CCE in the News

Lee Zeldin Knows How to Defend Trump. Will He Defend the Environment?

Lee Zeldin Knows How to Defend Trump. Will He Defend the Environment?

The choice of Mr. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman of New York, to be the next E.P.A. administrator caught even some of his closest allies by surprise.

When he ran for governor of New York two years ago, fellow Republicans privately exhorted former Representative Lee Zeldin to distance himself from Donald J. Trump and his debunked conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

Military adopts ‘action level’ policy for PFAS cleanup that’s 3 times federal EPA standard

Military adopts ‘action level’ policy for PFAS cleanup that’s 3 times federal EPA standard

The Defense Department's new policy allows the Navy to further delay action to remedy drinking water contamination by plume migrating off Calverton site.

It’s easy to comply with the rules if you’re the one writing them.

Manhasset businesses can connect to public sewers after $5 million project

Manhasset businesses can connect to public sewers after $5 million project

Businesses on Plandome Road in Manhasset that have used septic tanks for years — and struggle with the cost to maintain them — will be able to connect to a public sewer system soon as part of a $5 million project, officials said.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $435 Million in State Grants for Local Water Infrastructure Improvements

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $435 Million in State Grants for Local Water Infrastructure Improvements

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $435 million is being awarded to 102 critical water infrastructure projects across New York State through the Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Grant programs. The grants awarded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) deliver on Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State to help small, rural and disadvantaged communities with their water infrastructure needs. With critical financial support for local governments across New York, Governor Hochul is laying the foundation for a healthier, more resilient future, ensuring every New Yorker has access to safe and clean water, while creating jobs and boosting the economy.

12 years after Superstorm Sandy, Long Island remains vulnerable, experts say

12 years after Superstorm Sandy, Long Island remains vulnerable, experts say

A dozen years ago, Superstorm Sandy charged onto Long Island’s coastline, resulting in an estimated $65 billion in damage to South Shore communities, destroying 100,000 homes and causing the deaths of 13 people. The storm surge reached more than 12 feet in some places, and waves of up to 17 feet thrashed the shoreline.

Skeptics of offshore wind energy have a misguided focus

Skeptics of offshore wind energy have a misguided focus

Skeptics of offshore wind energy are fretting about the wrong things. Instead of finding imaginary faults with wind turbines that will produce renewable energy for Long Island, they should focus on the real threats of fossil fuels.

Coastal Researchers Highlight Record-High Water Body Impairments; Urge Passage of Prop. 2

Coastal Researchers Highlight Record-High Water Body Impairments; Urge Passage of Prop. 2

Water bodies on Long Island faced a record-setting 36 dead zones during the summer of 2024,  and more than double the number of blue-green algae blooms in lakes and ponds than any other county in New York State, according to this year’s annual Long Island Water Quality Impairments report prepared by the Gobler Laboratory at Stony Brook University.

Suffolk County's Proposition 2 aims to improve water quality by funding sewers

Suffolk County's Proposition 2 aims to improve water quality by funding sewers

Proposition 2 asks voters to approve a small new sales tax to protect drinking water and waterways. 

Suffolk County voters are reminded and urged to turn their ballots over, where they'll find Proposition 2. It aims to set up a new sales tax fund to clean up Suffolk's waterways and drinking water by expanding public sewers and providing grants to homeowners to replace polluting cesspools. 

Record number of water quality problems in Long Island bays this summer, report finds

Record number of water quality problems in Long Island bays this summer, report finds

Fish kills, algal blooms and oxygen-deprived “dead zones” affected almost all of Long Island’s bays and estuaries this summer, according to scientists who monitor water quality at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

Long Island congressional candidates present climate action plans at environmental forum

Long Island congressional candidates present climate action plans at environmental forum

Candidates from the first, second and third districts discussed their views and policies on climate and the environment.

Candidates from the fourth district were not present.

District 1: Nick LaLota (incumbent, R), and John Avlon (D)

Nick LaLota is the incumbent representative for New York’s first district. He currently co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, which aims to create policies that will improve offshore wind technology and workforce.

Congressional Candidates Talk Climate

Congressional Candidates Talk Climate

When it comes to climate change, “if ever there was a Ground Zero for Long Island, it’s really the First Congressional District,” says Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, of the district that encompasses the entire East End. “It’s very critical to hold our congressional leaders accountable for climate change. People still actually don’t believe in climate change, as if it’s a faith based system. You can’t believe or not believe in gravity. You have to understand it is real.”

Brookhaven landfill fire may be a result of recent drought and high temperatures

Brookhaven landfill fire may be a result of recent drought and high temperatures

It's been cited for violations by the state in the past.

The more than 270-foot Brookhaven landfill caught fire Wednesday, and it could be in part because of the weather.

2024 Long Island Business Influencers

2024 Long Island Business Influencers

Adrienne Esposito
Executive Director
Citizens Campaign for the Environment

As executive director and a co-founder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adrienne Esposito has worked on numerous environmental campaigns for more than 35 years.  

Algae blooms threaten Long Island wildlife and waterways

Algae blooms threaten Long Island wildlife and waterways

LONG ISLAND - Harmful algae blooms are popping up in multiple bodies of water across Long Island.

The bays, lakes and ponds are not as clean and clear as they need to be - this according to an annual assessment of water quality report. 

"We had a record number of dead zones in 2024 with oxygen levels of less than 3mg oxygen per liter. Ideally, our coastal waterbodies will have 4.8mg oxygen per liter," said coastal ecologist Dr. Christopher Gobler at Stony Brook University. 

Rain garden at Huntington Beach helps divert pollutants from stormwater

Rain garden at Huntington Beach helps divert pollutants from stormwater

A rain garden designed to keep Huntington Harbor free of pollutants from stormwater runoff has been installed at a known flooding area near Gold Star Battalion Beach.

Algal blooms, oxygen-depleted zones affected Long Island waters in 2024, report says

Algal blooms, oxygen-depleted zones affected Long Island waters in 2024, report says

Last summer, dozens of Long Island’s ponds, lakes, bays and estuaries were affected by oxygen-depleted zones and harmful algal blooms, researchers from Stony Brook University found, which were triggered by excessive levels of nitrogen and exacerbated by record-high temperatures.

Suffolk County water quality on the ballot as voters consider Proposition 2

Suffolk County water quality on the ballot as voters consider Proposition 2

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. - Bays, ponds and estuaries on Long Island are losing oxygen

According to a new report, 36 different bodies of water have been deemed dead zones, and 25 marine waterways have harmful algal blooms. 

Algae blooms threaten Long Island wildlife and waterways

Algae blooms threaten Long Island wildlife and waterways

Harmful algae blooms spread across LI waters

Harmful algae blooms are popping up in multiple bodies of water across Long Island. FOX 5 NY’s Jodi Goldberg explains what’s causing this and the impact it's having on fish and other animals.

LONG ISLAND - Harmful algae blooms are popping up in multiple bodies of water across Long Island.

Energy company wants green light for battery storage facility on site next to Phillips Avenue Elementary School

Energy company wants green light for battery storage facility on site next to Phillips Avenue Elementary School

An energy company seeking an exemption from Southampton Town’s moratorium on battery energy storage facility applications faced scrutiny by Town Board members and strong opposition from the Riverhead Central School District Board of Education during a hearing on its exemption application last night at Southampton Town Hall.