Highlights and Happenings: April 2023

Photo by Xavi Cabrera on Unsplash

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Highlights

Victory! NYS Final Budget has Big Gains for the Environment
The final NYS budget includes funding for critical programs to restore our waterways, fight climate change, and protect public health. A huge thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul and our Senate and Assembly champions for fighting for crucial environmental victories this year. Highlights include:

• $500 million for clean water infrastructure, which helps to stop sewage overflows, remove emerging contaminants from drinking water, and more;

• $400 million Environmental Protection Fund, which supports environmental programs to protect our land, air, and water in every community across the state;

• $22.5 million to protect and restore our Ocean, Estuaries, and Great Lakes;

• A record $2 million to support restoration of the South Shore Estuary Reserve; and

• Authorization for Suffolk County to create a unified water district and hold a clean water ballot referendum this November.

NYS Assembly Passes Birds and Bees Protection Act!
One of our key priorities in Albany this year is the Birds and Bees Protection Act. This bill would limit unnecessary uses of toxic neonicotinoid pesticides (A.K.A neonics), which have decimated bee populations, polluted drinking water, and have been linked to adverse human health impacts. In April, the NYS Assembly passed this legislation to ban the sale of neonic treated corn, soybean, and wheat seeds; and cosmetic uses on lawns, gardens, and golf courses. By banning just these few uses, we could eliminate 85-90% of all neonics used in NY. A big thank you to Assemblywoman Glick for your leadership! Now, we are working to ensure the NYS Senate also passes this crucial bill this year.

Victory! Manorville Residents Will Get Clean Water
We were thrilled to join Manorville residents on Long Island for a celebration last month to announce there is now full funding to connect 64 homes to public water. These residents are drinking from private wells contaminated with toxic PFAS chemicals and VOCs and have been demanding #cleanwaternow for the last four years. Thank you to our local, state, and federal policy makers who got this critical funding, and most of all, thank you to the residents who never stopped fighting!

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Happenings

Celebrating Earth Day 2023
To celebrate Earth Day, we joined advocates from across New York to voice our support for a comprehensive legislative agenda to protect our water, land, and pollinators; improve recycling, reduce toxins, and fight climate change. We had a very productive time in Albany and were successful in passing several important bills through the Assembly and Senate, which protect pollinators, reduce PFAS pollution, reduce food waste, and much more. A huge thank you to everyone involved in a great Earth Day Advocacy Day.

Fighting to hold manufacturers—not taxpayers—responsible for their waste
One of our top NYS priorities this year is working to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Act, which will hold producers, not taxpayers, responsible for their waste. We have been fighting for a strong policy that will reduce product packaging, eliminate toxins in packaging, increase packaging recyclability, prevent plastic pollution, and save taxpayers money—it is estimated the policy would save local governments across the state $420 million annually! We will continue to fight to pass this critical legislation this year and urge you to take action in support.

Transitioning to Offshore Wind
New York is poised to be a national leader in offshore wind, with five wind farms already selected and a mandate of 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035. This will not only bring environmental and health benefits to our communities but will also create thousands of jobs and make NY a hub of offshore wind development. Recent updates on our offshore wind work:

• Open Houses on Empire Wind 2. Equinor is hosting meetings on Empire Wind 2, which will power over 600,000 homes in Nassau County via a cable connection to Island Park. We just attended the meeting in Island Park but there will be another in Long Beach on June 8, we’d love to see you there. Find more information and register here.

• Talking Offshore Wind with Uniondale High School. We recently kicked off our partnership with Community Offshore Wind and Uniondale High School, with more than 800 students slated to participate. We will be in classrooms for several days talking with students about “Transitioning to Renewable Energy” - an educational program designed to inform and engage the next generation of Long Islanders on the clean energy future.

Understanding the Health Risks of 1,4-Dioxane on Long Island
Yale Superfund Research Center has crafted a study to better understand the impact of 1,4-dioxane exposure on Long Island residents. This spring, we launched our partnership with Yale to provide education and outreach to inform Long Islanders about this new, exciting program. In April, we hosted a Lunch and Learn with Yale to talk about:

• The latest science on drinking water and health impacts of 1,4-dioxane

• More information on the large quantities of 1,4-dioxane in popular products

• The new partnership between Yale and CCE and the health study to begin this year for Long Islanders.

If you live on Long Island and are interested in participating in the study and finding out if you or the drinking water in your home have been exposed to 1,4-dioxane, you can find out more here.

Whale Tales and Whale Facts
We had a great Lunch and Learn virtual webinar on the recent whale deaths off NY’s coast and discussed what we can do to protect whales. There has been concern that these whale deaths are the result of offshore wind development, despite evidence to the contrary. The truth is that offshore wind is crucial to fighting climate change and protecting marine species. We heard great presentations from the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society about the real threats to whales off our coast. Thank you to the almost 400 people who joined and all who participated in the Q&A. If you missed it, check it out here.

New York State Adopts Final 2023-24 Budget

For immediate release: Wednesday, May 3, 2023

For more information, contact:

Brian Smith, CCE Associate Executive Director, 716-831-3206, bsmith@citizenscampaign.org

Maureen Murphy, CCE Executive Programs Manager, 516-390-7150, mmurphy@citizenscampaign.org

Budget provides robust funding for critical environmental programs

Albany, NY—Last night the New York State Legislature wrapped up voting on the final SFY 2023-24 budget, which included funding for a host of important environmental programs. In response, Brian Smith, Associate Executive Director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), said:

“The final budget continues to fund programs that are critical to protect clean water, safeguard public health, fight climate change, and support environmental justice. Staffing for environmental agencies increased, with 265 positions added across multiple agencies that are needed for implementation of the state’s recently adopted environmental bond act. We commend the Governor, Senate and Assembly for continuing New York’s strong national leadership in protecting our environment.

The Clean Water Infrastructure Act was again funded at $500 million, bringing the total investment up to $5 billion since 2017. This nation-leading program is helping to protect drinking water from emerging contaminants, reduce harmful sewage overflows, create jobs, and so much more. The NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) was again funded at $400 million, matching the program’s all-time high. Within the EPF, we are thrilled that the South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) program funding doubled from last year, up to $2 million. This additional funding for the SSER will help accomplish new priorities and goals aimed at protecting and restoring this critical natural resource.

CCE thanks the Governor and legislature for setting the stage to create a unified wastewater district in Suffolk County. This will allow the public to vote for clean water this November. This initiative is a vital step forward to restore water quality in our local rivers, bays, and harbors.

We now look forward to working with the legislature and Governor to tackle the state’s environmental needs that were not addressed in the budget before the end of session, including passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, Birds and Bees Protection Act, and a host of bills needed to protect clean water and public health from dangerous PFAS chemicals.”

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Learn about Empire Wind!

Equinor is hosting community meetings in Island Park and Long Beach on this exciting offshore wind project

The Empire Wind 1 and 2 wind projects, which will be located off the south shore of Long Island, will power over a million homes with renewable energy. Offshore wind is crucial to assisting New York’s transition away from fossil fuels. It is important that the community is informed and has the ability to ask questions about these projects.

Empire Wind 1 will connect to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and power homes in NYC, while Empire Wind 2 will power 600,000+ Long Island homes with renewable energy. The cable connection for Empire Wind 2 is currently scheduled to go through the City of Long Beach to a substation in Island Park.

Equinor is hosting open houses in Long Beach and Island Park to educate Long Islanders about the Empire Wind projects and the Empire Wind 2 cable connection into Nassau County. These meetings are free and open to the public.

Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2023 
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm; 4:00pm – 8:00pm  
Location: Bridgeview Yacht Club, 80 Waterfront Blvd, Island Park, NY
RSVP: Click here to register

Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm; 4:00pm – 8:00pm  
Location: Allegria Hotel, 80 W Broadway, Long Beach, NY
RSVP: Click here to register

These open houses will provide an overview of the project and the role it will play in helping Long Island move from fossil fuels to offshore wind. The events will be an opportunity to learn about project details and permitting process, meet the project team, and engage with the experts. We hope to see you there!

Thank you for joining us!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Citizens Campaign for the Environment and the NY League of Conservation Voters will host a virtual Lunch and Learn: Whale Tales and Whale Facts

DATE:               Thursday, March 30th, 2023

CONTACT:      Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, 631-384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

Learn from the experts about whale’s off of New York’s coast, challenges they are facing and what are some of the causes of recent whale deaths.

Farmingdale, NY - Since 2016, we have witnessed an increase in whale strandings and whale deaths off of America’s shores. These high number of deaths are called a “Unusual Whale Mortality Event”. These endangered species are under threat from several sources, including ship strikes, fishing gear, plastic pollution, and climate change. Unfortunately, misinformation about whale deaths has led to concerns from the public. Join us for facts!  

Join us for this virtual educational forum to hear from experts and learn more about the recent whale strandings and deaths, and what research is being done on the local, state, and federal level to protect whales. Presentations will be followed by Q&A.

When: Tuesday, April 4, 2023, from 12:00pm – 1:00pm zoom

Where: Via Zoom—register here

Who: Speakers include:

•       Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

•       Julie Tighe, President, New York League of Conservation Voters

•       Erica Staaterman, PhD, Bioacoustician,  Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

•       Robert DiGiovanni, Founder and Chief Scientist, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

•       Meghan Rickard, Marine Zoologist, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

A recording of this webinar can be viewed here.

CCE and Nassau Legislator Lafazan Call for Legislation to Fight Climate Change and Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Nassau County

DATE:               Monday, March 27th, 2023

CONTACT:      Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, 631-384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

Farmingdale, NY – CCE will be joining Nassau County Legislator Joshua A. Lafazan and members of the Legislature’s Minority Caucus to introduce legislation that would require Nassau County to achieve carbon neutrality for its municipal operations by Jan. 1, 2035.

According to a recent Moody’s report, Long Island ranks fourth among major American population centers for its exposure to the physical and economic risks of climate change. We are especially vulnerable to warming temperatures, extreme weather, sea level rise and “water stress,” on our sole-source aquifer. New York State has already passed the nation’s most ambitious climate protection law, but Nassau County must take action to achieve the goals laid out in this critical legislation and be leader in the fight for renewable energy. While the state has called for economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, this legislation would implement a more aggressive timetable for Nassau County and ensure the county is a leader in the state by achieving carbon neutrality in municipal operations by 2035.

WHEN:  11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023

WHERE: Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Avenue (Minority Caucus Media Room), Mineola, N.Y. 11501

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EPA MAKES HISTORIC ANNOUNCMENT TO SET STRONG, ENFORCEABLE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS FOR TOXIC PFAS CHEMICALS!

For immediate release: March 14, 2023

Contact: Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director: 631-384-1378 (mobile), aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

EPA’s first new regulations on toxic chemicals in drinking water in 20 years addresses growing problem of “forever chemicals” in drinking water

CCE applauds EPA’s move to protect public health and clean drinking water, calls on NYS to follow EPA’s lead

Farmingdale, NY—Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new enforceable drinking water standards, known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for two PFAS chemicals (PFOA and PFOS), as well as a new hazard index for four additional PFAS chemicals (PFNA, PFBS, PFHxS, and GenX). The MCLs for PFOA and PFOS are proposed at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), which is significantly stronger than New York State’s existing MCLs of 10ppt for both PFOS and PFOA. This is a significantly low standard, crafted to protect public health.

PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in our environment or bodies. Exposure is linked to cancer, liver damage, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity and other serious health problems. Last year EPA put out non-enforceable health advisory guidelines for PFOA (.004 ppt) and PFOS (.02ppt). This was significantly lower than the previous health guideline of 70 ppt and signified that there is essentially no safe level of exposure to these chemicals. Today the EPA also proposed a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (a non-enforceable health advisory level) for PFOA and PFOS at zero, confirming that there is no safe level of exposure.

In September of 2022, the NYS Department of Health (DOH) issued a proposal to regulate an additional 23 PFAS chemicals in drinking water. The regulations have not been finalized. The regulations did not propose to adjust MCLs for PFOA and PFOS, despite the release of EPA’s health guidelines indicating that there is no safe level of exposure.

In response to EPA’s announcement, Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, issued the following statement:

“This is a historic victory for clean water and public health! This ruling will provide critical public health protection for every member of the public. We commend the EPA for following the science and proposing strong standards to protect our water and the public from dangerous “forever chemicals”. PFAS is group of highly toxic chemicals that tragically have become ubiquitous in our environment. Setting strong, enforceable drinking water standards is a needed step to remove this dangerous contaminant from drinking water across the nation.

New York will ultimately have to strengthen its existing MCLs for PFOA and PFOS to align with EPA’s new regulations. Given the science indicating that there is no safe level of exposure to these chemicals, we are urging Governor Hochul and the Department of Health not to wait and to adopt the stronger standards without delay. Furthermore, NYS should revisit and strengthen the proposed regulations on the additional 23 PFAS chemicals.

Thankfully, the state and federal governments have recently provided historic levels of funding to address PFAS in drinking water, with grants already being provided for needed treatment technology to many communities across New York State. There is no reason we can’t move forward with stronger standards in New York State now. The public needs and deserves clean water.”

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For additional information on PFAS: https://www.citizenscampaign.org/whats-new-at-cce/protect-drinking-water-from-dangerous-forever-chemicals

CCE compiled a map with Long Island levels of PFAS:

www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1RjZ2tybZV5hhTI4LTfmkbHDYrn20S48&usp=sharing

Historic Levels of Funding for Long Island Sound in Federal Budget $40 Million to Protect & Restore Long Island Sound

For immediate release:  Wednesday, February 15, 2023

For more information contact:

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Cell: 631-384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

Farmingdale, NY— Environmentalists are cheering an historic level of investment in Long Island Sound. In the federal comprehensive budget bill that was enacted in December, record funding of $40 million was included for Long Island Sound. The Long Island Sound, an Estuary of National Significance, generates $31 billion annually to our local economies. Environmentalists worked to increase federal funding over the last 10 years (see funding chart below) to implement programs that reduce nitrogen, prevent hypoxia, preserve sensitive areas, restore fish and shellfish populations and combat plastic pollution.  

The Long Island Sound Program has historically been underfunded. In 2015 the LIS program was funded at only $4 million.  Since then, funding has progressively increased due to stakeholder and congressional support. In 2022 the Long Island Sound received almost $32 million from the federal budget.  

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, issued the following statement related to federal Long Island Sound funding:

“We are over the moon that in just 8 short years, Long Island Sound Funding has increased 1000%. Long Island Sound is an extension of the public’s home, full funding is the key to a healthier, swimmable, fishable treasure for future generations.  Advocates have been successfully working for the past decade to increase federal funding. Long Island Sound funding has been increasing and the investment is paying off. Restoration efforts are dependent on amply funding. We have upgraded sewage treatment plants, reduced hypoxia, increased oxygen levels and improved water clarity. We have seen dolphins return to LI Sound. However, new challenges are on the horizon, including excessive nitrogen from cesspools and septics, plastic pollution, and the warming of the Sound from climate change. This funding is critical to continue vital progress and ensure the Sound is healthy for future generations. Thank you to all our Long Island Sound leaders in the House and Senate that see the immense value of a healthy Sound.”

Senator Harckham and Advocates Announce Bill to Reduce Packaging and Increase Recycling

For Immediate Release: February 7, 2023

New legislation will reduce plastic and paper waste, increase recycling, encourage use of recyclable materials—and save local governments money

Albany, NY – A number of important environmental and governmental advocates joined New York State Senator Pete Harckham today for an announcement of his new legislation, the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. The legislation will revolutionize New York’s approach to solid waste and focus responsibility on the corporations that put packaging into the stream of commerce and help to relieve the burden placed on local governments, taxpayers and consumers for the management & disposal of most of New York’s solid waste.

The new bill (S.4246) will require companies with a net annual income of over $1 million to reduce consumer packaging, improve recycling efforts of their product packaging and help update recycling infrastructure. Additionally, companies will be expected to create and /     or maintain reusable and refill infrastructure, support municipal recycling programs financially and reduce the toxins in their packaging.

“We need to immediately address one of the dire problems of our age: the tremendous amount of waste, much of it recyclable, that we create each day—and that costs taxpayers and municipalities hundreds of millions of dollars in wasted carting and recycling costs,” said Harckham, chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. “The only way we can begin to mitigate the growing issue of waste pollution, which threatens our natural resources, is for the initial producers of this waste to be fully involved with the end-of-life solutions. Right now, municipalities and taxpayers are footing practically all of the enormous costs of product packaging pollution and recycling, and that’s neither fair nor viable in the long run.”

To view a video of the announcement, click here.

The average New Yorker creates nearly 5 pounds of trash every day, which means our state produces approximately 15 million tons of waste each year. This waste primarily goes to landfills and incinerators, and often ends up in our water, natural habitats, and public spaces.   

The recycling rate for the entire United States was estimated to be between 5-6% in 2021. While New Yorkers understand the importance of reducing their waste, reusing what we can and recycling, our current system is not meeting our environmental demands. Local governments continue to struggle with recycling costs and infrastructure, evidenced through increased taxes or significantly limited materials that can be collected.

Harckham’s bill will require eligible producers of consumer packaging and recyclable waste to join a Producer’s Responsibility Organization (PRO) within a year of the bill’s enactment and create a plan within 18 months for submission to an advisory council to gauge compliance with the new packaging and recycling rules. Once approved, producers have six months to put their plan into action.

The bill’s timeline calls for producers to reduce their packaging by 10% of weight within three years, 20% by five years, 30% by eight years, 40% by 10 years and 50% by 12 years.

Moreover, there will be specific standards for post-consumer recycled material for packaging. Glass should be at least 35% post-consumer recycled content, paper carry out bags should be 40% and plastic bags should be 20%.

However, Harckham’s bill explicitly does not cover, among other things, newspapers and magazines, medical products and devices, and beverage containers subject to the returnable deposit under current law.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will determine the effectiveness of each producer’s education and outreach efforts regarding their packaging plan. If a plan is not approved within two years, the producer may be subject to penalties for noncompliance.

To this end, the bill will establish an Office of the Inspector General under DEC to gauge compliance. Producers in violation will be fined $100,000 a day until requirements have been implemented. The PRO will be required to submit an annual report on their packaging and recycling.

A fee system will be instituted and approved by the DEC for the PRO to calculate costs to provide curbside collection, process materials for recycling and to deal with packaging that cannot be processed or recycled.                

Unlike the  proposal in the Executive Budget, Harckham’s bill also focuses on eliminating toxic chemicals and compounds in packaging material. This bill, once enacted, will give producers two years to remove certain toxic substances—PFAs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, halogenated flame retardants and more—from their packaging. Three years after the bill’s enactment, DEC must add  another 10 or more substances to this list of proscribed toxic chemicals.

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), said: “It’s time for corporations to take out their own trash. Each year companies ship billions of packages, exacerbating the solid waste crisis, yet bear no responsibility for managing the waste they create. Municipalities and taxpayers should not have to shoulder the financial burden of paying for corporations’ excessive and unrecyclable packing, we need to hold corporations responsible. CCE applauds Senator Harckham for taking the lead in addressing New York’s solid waste and recycling crisis by introducing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.”

Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director of Clean+Healthy New York, said: “We are grateful to Senator Harckham for introducing a bill that addresses our waste problem through provisions that drive reuse infrastructure, restrict toxic chemicals, and ensure 'recycling' technologies don't serve as a proxy for burning fossil fuels with plastic as a pass-through. Making this bill law will move New York in the direction of a circular economy that protects our health and the environment.” 

Caitlin Ferrante, Conservation Program Manager, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, said: “Addressing the full lifecycle of packaging and paper products is an essential piece of the circular economy we want to achieve here in New York. We are grateful to Senator Harckham for introducing this comprehensive legislation and look forward to working with him and the legislature to get this bill passed this year.”

Eric A. Goldstein, New York City Environment Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said: “This sensible and visionary legislation promises to save money for municipalities and taxpayers, remove toxic substances from packaging and incentivize producers to cut waste. Senator Peter Harckham has found just the right formula for a 21st century waste reform bill—centering waste prevention and reuse, discouraging climate-destroying single-use plastics and protecting public health.  Bravo to Senator Harckham for his leadership in advancing this sound proposal.”

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said: “To achieve our goal of zero waste, New York State must adopt policies to create a circular economy that prioritizes recycled and recyclable materials and incentivizes using less packaging in the first place. That is why the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is one of NYLCV's top priorities in 2023. We applaud Senator Harckham for introducing this measure and urge the Legislature and Governor to come together to pass a bill that sets strong minimum rates for diversion, recycled content, and waste reduction, cuts toxic chemicals in packaging and makes producers responsible.”

Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties, said: “We commend Senator Harckham for introducing legislation that will require companies to take more responsibility for recycling their own packaging. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act will shift the burden of managing the ever-increasing boxes in our waste stream from local governments to brand owners. Not only will this legislation provide relief to local governments, but it will also incentivize producers to reduce waste and use packaging that’s safer and easier to recycle. We urge the Legislature to pass this bill to modernize New York State’s recycling system and make producers take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products.”

Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of the Product Stewardship Institute, said: “The bill introduced by Senator Harckham sets aggressive yet achievable goals, with strong government oversight and enforcement. It will reduce the long-time financial and management burden on governments and taxpayers and place greater responsibility on consumer brands.”

Killala Kite, Communities and Legislative Associate at Environmental Advocates NY, said: “Approaches that meaningfully address the packaging waste crisis and move New York closer towards a zero-waste future are good for our health and good for our climate. Requiring producers of packaging waste to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products will help ensure consistent recycling access, high participation rates, better infrastructure, and more stable markets. We are deeply grateful to Senator Harckham for his leadership and dedication to this issue.”

New York Senator Brian Kavanagh, who co-sponsors the bill, said: “Our take-make-use-dispose habits are depleting our resources, polluting our environment, exposing people to harmful toxins, imposing high costs on local governments and their constituents, and contributing to climate change that threatens the habitability of our planet. By dramatically diminishing the large portion of waste that comes from packaging and paper products, and requiring producers to take responsibility for working with suppliers, retailers, and consumers to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials, Senator Pete Harckham’s legislation would represent a huge step forward on virtually every one of our environmental priorities. I thank Senator Harckham for his leadership and I look forward to working with him and our colleagues in the legislature, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the many environmental advocates, local governments, and community leaders who are committed to getting this done.”

Pete Harckham represents the 40th Senate District, which includes the towns of Carmel, Kent, Patterson and Southeast, and the village of Brewster in Putnam County; the town of Stony Point in Rockland County; and the city of Peekskill, the towns of Bedford, Cortlandt, Lewisboro, New Castle, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown, the town / village of Mount Kisco and Ossining, and the villages of Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County.

SENATOR HARCKHAM INTRODUCES LANDMARK LEGISATION TO ADDRESS THE STATE’S SOLID WASTE CRISIS AND FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

For immediate release: Monday, February 6, 2023

For more information contact: Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director- 516-390-7150, 631-384-1378 (mobile), aesposito@citizenscapaign.org

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act will reduce plastic and paper waste, increase recycling, incentivize the use of recyclable materials, and save local governments money

Albany, NY—Environmental groups and local governments are joining with Senator Pete Harckham to celebrate introduction of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. This legislation requires producers and brand owners—not local governments and taxpayers—to bear the burden of responsible disposal of packaging waste and increase recycling. This would save local governments throughout NYS hundreds of millions of dollars annually, including a savings of $100 million - $150 million for NYC alone. Not only would the policy save money, but it would also reduce packaging waste, improve and modernize recycling, incentivize manufactures to use more recyclable materials, and help protect our environment and public health. Advocates are pushing to include the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act in the final 2023-24 SFY budget.

Press Conference Details:

DATE: Tuesday, February 7, 2023

TIME: 10:30am

LOCATION: Capitol Building, 4th Floor (near the million-dollar staircase)

WHO: Senator Pete Harckham, Chair, Senate Environmental Conservation Committee

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Julie Tighe, President, NY League of Conservation Voters

Ryan Gregoire, Legislative Director, NYS Association of Counties

LAWSUIT BEING FILED AGAINST SOUTH COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN FOR NEGLIGENCE IN THE DEATH OF STUDENT, JAVIEN COLEMAN

DATE:               Monday, January 23 2023

CONTACT:      Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, (631)384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

                           E. Christopher Murray, Esq. (516) 663-6515 or emurray@rmfpc.com

Young student passes away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Mother files claim for the school’s failure to relocate away from Brookhaven Landfill and prevent toxic exposure.

Bellport NY – South Country Central School District and the Town of Brookhaven are being sued for their failure and refusal to take prudent actions regarding air quality and toxic exposure to students at Frank P. Long Intermediate School.  Javien Coleman passed on October 26, 2022 of non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 13 years old. Issues of toxic air quality at the school have been a topic of controversy for years. Teachers who worked at the school identified high rates of cancer and other illnesses. There are several ongoing lawsuits.

The school is located at the foot of the Brookhaven Landfill which generates odors and toxic air emissions. These odors have plagued the school for decades. Frank P. Long is a two-year intermediate school for 4th and 5th grades.  The school discussed the option of relocating but the School Board refused to acknowledge any problems. 

When:             Monday, January 23, 2023

Time:              11:00 am

Where:           Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

                        1425 RXR Plaza

                        East Tower, 15th Floor

                        Uniondale, NY 11556            

Who:              

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

E. Christopher Murray and Elizabeth Sy, Counsel to Claimant,

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

Nacole Hutley, claimant and mom of Javien Coleman

GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS PLAN ENHANCED EFFORTS TO PROTECT SOUTH SHORE BAYS

DATE:               Monday, December 12th, 2022

CONTACT:      Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, 631-384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

ENVIRONMENTAL, COMMUNITY, AND GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS COME TOGETHER FOR THE SOUTH SHORE ESTUARY RESERCE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST

Join key South Shore Estuary Reserve advocates and decision makers, including Deputy Secretary of State Kisha Santiago Martinez, to discuss progress made and future actions needed to restore and protect our South Shore Bays.

Farmingdale, NY – Citizens Campaign for the Environment is hosting the first South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) Legislative Breakfast in preparation for the 2023-2024 NYS Legislative Session. The event will bring together environmental experts and policy makers for presentations and discussions highlighting SSER program success advancing next steps needed to restore water quality in our bays, harbors, and estuary.

When: Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 8:30-10:30am

Where: West Sayville Country Club, 200 Main St., West Sayville, NY

RSVP Here: https://secure.everyaction.com/RCAQNLNj1EC8OKCFScVelA2

Speakers:

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Kisha Santiago Martinez, Deputy Secretary of State

Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre

Alison Branco, The Nature Conservancy

Stephen Schott, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Rich Groh, Town of Babylon

Tara Schneider, Town of Hempstead

The Yale Superfund Research Center and CCE are Partnering to Understand the Impacts of 1,4-Dioxane Contamination on Long Island Residents and Communities

Photo by RODNAE Productions: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-holding-a-ball-while-drinking-from-water-fountain-8337476/

CCE is working to educate Long Island community members on how they can participate in the Yale Superfund Research Center’s study, which is being funding by the National Institute for Environmental Health and Sciences

1,4-Dioxane is an emerging contaminant of concern found in drinking water throughout the nation, including water supplies in Long Island. In fact, water suppliers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties have reported the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane contamination in the nation. Research is needed to understand the impacts of 1-4-dioxane contamination on Long Island’s residents and communities.

Learn more about the Yale Superfund Research Center Study
The Yale Superfund Research Center is in the initial phase of further investigating 1,4 dioxane exposure on human health in Long Island communities through studies of exposure and health. Its initial community sites include Nassau and Suffolk Counties, where high levels of 1,4-dioxane have been previously found in public supplies and private wells. We are working to educate community members on how to participate in this drinking water and blood sample study (with incentives). Ultimately the goal is to enhance understanding by partnering with the community in its investigation and sharing results as widely as possible.

We need your help—get involved!
If you would like to learn more about 1,4-dioxane in your community, how to get involved in community action and education, and learn about the Yale Superfund Research Center’s research study, please sign up here to learn more! If you need assistance or have any questions, feel free to call us at 516-390-7150.

More info on 1,4-dioxane and the Yale Study
CCE co-hosted a Lunch and Learn virtual forum with Yale University on 1,4-dioxane contamination on Long Island and the new study. Check out the video to learn:

• The latest science on drinking water and health impacts of 1,4-dioxane

• More information on the large quantities of 1,4-dioxane in popular products

• The new partnership between Yale and CCE and the health study to begin this year for Long Islanders

In case you missed it, check out Newsday’s great coverage of recent exemptions for hidden carcinogen 1,4-dioxane in consumer products and the Yale health study on Long Island.

Additional Background on 1,4-Dioxane

What is 1,4-dioxane and why should I be concerned?
1,4-Dioxane, known as one of the “forever chemicals,” is an emerging contaminant of concern found in drinking water throughout the nation, including water supplies in Long Island. Past industrial practices that discharged 1,4- dioxane into the ground and eventually seeped into the Long Island aquifers have contaminated our public water supplies and private wells. The EPA has established that 1,4-dioxane is likely carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to this chemical is linked to tumors of the liver, gallbladder, nasal cavity, lung, skin, and breast.

Is there 1,4-dioxane in my community?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tested 4,400 water supply systems nationwide and Long Island was found to have some of the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane detection in the US, with some water systems in both Nassau and Suffolk containing levels over 100 times the EPA’s cancer risk guideline of 0.35 parts per billion (ppb). View CCE’s interactive map that shows the highest detections of 1,4-dioxane in each water district/distribution area across Long Island.

Exposure to 1,4-dioxane most likely occurs through drinking contaminated water, however, it may also be inhaled or absorbed through skin. 1,4-Dioxane is also found in everyday products, not as an additive or enhancer, but rather as an unwanted byproduct of the manufacturing process. CCE conducted independent testing of common household products and found 1,4-dioxane in 80% of personal care products, including baby products, shampoos, body wash, dish soaps and laundry detergents.

What is New York doing about 1,4-dioxane?  Is there more to be done?
New York is a leader in combatting 1,4-dioxane and currently has the strictest enforceable drinking water standard in the nation at 1 ppb. Water suppliers are required to remove this emerging contaminant and many Long Island water suppliers have already invested in and installed Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), a technology designed for the removal of this carcinogen. New York State is also a leader in banning 1,4-dioxane in personal care products. A law passed in NY requires manufacturers to reduce 1,4-dioxane down to 2 parts per million (ppm) by January of 2023 and down to 1 ppm or below by 2024.

There is more to be done! Long Islanders have been exposed to this harmful chemical for decades. 1,4-Dioxane is still unregulated at the federal level and EPA says more research is needed on the environmental and human health impacts of exposure to fully understand the long-term impacts of 1,4-dioxane.

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Protect Our Drinking Water from Dangerous “Forever Chemicals”

Photo by Lisa Fotios: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-drinking-glass-1346155/

Support Strong National Drinking Water Standards for PFAS Chemicals

In recent years, communities across New York, Connecticut and the nation have discovered their drinking water sources are contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals. PFAS are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they are very persistent, meaning they build up in our bodies and don’t break down in the environment. New science indicates that there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS in our drinking water and we must do more to protect public health from this growing threat.

In order to protect drinking water and public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the first nationwide enforceable limits on the amount of six highly toxic PFAS chemicals allowed in drinking water.

EPA is now accepting public comment on the proposed drinking water regulations. Polluters will undoubtedly push to weaken these proposed regulations—EPA must stand firm and adopt these strong, health-protective standards! Adopting these drinking water standards will protect drinking water in New York, Connecticut and throughout the nation and prevent thousands of premature deaths. Submit a comment to EPA before the public comment period closes on May 30th!

Background

What is PFAS?
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for many decades, due to their non-stick, grease-resistant and waterproof properties. PFAS are used in cookware, packaging, clothing, furniture, adhesives, paint, firefighting foam, artificial turf, and other products. According to the U.S. EPA, there are at least 3,500 industrial sites across New York and 900 sites across Connecticut that may be handling or using PFAS chemicals.

PFAS Pollutes our Environment and Drinking Water
Due to widespread use of PFAS chemicals in numerous products and industries, PFAS chemicals have become ubiquitous in the environment, including our soil, air, and drinking water. Testing has revealed PFAS in water sources in communities across New York, Connecticut, and the nation.

PFAS Threatens our Health
Studies show that human exposure to PFAS is widespread and that nearly all people in the United States have some PFAS compounds in their blood. Exposure to PFAS can lead to higher rates of kidney and testicular cancer, higher cholesterol levels, thyroid problems, adverse developmental effects and decreased immune response in children, and other adverse health impacts.

New Science Indicates That There is No Safe Level of Exposure to PFAS
Based on a growing body of new science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its drinking water health advisory for two types of PFAS chemicals, PFOS and PFOA. Drinking water health advisories indicate the amount of a chemical in drinking water that is expected to cause adverse health impacts. The EPA significantly reduced the health advisory from 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOA and PFOS down to a mere .004 ppt for PFOA and .02 ppt for PFOS. This means that there is essentially no safe level of exposure to these chemicals in our drinking water!

EPA Proposes Strong National Drinking Water Standards
Following the update of health advisories, EPA has now proposed the first nationwide enforceable limits on the amount of six highly toxic PFAS chemicals allowed in drinking water. For PFOA and PFOS, EPA proposed individual drinking water limits of 4 ppt per chemical. For the other four PFAS (PFNA, PFBS, PFHxS, and GenX), EPA proposed an enforceable limit designed to address those chemicals’ combined effects as a mixture. While we want to ultimately eliminate PFAS in drinking water, EPA’s proposed standards represent the strongest standards that are currently technically feasible.

Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Missed the Virtual Forum? Watch the Video of the Educational Forum on Whale Protection

Hear from the experts about whale strandings and deaths and what we can do to protect whales

Since 2016, we have witnessed an increase in whale strandings and whale deaths off the coast of America’s shores. These endangered species are under threat from several sources, including ship strikes, fishing gear, plastic pollution, and climate change. Unfortunately, misinformation about whale deaths and an association with offshore wind development has led to concerns about transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. These local wind projects are crucial to combat climate change, which is not only a threat to whales but also to marine mammals, fisheries, and our communities.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment, NY League of Conservation Voters and NY Offshore Wind Alliance hosted a virtual educational forum with whale experts from Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Thank you to the almost 400 people who joined us for these great presentations and a lively Q &A. If you missed it, check out the video to learn more about the recent whale strandings and deaths, what is being done on the local, state, and federal level to protect whales.

Thank you for watching!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE