environment

Sound Bites: Study finds Fire Island has poor wastewater treatment options

Sound Bites: Study finds Fire Island has poor wastewater treatment options

Good morning. The Citizens Campaign for the Environment presented findings from a study of Fire Island’s wastewater challenges to the Suffolk County Legislature this week. They say the island only has one small sewage treatment plant, forcing most residents to use septic or cesspool systems. This single plant and other aging systems contribute to harmful algal blooms, and loss of fisheries in the surrounding waterways.

Experts focus on North Shore, South Shore sea level rise at nextLI town hall

Experts focus on North Shore, South Shore sea level rise at nextLI town hall

Experts in local government, the insurance industry, the environment and marine science explored how sea level rise could affect South Shore and North Shore communities during a nextLI Town Hall that airs Tuesday on NewsdayTV.

HOCHUL DINES ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS:

HOCHUL DINES ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS:

Gov. Kathy Hochul took the pulse of New York’s environmental community on issues ranging from implementation of the state’s climate law to efforts to address coastal resiliency in an informal setting last week.

Sound Bites: CT needs faster adoption of EVs, state watchdog says

Sound Bites: CT needs faster adoption of EVs, state watchdog says

Connecticut has made progress to protect its land, water and air over the last decade — but struggles to control greenhouse gas emissions that worsen climate change, according to the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality. A report from the state watchdog blames the transportation sector for the emissions increase last year. The Council recommends a faster adoption of electric vehicles, less fuel consumption, and more use of public transit. 

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams Announce Start of Construction on Transformation of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Into Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Hub

Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams Announce Start of Construction on Transformation of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal Into Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Hub

City’s First Offshore Wind Transmission Connection and Port at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to Become Staging Hub for Empire Wind 1 Project, Which Will Deliver 810 Megawatts of Renewable Electricity to New York

Expected to Create More Than 1,000 Construction Jobs at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Advances Progress Toward State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act Goal to Develop 9,000 Megawatts of Offshore Wind by 2035

Affordability makes its move in Albany

Affordability makes its move in Albany

Daily Point

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Election-year political fears of making any move that could hit New York taxpayers in the wallet proved decisive in crushing several big policy initiatives, as Albany’s annual legislative session ground to a quirky close on Saturday.

One surprise was the unexpected eleventh-hour death of a bill aimed at requiring large companies to decrease their millions of annual tons of packaging waste, known as the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. It passed the Senate, 37-23, along party lines but the Assembly adjourned before bringing it to a floor vote.

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Fear stalks pols over cost-of-living burden

Election-year political fears of making any move that could hit New York taxpayers in the wallet proved decisive in crushing several big policy initiatives, as Albany’s annual legislative session ground to a quirky close on Saturday.

Brookhaven to receive $1M to end lawsuit filed over ash dumped at town landfill

Brookhaven to receive $1M to end lawsuit filed over ash dumped at town landfill

Waste incinerator Covanta would pay Brookhaven $1 million to settle a whistleblower’s lawsuit alleging the company trucked hazardous ash to the town landfill, a proposed deal the whistleblower blasted as “paltry” and community advocates called “shortsighted.”

Governor signs change to law authorizing Suffolk sales tax hike, teeing up November vote

Governor signs change to law authorizing Suffolk sales tax hike, teeing up November vote

An amendment to the law that allows Suffolk County to increase its sales tax rate by 1/8 of a cent to finance the installation of sewer and advanced septic systems was signed into law today by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The governor’s signature on the amendment, negotiated by state and county lawmakers, sets the stage for the county to put a referendum on ballot in this year’s general election seeking voter approval of the sales tax increase.

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Protect Public Health, Improve Water Quality in Suffolk County

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Protect Public Health, Improve Water Quality in Suffolk County

Legislation S.8473/A.8993 Amends the Suffolk Water Quality Restoration Act

Advances Ballot Referendum to Fund Long Term Investments in Clean Water for Suffolk County

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed the Suffolk Water Quality Restoration Act to protect public health and improve water quality. Legislation S.8473/A.8993 will allow Suffolk County to put forward a ballot referendum that would fund long term investments in clean water systems and technology – revitalizing wastewater infrastructure for the residents of Suffolk County.

Legislators, Advocates Urge Albany to Take Action to Protect Against PFAS Exposure

Legislators, Advocates Urge Albany to Take Action to Protect Against PFAS Exposure

ALBANY, NY (May 15, 2024) — Today state legislators and advocates called for the immediate passage of a set of bills to reduce human exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and limit environmental contamination from PFAS in New York, including:

  • a bill to eliminate PFAS in key consumer and household products (A3556C/S5648C),

  • a bill to eliminate PFAS and other toxic chemicals in personal care and cosmetic products (A6969/S4265), 

  • a bill to eliminate PFAS and other toxic products in menstrual products (A5990/S3529), 

  • and a bill to require testing for the presence of PFAS released into waterways (A3296A/S227B). 

SKIP THE STUFF" MOVEMENT GAINS MOMENTUM

SKIP THE STUFF" MOVEMENT GAINS MOMENTUM

With the April 19 passage of an East Hampton Village “Skip the Stuff” law phasing in a requirement for village restaurants to refrain from automatically giving out disposable cutlery and condiments, the Suffolk County Legislature and East Hampton Town are now also considering a similar proposal.

Citizens Campaign, Seatuck Environmental get grants from Long Island Sound community fund

Citizens Campaign, Seatuck Environmental get grants from Long Island Sound community fund

Citizens Campaign for the Environment plans to use grant money to take Uniondale High School students on explorations of Long Island Sound, introducing them to the natural world to help them “fall in love with our marine waters” and become good stewards of the environment, the group's executive director said.

Meeting held over next steps for cleanup at Bethpage Community Park

Meeting held over next steps for cleanup at Bethpage Community Park

Watch the video here: https://longisland.news12.com/meeting-held-over-next-steps-for-cleanup-at-bethpage-community-park

Members of the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Environmental Conservation, the Navy and Northrop Grumman were at the meeting, which News 12 was not allowed into.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW YORK STATE’S LARGEST SOLAR CARPORT AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM AT JFK AIRPORT

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING FOR NEW YORK STATE’S LARGEST SOLAR CARPORT AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM AT JFK AIRPORT

Parking Lot Canopy with Solar Panels and Accompanying Battery Storage System Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Approximately 6,000 Metric Tons Annually

Three Agreements Announced for Potential Renewable Energy Development

Three Agreements Announced for Potential Renewable Energy Development

Memorandums of Understanding Will Allow State to Explore Feasibility of Hosting Build-Ready Renewable Energy Projects on Underutilized Sites in the Southern Tier, Western NY, and Long Island

Carcinogen found again, 4 years after Superfund site cleanup

Carcinogen found again, 4 years after Superfund site cleanup

Four years after cleaning up waste at a Superfund site in West Islip, the state again has detected high levels of a carcinogenic heavy metal in the area — kicking off a blame game among stakeholders in the area that includes outraged residents. 

Long Island landscaping firm Affa Organics to pay $100G in settlement over pine barrens destruction

Long Island landscaping firm Affa Organics to pay $100G in settlement over pine barrens destruction

A Medford-based landscaping company will pay a $100,000 penalty after the company chopped down trees, bulldozed land and excavated soil in the protected Long Island Central Pine Barrens 12 years ago without a permit, State Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday.