Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was on Long Island Monday to harshly criticize the proposed $8 million in funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget for the National Estuary Program, which supports clean water initiatives, including those on the Island.
U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand paid a visit to Riverhead on Monday morning to warn about President Donald Trump’s proposed $8 million federal funding cut from the National Estuary Program, which could threaten ongoing efforts to maintain and restore the Peconic Estuary and Long Island Sound.
The Village of Port Jefferson is one of several Long Island municipalities and organizations sharing more than $600,000 in grants aimed at creating new pollinator gardens.
Pollinator gardens are floral areas stocked with specific nectar- and pollen-producing plants meant to attract bees, moths, beetles and other pollinating insects responsible for pollinating about three-quarters of the world’s plant life.
Contaminated water can lead to a plethora of health risks; cutting funding to maintain estuary water quality will endanger Americans’ well-being
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sounded the alarm on the proposed $8 million funding cut from the National Estuary Program (NEP) in the president’s FY26 budget. The NEP works to maintain and restore water quality of 28 estuaries across the United States, including the Peconic Estuary and Long Island Sound. Without sufficient funding, the NEP will not be able to monitor New York’s estuaries and keep them safe from threats such as excess nitrogen pollution, pathogens, and harmful algal blooms, which have been shown to be harmful to public health and the environment. Funding to restore and protect our estuaries also boosts coastal resilience from storms, improves tourism and recreation, and supports local jobs.
Xilin Zhang was tired of the pressures of maintaining the “perfect lawn,” she said.
So Zhang, a homeowner in the village of New Hyde Park, yanked out her grass and turned her front lawn into a native plant garden: She planted milkweed, false sunflower, New York Ironweed and other plants native to the area. She began the work in 2021 and, over the past few years, her yard started to look like a “little national park,” she said, and was better for the environment, too.
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York’s Public Service Commission decided on Thursday to stop the project that would bring offshore wind power to New York City. They said that their decision would protect New Yorkers from paying for expensive power lines that might not be needed soon.
An oil spill continues to spread through Mill River in East Rockaway. Since Monday night, hundreds of gallons of oil have leaked into the waterway. Although cleanup efforts are underway, the exact source of the spill has not yet been located.
A first-in-the-nation study hopes to answer questions about an emerging contaminant in Long Island water - and whether it can cause cancer.
SOURCE:
The Long Island Advance newspaper -
By Gary Haber - July 10, 2025
Citizens Campaign for the Environment wins grant, click to read article.
The atomic age is perpetually on the verge of dawning.
Nuclear power is a political winner — but not a money saver. Just ask Tim Echols.
Echols’ term on the Georgia Public Service Commission is up this year, and unlike most states, his position is an elected one.
He says the Vogtle nuclear plant has been a campaign issue — it’s hiked customers’ bills by about 12 percent since coming fully online last year, $21 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule — but that his opponents haven’t been able to weaponize it. He won his Republican primary resoundingly last month.
WASHINGTON — Halfway through his first year back in office, President Donald Trump has the green light from the Republican-majority Congress to move ahead on major parts of his domestic agenda.
The sprawling budget bill Congress passed this week, which Trump signed into law at a July Fourth White House ceremony, will touch Long Island in a variety of ways — from the economy to the environment, from health care access to immigration enforcement — and will be at the center of next year’s midterm elections, said Lawrence Levy, executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies.
Long Island is already experiencing the effects of climate change, from rising temperatures, flooding, extreme weather and much more. It’s more important, now more than ever, to get the facts and hear the truth!
We will deliver an informative, science-based presentation in which we will dive into local environmental issues and explore the inspiring work happening across Long Island to transition to renewable energy and strengthen our climate resiliency. We will conclude with a community Q+A discussion.
These events are FREE and open to the public. Register here.
Dates and Locations:
August 12 @ 6:30pm | Centereach
Middle Country Public Library
101 Eastwood Blvd
Centereach, NY 11720
August 21 @ 6:30pm | Brentwood
Brentwood Public Library
34 Second Ave
Brentwood, NY 11717
November 18 @ 7:00pm | East Northport
Elwood Public Library
1929 E. Jericho Turnpike
East Northport, NY 11731
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE
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.
Victory! Governor Hochul Signs Clean Water Septic System Bill into Law
In July, we joined Governor Kathy Hochul as she signed the Clean Water Septic System bill into law. This will make upgrading antiquated septic systems and cesspools to new, less polluting systems easier and more affordable for homeowners. Homeowners will be able to get state grants of up to $25,000 for a new, advanced system that will help keep our waterways free from nitrogen and other pollutants. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for signing this important piece of legislation. We also thank Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay and Senator Pete Harckham for sponsoring this bill and leading the charge for clean water across New York State!
Toxic Site Clean Up is Complete!
Last month, we joined the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Lefton and elected officials to celebrate the completed environmental cleanup of the Lawrence Aviation Industries Superfund Site, located in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island. The old industrial manufacturing facility produced titanium sheet metal and released contamination for more than 40 years. We look forward to seeing these 120 acres of land transformed for productive uses in the future!
Visit to D.C. to Protect Long Island Sound
Each year, we head down to DC for our Long Island Sound Education Day with our coalition partners to talk about the issues facing this Estuary of National Significance. This year we had meetings with CT and NY federal leaders including Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, Senator Schumer and U.S. Representatives Courtney, DeLauro, Himes, Suozzi, LaLota and Latimer. We also were able to secure a meeting with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. We discussed the need to continue the efforts to restore and protect LI Sound.
Cleaner waters, robust fish populations, opening shellfish beds, and reduced hypoxia all demonstrate our success so far, but far more needs to be done to address climate change and combat nitrogen pollution. Thanks to all our LI Sound protection partners for a very productive DC trip.
Demanding Better from Micron’s Semiconductor Plant in CNY
There is a proposed Micron semiconductor facility currently undergoing environmental review in Onondaga County, and we have some serious concerns. In July, we testified about our concerns about the facility’s planned use of PFAS chemicals and the proposed treatment of these toxic chemicals, which pose significant risks to drinking water, public health, and the environment. We also criticized the destruction of ecologically valuable wetlands and lack of meaningful mitigation measures, as well as the failure to adequately address impacts to water quality in this water-rich region. Now, we need your help to amplify these concerns by submitting your own public comment! Submit your comment by August 11th.
Fighting for our National Estuaries
CT and NY share the Long Island Sound and we all work together to protect this magnificent water body. In New York State there are 3 of the 28 Estuaries of National significance, including the Long Island Sound Estuary, Peconic Bay Estuary, and NY/NJ Harbor Estuary. Estuaries are a nursery ground for our oceans; they support thriving fisheries, clean water, and our local economies through recreation and tourism. Unfortunately, the President’s Executive Budget proposed cuts to the National Estuary Program, which supports these critical waterways. In July, we joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and our advocacy partners in calling on the President to fully fund the National Estuary Program (NEP) and protect these vital ecosystems.
Plastic-Free July
We just celebrated Plastic-Free July! We joined The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut and Save the Sound to host an educational webinar about plastic pollution on the shoreline and in our oceans, microplastics and in our food system, and using visual art to communicate about waste. We had two excellent speakers - Dr. Katherine Owens from University of Hartford and Dr. Jason White from the Yale University School of Public Health. Thanks to all our NY and CT friends who joined. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
NYS Environmental Bond Act Roundtable
In November 2022, NYS voters passed the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act. The Bond Act allocates $4.2 billion to a variety of critical environmental programs and projects across four categories: Water quality improvement, resilient infrastructure restoration and flood risk management, open space land conservation, and climate change mitigation. We held a roundtable with Long Island municipalities and stakeholder groups to hear from NYS DEC’s Chief Resiliency Officer Suzanna Randall, who gave a great presentation and answered questions about potential projects and the application process. Thanks so much to Susanna and all the participants for a very productive discussion to help our local governments access this critical funding!
Be on the Watch for Harmful Algal Blooms
As we start enjoying summer here in New York, it is important to be aware of dangerous harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs pose an immense threat to our communities’ drinking water, public health, outdoor recreation and wildlife. HABs are erupting across NY more frequently and more aggressively in NY waterbodies. To learn more about HABs and efforts taken to combat them on Cayuga Lake check out our short video. If you see a HAB in a lake or waterbody (looks like spilled green paint or pea soup), be sure to avoid it and report it using the DEC Suspicious Algal Bloom Report Form!
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Micron’s proposed semiconductor facility in Onondaga County, NY is available for public comment through August 11th, but it’s lacking critical protections for our water, health, and climate that will impact all New Yorkers.
This is one of the largest industrial projects in New York State history, backed by billions in public subsidies. The Proposed Project—as is—poses serious environmental risks that could impact not only Central New York but communities and waterways across the state. The DEIS fails to adequately address the use of toxic PFAS chemicals, the destruction of over 200 acres of wetlands and streams, and the need for robust renewable energy planning. We need your voice to help demand a stronger, safer plan. Submit your comment before the public comment period ends on August 11!
Micron is proposing a massive semiconductor chip manufacturing campus in Onondaga County, NY, with the promise of job creation and economic growth. However, the current DEIS raises serious concerns:
Toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” will be used extensively in manufacturing, with little commitment to replace them with safer alternatives. These chemicals don’t break down, bioaccumulate in our bodies, and are linked to serious health issues including cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental harm.
PFAS-contaminated wastewater from the facility would be discharged into local waterways. The DEIS lacks a clear plan for on-site pretreatment, and local wastewater facilities cannot remove PFAS, putting our rivers, lakes, and drinking water at risk.
Over 200 acres of wetlands and thousands of feet of streams would be permanently filled and destroyed. Wetlands are essential for flood control, wildlife habitat, and protecting drinking water sources yet Micron’s current mitigation plan is insufficient and fails to meaningfully compensate for this extensive loss of high value wetlands.
The facility would require massive amounts of energy—increasing energy demand by 10% statewide—but offers only a minimal amount of on-site solar generation. It’s suggested the facility would rely on new or “advanced” nuclear power to meet its energy needs—an option that is too costly, too slow, and too risky.
We’re calling on the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) to strengthen the final Environmental Impact Statement by requiring:
A phase-out of PFAS chemicals wherever safer alternatives exist, and full transparency around their use;
On-site pretreatment of wastewater to remove PFAS to the lowest technically achievable levels before discharge;
Stronger wetland protections, including a scientifically supported mitigation plan with at least a 10-to-1 replacement ratio for destroyed wetlands and streams;
A real clean energy commitment, including solar, geothermal, and battery storage—not unproven new nuclear power.
Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE
