. We need to upgrade our antiquated transmission infrastructure to ensure that energy is delivered reliably and in a timely manner. The Propel NY Energy transmission project is part of the solution, strengthening the electric grid with increased transmission capacity and helping inject more clean energy into the statewide grid. This project is critical to ensure New York’s interconnectedness throughout the state.
The New York Public Service Commission will hold two virtual public hearings on the Propel NY Energy Project. Join us and testify in support of Propel NY during a virtual hearing. Your voice can help ensure that this project moves forward.
Propel NY Energy Public Hearings
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Times: 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM
Register here
Suggested Talking Points:
New York's energy demand is growing. We need a modern grid to ensure we have enough power — especially as we electrify homes, vehicles, and businesses.
The project protects public health and the environment by reducing our reliance on outdated, polluting fossil fuel plants.
Propel NY will improve grid reliability and deliver clean energy where it’s needed most — especially in downstate communities.
This is a smart investment that will lower costs, create jobs, and boost energy security for all New Yorkers.
If you can’t attend a virtual hearing, you can still help! Submit written comments here.
Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE
Stop the Attacks on our Environment and Health
Reject Federal Cuts to Clean Water, Clean Air, and Healthy Communities
It wasn’t that long ago that contaminated rivers caught fire, lakes were too polluted to sustain life, and air in cities was choking us with smog. This was just over 54 years ago, prior to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since that time, the EPA has played an indispensable role in making our water safe to drink, our air clean to breathe, and our communities safe places to live.
Despite progress achieved by the EPA to protect our environment and health, the President has proposed to slash the EPA budget by 55%. If this draconian cut is adopted, the agency would lose thousands of staff that serve critical functions and decimate the agency’s ability to address a broad range of significant responsibilities, including protecting drinking water, fighting climate change, cleaning up toxic contamination, restoring waterways, and much more.
Our representatives in Congress have the power to STOP these ill-advised and life-threatening cuts. Will your representative’s side with polluters, or will they side with the people they represent who need clean air to breathe and clean water to drink?
Email your federal representatives in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate today!
Background
EPA has played an indispensable role in making our water safe to drink, our air clean to breathe, and our communities safe places to live. EPA success stories from New York State, Connecticut, and the nation include:
Fighting Acid Rain: Acid rain—largely derived from power plants in the Midwest—decimated forests, destroyed monuments, killed hundreds of lakes in the Adirondacks, and increased nitrogen pollution in Long Island Sound—causing algal blooms and harming aquatic life. EPA has since led efforts to slash power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, the precursors to acid rain. New York and Connecticut’s waters, forests, and monuments are no longer plagued by acid rain like they once were.
Restoring the Long Island Sound (LIS) and the Great Lakes: EPA formed the Long Island Sound Study, a NY-CT partnership that has led a successful bi-state effort to restore the Sound. Over the last 25 years, this program has restored 3,000 acres of habitat and tidal wetlands, reduced nitrogen pollution entering the Sound by 50 million pounds annually, and vastly improved both water quality and the health of local fisheries. EPA leads the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which was established in 2010. The GLRI has invested billions of dollars in over 8,100 projects to clean up toxic hot spots, fight invasive species, restore habitat, and more.
Protecting Clean Air to Breathe: Since 1970, EPA has led implementation of the Clean Air Act. Emissions of common air pollutants decreased 77% while our economy more than tripled. These pollution reductions prevented more than 2.3 million premature deaths, 200,000 heart attacks, millions of cases of respiratory problems (e.g. asthma attacks), and 135,000 hospital admissions. They also prevented 17 million lost workdays and 5 million lost school days.
Federal Efforts to Turn Back the Clock on Environmental Protection
Despite progress achieved by the EPA to protect our environment and health, the President has proposed to slash the EPA budget by 55%. In New York State and Connecticut, this would threaten EPA’s ability to address a host of issues, including:
Protecting Clean Air: EPA leads efforts to prevent out-of-state air pollution. As much as 96% of air pollution impacting Connecticut on high ozone days originates from outside the state. High ozone contributes to respiratory problems such as asthma, with disproportionate impacts on the developing lungs of children. In New York State, studies show that approximately 60% of air pollution-related early deaths are from out-of-state emissions.
Restoring Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes: Efforts to protect and restore Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes are funded through the EPA budget. Major cuts to these successful programs would undo years of progress, causing harm to fishing, water quality, public health, and tourism in New York and Connecticut.
Fighting Climate Change: EPA conducts research and takes action to fight climate change. Major cuts to the EPA would eviscerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, protect vulnerable coastal communities, and adapt to climate change locally. Connecticut and New York are on the front lines of global climate change, with increased severe storm events, flooding, and rising sea levels threatening our coastal communities.
Protecting Drinking Water: EPA sets and enforces standards to protect drinking water from toxic chemicals. EPA is leading efforts to remove toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” from drinking water, which has been found in numerous drinking water systems across New York and Connecticut.
Long Island Climate Change Symposium
Join us to hear the facts and truth on climate change, its impacts to Long Island, and the costs of inaction.
Farmingdale, NY - Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment is hosting a free Climate Change Symposium in Babylon. Experts will discuss the latest science on climate change and its impacts to Long Island as well as the costs of climate change to the public.
We are excited to welcome Dr. Paul Shepson, Dean of The School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, as our keynote speaker. There will also be a panelist discussion featuring Dr. J Bret Bennington, Professor and Chair of the Dept of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University.
The symposium will conclude with a Community Q&A session.
Long Island Climate Change Symposium
Date: Thursday, April 10
Location: Babylon Town Hall, 200 Sunrise Hwy, Lindenhurst, NY
Time: 9:30am - 12pm
Registration: https://tinyurl.com/climate-symposium
Another Voice: A clean environment strengthens the economy
The notion that we must choose between a clean environment and a strong economy is an antiquated myth that was debunked decades ago. Decades of experience and peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that what’s good for our environment also drives economic development, saves families money and saves lives.
How Lee Zeldin Went From Environmental Moderate to Dismantling the E.P.A.
He once talked about the need to fight climate change. Now, he embraces Elon Musk, lavishes praise on the president and strives to stand out in a MAGA world.
When President Trump’s cabinet secretaries clashed with Elon Musk this month over the billionaire’s chain saw approach to shrinking government, Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, made it clear where he stood.
NYS Legislature OKs bill banning 'forever chemicals' in menstrual products
Environmental, Civic and Faith-Based Groups, Legislators Call for Packaging Reduction
Solid waste is impacting our environment and health while costing taxpayers billions each year
Albany, NY – More than 15 different environmental, civic and faith-based groups, plus several state legislators joined New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick at the State Capitol today to call for support of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA).
