Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) and his colleagues on the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2026, for another five years through FY 2031. The bill increases the FY 2026 authorization level from $475 million to $500 million starting in FY 2027.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. -- President Donald Trump has withdrawn a Biden administration plan to set new limits on chemical discharge into drinking water.
State regulators around the U.S. had been waiting for the Environmental Protection Agency to take the lead on PFAS requirements so they could incorporate effective monitoring and treatment into their discharge permits.
Facing renewed calls for clean water, the U.S. Navy has agreed to a new round of testing private drinking wells in the shadow of a former Grumman plant in Calverton.
The Navy is seeking permission from property owners in its sampling area to test drinking wells for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, a class of manmade “forever chemicals” that have been linked to cancers, developmental disorders and other health impacts.
For more information, contact: Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director: 516-390-7150, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org
Farmingdale, NY – In response to Lee Zeldin’s confirmation as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment said:
“Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) congratulates Lee Zeldin on his confirmation as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The past Trump administration has a track record of anti-environment actions including rolling back critical water protections, attempts to halt renewable energy development, abdicating its responsibility to fight climate change, and prioritizing polluting industry profits over American’s health. In contrast, as a Congressman, Lee Zeldin fought to prevent offshore drilling on the East Coast, protected drinking water from PFAS, and supported offshore wind, all while living in a community directly impacted by climate change.
Wildfires continue to rage in California, sea level is rising, extreme weather events are now commonplace, PFAS and lead contamination in drinking water are rampant throughout America. Americans need the EPA to do its job. Americans need the EPA to provide us a future filled with promise, not a future filled with pollution. We are counting on Administrator Zeldin to remember his roots and past votes and to continue to fight climate change and stand strong against efforts to weaken protections for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and our family’s health. At the end of the day his job description is in the title, environmental protection. CCE looks forward to continuing to work with Administrator Zeldin in his new role to be the guardian of our nation’s environment.”
Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and her colleagues on the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2026, for another five years through FY 2031. The bill increases the FY 2026 authorization level from $475 million to $500 million starting in FY 2027.
Tucked among the malls, parkways and office buildings of central Nassau County is 100 acres of natural habitat for birds, insects and threatened plant species resembling a prairie in the Midwest.
The rare, county-owned grasslands sit adjacent to another county-owned site: The 72-acre asphalt property of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum where Las Vegas Sands has proposed a $6 billion casino-resort.
"While this bill is well-intentioned, the management of marine species is better left to the experts at DEC." — Gov. Kathy Hochul.
NEW YORK— Environmentalists are outraged over Gov. Kathy Hochul's recent decision to veto the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, which prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs from New York waters. The legislation would have allowed the populations to recover and ensured the survival of the important species, advocated said.
New York State Senator Peter Harckham and State Assemblymember Steve Otis joined labor unions, local leaders, and environmental organizations at the Ossining Water Treatment Plan today to urge Governor Hochul to continue New York’s commitment to clean water programs in the upcoming state budget. Attendees, including members of the New York Clean Water Coalition, called on the Governor to invest $600 million in the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in her executive budget proposal for FY2025-2026.
New York is a leader in the fight against climate change, with targets of 70% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutral electricity by 2040. We are in the process of transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to renewable energy, including wind and solar energy.
As part of this transition, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). These systems provide capacity that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuel based generated power, thereby providing significant environmental and public health benefits. They will also help stabilize the energy grid as we move towards achieving our state energy mandates, powering thousands of homes and bringing significant economic benefits to our region.
Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County Community College are hosting a free forum to provide information about Battery Energy Storage Systems. Qualified panelists will address community questions and concerns. There will be no live questions at the forum. Residents are strongly encouraged to submit their questions online by visiting brookhavenny.gov/battery.
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Shea Theater
Suffolk County Community College Ammerman Campus
533 College Road, Selden, NY 11784
Thank you for your interest in battery energy storage!
Sincerely,
All of us at CCE
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have banned the harvest of horseshoe crabs for bait or biomedical research, saying in her veto statement Dec. 13 that she believes the management of marine species “is better left to the experts” at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
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.
Gearing Up to Turn off the Tap to PFAS in NYS in 2025!
In recent years, communities across NY and the nation have discovered their drinking water sources are contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals. These toxic chemicals are unnecessarily added to many of the products we use every day, such as cookware, cleaning products, dental floss, children’s products and more. Due to widespread use, PFAS chemicals have been polluting our drinking water, soil, air, and even our bodies. To protect public health, drinking water, and the environment, NY needs to pass legislation in 2025 to ban PFAS from a number of everyday products. Take action today and urge your elected representatives to support passage of this critical legislation in 2025!
Important Bills to Fight Climate Change Signed into Law at the End of 2024 in NY!
While it’s been years since we worked to successfully ban hydro-fracking (which uses water to extract gas) due to its inherent threats to our climate, water, and health; a company recently attempted to exploit a loophole by offering leases to residents in the Southern Tier to extract gas by instead injecting CO2 into shale formations (which poses similar threats to our environment as hydro-fracking). To close this loophole a bill was signed to prohibit the process of fracking using CO2 in NY. Additionally, the Climate Superfund Act, which will require fossil fuel corporations, rather than taxpayers, to pay for the cost of damage caused by climate change and to make NY more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Once implemented, this “polluter pays” law is expected to generate $3 billion per year for NYS.
Governor Vetoes Horseshoe Crab Protection Bill
Horseshoe crabs have existed for over 350 million years, having shared this planet with the dinosaurs. Sadly, the species is now vulnerable to local extinction unless action is taken soon. Horseshoe crab populations are being depleted, and one contributing factor is the commercial fishermen who catch them and chop them up for use as bait. Horseshoe crabs are an essential species in the food web. In order to save the horseshoe crab, and the species that depend upon them, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to ban harvesting of horseshoe crabs. Unfortunately, Governor Hochul vetoed the bill in December, leaving horseshoe crabs on the chopping block and at risk of further population loss. Thanks to the thousands of you who sent emails and made calls in support of the bill. We will keep fighting to save the horseshoe crab!
Protecting New York’s Water in 2025
Much of New York’s wastewater and drinking water infrastructure is aging and failing, putting public health and our environment at risk. New York State has made significant investments to upgrade water infrastructure in recent years; however, much more needs to be done to provide clean water for all New Yorkers. To make drinking water safe and affordable for all New Yorkers, protect our environment, and create jobs, we are urging Governor Hochul and the legislature to provide at least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the 2025-2026 NYS budget! Email Governor Hochul and your elected representatives today!
Updates on Our Work to Advance Offshore Wind
Fighting for Battery Energy Storage - As part of NY’s transition to renewable energy, especially offshore wind, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS systems store energy from renewable energy sources and deliver it when electricity demand is greatest, helping to create a more reliable grid. In December, we urged Town of Babylon to not extend their moratorium on battery storage and to move forward with zoning changes that will allow good BESS projects to move forward. Unfortunately, Babylon passed a moratorium extension. Several other Long Island towns have moratoriums or extensions to existing moratoriums up for vote in the coming months, so stayed tuned for more info on how you can help support BESS. We also joined Jupiter Power for a public meeting on their proposed 275-megawatt battery energy storage system in Glenwood Landing, New York.
Upcoming: Battery Storage Educational Forum - The Town of Brookhaven will be hosting a free community meeting on January 21, 2025, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Shea Theater at Suffolk County Community College. There will be a panel of experts to discuss how battery energy storage systems work and address safety concerns. You can register and submit questions in advance here.
Celebrating the South Shore Estuary Reserve Awards
The South Shore Estuary Reserve is a unique network of 173 square miles of bays along Long Island’s south shore. In December, we joined the South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) Office to host the 2024 SSER Stewardship Award Breakfast. Thanks to all who joined us to celebrate our progress in protecting the South Shore Estuary Reserve and learn what is needed for the future. Congratulations to our 2024 SSER Stewardship Awardees: Village of Patchogue, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and Tom Wilson from Stony Brook University.
Saying No to Sandmining Southampton
Sand mining operations have threatened Long Island’s sole source aquifer and public health for decades. Last month, Southampton Town held a public hearing on the Proposed Amortization of Nonconforming Sand Mines, which would allow the town to prevent these sand mining operations that have contaminated drinking water for decades. We testified in support of finally closing down these harmful mines. You can check out our testimony here.
State officials have called on Northrop Grumman to propose a more stringent plan to investigate the extent of contaminated soil at Bethpage Community Park, the former dumping grounds of Grumman Aerospace.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation action comes weeks after the agency accused the Town of Oyster Bay of causing delays to the prolonged cleanup.
