A former manufacturing plant in Mineola that became a state Superfund site has been remediated and no longer poses an environmental or public health threat, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said.
Push for governor to sign Horseshoe Crab Protection Act intensifies as time runs out
SOURCE:
By Denise Civiletti - November 18, 2024
Environmental advocates have launched a full-court press to get Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that would ban the harvesting of horseshoe crabs in New York.
The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, passed by the State Legislature in June bans the taking of horseshoe crabs from New York waters for commercial fishing or biomedical purposes. Hochul has until the end of the year to sign the bill into law.
The legislation aims to protect an ancient species advocates say plays a vital role in the marine ecosystem but its decline is so serious they describe the arthropod as “on the brink of local extinction.”
Horseshoe crabs, which evolved more than 200 million years ago, are found from Nova Scotia to Mexico and live year-round in Long Island Sound. Its decline, due to harvesting and habitat loss, is documented by the Long Island Sound Study research.
Horseshoe crabs are an important bait for commercial fishermen of whelk and eel. Horseshoe crab is the only usable bait for commercial fishermen catching whelk, Rob Carpenter of the Long Island Farm Bureau told Times Beacon Record Newspapers in June. The bill would severely impact Long Island’s commercial fishing industry, he said.
Horseshoe crabs are also harvested for biomedical purposes. Their blood is used to perform safety checks for a variety of vaccines, injectable drugs, intravenous solutions and implantable medical devices such as pacemakers. Pharmaceutical companies have been developing synthetic alternatives to the horseshoe crab’s blood, and the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is in the process of adopting guidelines for synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crab blood. The guidelines are expected to become official in May.
Under current New York State law, the horseshoe crab is a fishery managed by the State Department of Environmental Conservation, which by regulation has imposed daily trip limits and an annual quota of 150,000 horseshoe crabs.
The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, sponsored by Assembly Member Deborah Glick and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, both Democrats who represent districts in Manhattan, passed the legislature in largely party-line votes in both chambers.
The East End legislative delegation, State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Assembly Members Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor) and Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow), opposed the bill.
Giglio told Newsday in June she feared the ban would put some commercial fishermen on Long Island out of business because horseshoe crabs are the best bait for conk and eel.
Over the past three decades, the horseshoe crab population has crashed and their habitat is rapidly disappearing, according to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity in February, asking the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to list the Atlantic horseshoe crab as an endangered or threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.
“American horseshoe crab populations have crashed primarily due to habitat loss and overharvesting by commercial fisheries and biomedical industries. In 2022, nearly one million crabs were harvested for biomedical bleeding, including female crabs. Biomedical harvests also can occur at any time of year, including during spawning season. Horseshoe crab blood harvests have nearly doubled since 2017,” the petition states.
Overharvesting for bait in the 1990s decimated the populations along the Atlantic coast, the Center for Biological Diversity said in its petition. The populations have never recovered and remain at one-third of what they were before the overharvesting of the 1990s.
“Despite low horseshoe crab populations and egg densities, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission…in 2021… recommend[ed] increased horseshoe crab harvests and harvests of female horseshoe crabs,” the petition states.
The horseshoe crab’s overall vulnerability to climate change was ranked by NOAA as “very high” in 2023, according to the petition.
“Sea level rise and extreme weather events fueled by climate change have resulted in the destruction of spawning beach habitat. Shoreline hardening through sea walls, jetties, and bulkheads, has further degraded horseshoe crab habitat. Habitat loss has reduced the available grounds for spawning horseshoe crabs and their eggs. Dredging and harbor deepening have increased across the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and resulted in substantial mortality events for horseshoe crabs and destruction of their habitat,” the petition continues.
The Group for the East End, based in Southold, has launched an email campaign to urge Hochul to sign the bill.
“While horseshoe crabs have played an integral role in the biomedical and commercial fishery industries, it has been to their detriment. Alternatives for biomedical use of horseshoe crab blood exist and have become mainstream,” the Group for the East End said.
“If alternatives are not utilized for commercial bait, the horseshoe crab population will likely continue to decline beyond repair. What impacts might this have on the fishery industry if action isn’t taken?” the organization said on its website.
Connecticut adopted “stringent regulations” last year to help boost horseshoe crab populations, Group for the East End notes. That will likely increase harvest rates in New York waters, the organization said.
The DEC’s management strategy “has brought horseshoe crabs to the brink of local extinction,” Group for the East End says.
The organization has published an online form for sending a message to the governor urging her to sign the legislation. Access the form here.
“This legislation will allow the populations to recover and ensure the survival of this important species,” Citizens Campaign for the Environment said in a press release yesterday. “Governor Hochul has been reluctant to sign the bill, and she only has 6 more weeks to do so.”
The Farmingdale-based organization released a letter yesterday written by conservation scientist Jane Goodall to Hochul on Nov. 12, asking the governor to sign the bill into law.
“By signing this bill, you can ensure the survival of the horseshoe crab and the many species that depend on it,” Goodall wrote. “I have devoted my life to preserving the planet and I hope together, we can make a lasting difference in this important corner of the world.”
Trump's Second Term Threatens Environmental Progress
Concerns rise as Lee Zeldin leads EPA with pro-fossil fuel agenda
Donald Trump’s recent appointments for key environmental positions during his second term as president are causing quite the stir among environmentalists and policy experts. The names spotlighted, particularly former Congressman Lee Zeldin, have raised concerns about the potential rollback of regulations aimed at protecting the environment. Zeldin has been nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and many local activists have expressed skepticism about his commitment to environmental issues.
Green groups push state to buy Whitney Park
LONG LAKE — Eight conservation groups jointly sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging the state to “act swiftly” to purchase and preserve Whitney Park.
The letter was signed by leaders of the Adirondack Council, Protect the Adirondacks!, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve, the Adirondack Mountain Club, New York League of Conservation Voters, and Adirondack Wilderness Advocates.
Adirondack conservation organizations urge protection of 36,000 acre-Whitney Estate Tract
Eight conservation organizations that are concerned with the future of the Adirondack Park called on Governor Kathy Hochul on Nov. 13 to act swiftly to protect 36,000 acres of forests, lakes and rivers in the central Adirondacks owned by heirs to the vast Whitney and Vanderbilt family fortunes.
The Whitney Estate, a vast tract of some of the most ecologically sensitive lands in the Adirondack Park, contains 22 lakes and ponds with more than 100 miles of undeveloped shorelines, connected by navigable rivers and streams in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. It has been listed as a high-priority for state acquisition/protection since the NYS Open Space Protection Plan was first adopted in 1992, due to its high-quality wildlife habitat and great potential for public recreation and tourism.
EPA nominee Lee Zeldin has backed environmental causes, but not all are convinced
Trump Presidency Looms Over New York’s Ambitious Climate Agenda
SOURCE:
https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/11/15/trump-zeldin-hochul-climate-environment/
BY SAMANTHA MALDONADO - November 15, 2024
With President Donald Trump set to return to the White House, New York is all but on its own to play catch-up with its ambitious, legally mandated climate goals.
The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed in 2019 during Trump’s first presidential term, requires the state to have zero-emissions electricity by 2040 and slash greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050.
While the state has made some progress — aided in large part by the Biden administration, whose friendly stance toward climate action gave way to smoother offshore wind permitting and tax incentives for cleaner vehicles — it’s got a long way to go. Even with that wind at its back, however, New York had already fallen about three years behind its own benchmarks.
“The role of the state is far more important, in that we can no longer rely on the federal government,” said Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. “There’s plenty we can do if we have the political will.”
Gerrard said Gov. Kathy Hochul should double down on advancing the climate law’s aims by following the sweeping policy blueprint that plots out a transition away from fossil fuels for all parts of New York’s economy, from home heating and energy sources, to what kinds of cars are on the road. But the state lacks a clear funding source or spending plan to carry that out.
“New York has taken significant steps to implement the Climate Act and we will continue our ongoing efforts to build a clean energy economy,” Paul DiMichele, a spokesperson for Hochul, said in a statement.
One person who could help or hinder Hochul’s efforts is Lee Zeldin, Trump’s appointee to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin, a former state senator and Congressman representing eastern Long Island, challenged Hochul for governor in 2022 and came within six points of winning. This summer, he called New York’s climate law “unrealistic and unobtainable,” saying its goals amounted to “pathetic political posturing.”
Zeldin said Tuesday that the EPA has the “opportunity to roll back regulations that are forcing businesses to struggle.” That echoes some groups in New York that have raised concerns over the impacts and feasibility of the state’s climate goals. The Business Council of New York gave Zeldin a “top pro-business score” in 2014 when he was a state senator, while just three years earlier, Environmental Advocates New York awarded him an “Oil Slick” award.
Still, Hochul is holding out hope that her former political rival will remember where he’s from: an area vulnerable to flooding and growing more so as sea levels rise, reliant on groundwater as its drinking source, and home to many whose livelihoods depend on a healthy environment.
“Hopefully, these are all factors that the new head of EPA will know, what was happening in his backyard, and try to help solve problems, not create more,” Hochul said this week.
Zeldin does not have a reputation as an environmental champion, though advocates who worked with him locally said he stepped up in crucial times.
Adrienne Esposito, executive director of the Long Island-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said she asked Zeldin to publicly oppose Trump’s idea to drill for oil off the East Coast. He did, she said, in part because he recognized the harmful impact that would have had on Long Island fishermen.
“When pressed by his constituents on issues that they really cared about, he would be responsive. What I’m worried about now is that his responsiveness will turn away from the public and more towards Trump’s agenda,” Esposito said.
Regarding Trump, Esposito added, “He traded the industry’s bottom lines for public health. When he had to choose between the two, he chose industry. What we need Zeldin to do is fight for the public need above corporate greed.”
Rejecting Climate Science
What Zeldin ultimately decides to do if confirmed as head of the EPA may be a question of how closely he hews to Trump’s vision.
Trump has long rejected climate science. During his first term, his administration gutted research funding, and the EPA rolled back over 100 policies and rules aimed at lowering planet-warming emissions and protecting the environment.
Perhaps the biggest impact the EPA could have on New York’s climate aims is rolling back Biden-era rules that limit harmful tailpipe emissions. These rules aimed to slash pollution and push the U.S. vehicle market toward electric and hybrid vehicles.
This rule boosted New York’s efforts to tackle its largest source of planet-warming emissions: the transportation sector. Hochul issued a directive requiring all cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions — that is, powered by hydrogen or electricity — by 2035.
“Whether we’re able to meet the 2035 target, and what happens along the way is mostly out of our hands, it’s mostly a federal matter,” Gerrard said. “That’s the single thing that I think is the greatest problem that the election has for New York’s achievement of these climate goals.”
One person uniquely poised to nudge the Trump administration toward greater support for electric vehicles is Elon Musk, Trump’s confidant, appointee to co-lead a new proposed Department of Government Efficiency, and founder of electric car manufacturer Tesla.
Some New York environmental advocates are pushing for the state to adopt a clean fuel standard, which would require a reduction in the carbon intensity of vehicles, thereby incentivizing a switch from gasoline to a lower-emissions fuels such as biodiesel. The state Senate passed legislation to do so, but the Assembly never held a vote on the measure. Hochul could prioritize state approval of such a standard.
‘Dominance,’ Renewables Included
Zeldin also promised to “pursue energy dominance” for the U.S., without specifying what kind of energy he wants to be dominant.
“Does that mean only fossil fuels? Trump has been outspoken in opposing offshore wind — do wind and solar and geothermal factor into that equation?” said Judith Enck, a former regional administrator of the EPA. “It’s in the EPA wheelhouse. The EPA sometimes issues permits for coal-fired power plants, fracking, pipelines.”
One clue: When Zeldin ran for governor, he vowed to overturn New York’s ban on fracking and said New York was not “tapping into” a supply of energy, suggesting the state could extract natural gas, which he said would also create jobs.
But clean energy has been a job creator nationwide, and years earlier, Zeldin had recognized its benefits.
“The key is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, to become more environmentally friendly and pursue clean and green energy,” Zeldin said during a 2016 congressional campaign debate against his Democratic challenger.
Environmental advocates say that fulfilling Zeldin’s “energy dominance” pledge will have to include renewables in the mix at some level.
“I don’t see how the country is energy dominant or energy secure and less reliant on the roller coaster ride of the oil markets if we’re not getting more of our energy, including for our vehicles, from electricity and renewable sources,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Zeldin, however, voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which have been credited with spurring investment in clean energy and manufacturing — including in New York.
Trump has vowed to rescind unspent dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act — a big risk for the state. Already, his transition team is seeking to repeal the IRA’s electric vehicle tax credit.
“New York needs to be cognizant of that when it comes to prioritizing the resources it does have to maximize greenhouse gas reduction,” said Patrick Orecki, director of state studies at the Citizens Budget Commission, in an email.
He emphasized that while federal dollars and incentives help advance the climate law, the state is ultimately on the hook to find its own funding.
New York is slated to establish a program, known as “cap-and-invest,” that would charge polluters for emissions they spew in an effort to incentivize them to emit less and to raise money to pay for climate-related investments. But the state has yet to write regulations for the program — one of several key deadlines in the Climate Act its missed.
“If the state keeps missing climate law milestones, nobody else is coming to our rescue,” said Eddie Bautista, executive director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. “We’re all disappointed and waiting to see if she will start taking climate change mitigation and adaptation with the urgency we need.”
Lee Zeldin's appointment as EPA head brings a mixed reaction from Long Island environmental leaders
LONG ISLAND -- Leaders in Nassau and Suffolk counties say they're hopeful that former Congressman Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for head of the Environmental Protection Agency, will in fact protect the environment.
Many have worked with him for years.
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
Highlights and Happenings: November 2024
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Highlights
Victory! Suffolk County Votes Yes on Clean Water On election day, Suffolk County residents had the opportunity to vote on Prop 2, the clean water ballot referendum. The initiative allows the sales tax to be increased by 1/8 of one penny to create a reliable funding stream dedicated to protecting water. The clean water ballot measure was passed by Suffolk residents with an overwhelming 72% of the vote! The program, effective January of 2025, will generate billions of dollars in the years ahead to reduce nitrogen pollution from sewers and septic systems—reducing pollution that impacts our drinking water and waterways. Thank you to Suffolk County residents that voted in favor of this critical clean water initiative!
We Have Only Days Left to Save Horseshoe Crabs—Governor Hochul Must Sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act!
In order to save the horseshoe crab from local extinction, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to ban harvesting of horseshoe crabs. We need Governor Hochul to sign the bill. The clock is ticking. She has only days left to decide whether to sign the bill or veto it. Horseshoe crabs have existed for over 350million years, having shared this planet with the dinosaurs. Sadly, the species is now vulnerable to local extinction unless action is taken soon. We can’t afford to wait any longer. We continued outreach to the Governor’s office last month, getting letters of support for the bill from the public, stakeholders, and Dr. Jane Goodall! Email Governor Hochul today and urge her to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!
Happenings
Heading to D.C. to Advocate for the Great Lakes
In November, we headed down to Washington D.C. to meet with our elected leaders on the importance of Great Lakes protection. Our big push is to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act, which would extend funding this successful program to protect and restore the Great Lakes for another 5 years. Many thanks to our partner National Audubon Society and students from SUNY ESF for joining us for a very productive trip!
Providing Testimony to Address PFAS Contamination in Our Waters
Last month, the New York State Assembly held a public hearing on PFAS contamination. Our Executive Director, Adrienne Esposito, provided testimony on the dangers of these “forever chemicals,” which are found in our drinking water and communities throughout the state. We outlined what New York must do to protect our health, environment and drinking water, including passing legislation to stop PFAS at the source by banning these dangerous chemicals in common household items. Check out Adrienne Esposito’s testimony here.
Transitioning to Offshore Wind
Here’s a look at the big developments with offshore wind from November:
Talking Offshore Wind with Uniondale High School - Last month, we continued our partnership with Community Offshore Wind and Uniondale High School with another round of presentations for students entitled “Transitioning to Renewable Energy,” which is an educational program designed to inform and engage the next generation of Long Islanders on the clean energy future. We then headed down for our annual trip with the students to the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, where the students learned about coastline protection and climate change mitigation strategies, and were then able to take a close up look at a real wind turbine blade. Thank you again to all the students and teachers that participated in making this year’s program a success!
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 November, we testified in favor of the New York Power Authority’s strategic renewable plan, which includes plans to phase out fossil fuel peaker plants and build a BESS facility in at their Brentwood site on Long Island. We also 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. 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.
Planting a Rain Garden in Northport
We are working with the Village of Northport on Long Island to install new rain gardens on Bluff Rd and James Street. Rain gardens prevent polluted stormwater runoff from reaching local waterways. They capture, store, and filter contaminants while protecting the shoreline and prevent pollution from entering Northport Harbor. We joined community members to plant a rain garden in October and another in November. We are very excited to see how these rain gardens continue to thrive and protect Northport Harbor.
Manhasset businesses can connect to public sewers after $5 million project
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
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
Save Horseshoe Crabs Before It’s Too Late!
Urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into Law!
The Governor must decide to sign the bill or veto it within a matter of days
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 have been depleted largely due to commercial fishermen who catch them and chop them up for use as bait. Horseshoe crabs are an essential species in the food web—a decline in their population is harming the ecosystem and threatening bird species that depend upon the crabs for food. Currently, New York is woefully lagging in horseshoe crab protection.
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. The bill was recently delivered to Governor Hochul—she has 10 days to decide whether to sign the bill or veto it. Email Governor Hochul today and urge her to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!
Background
Why are Horseshoe Crabs Important?
Horseshoe Crabs are an integral part of the ecosystem and act as a keystone species in the food web. Each spring, horseshoe crabs travel from deep Atlantic waters to the shore for their breeding season. Beaches are stormed with mating horseshoe crabs, with females laying tens of thousands of eggs at a time in clusters buried under the sand. Every year, horseshoe crabs lay their eggs on beaches at full and new moon high tides from April to June.
Millions of shorebirds stop along our Atlantic beaches to nourish themselves on horseshoe crab eggs. These eggs are the single most important food source for migrating shorebirds, including threatened birds, such as the Red Knot. Experts predict that the Red Knot may become extinct in the coming years, unless more protective measures are undertaken to protect horseshoe crabs. Furthermore, sharks, sea turtles, sportfish and other species also feed on horseshoe crabs, making them a critical component of the food web.
Biomedical Uses
The blood of horseshoe crabs contains a critical component, Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate, known as LAL. This unique compound clots when exposed to bacteria or bacterial endotoxins. Some medical equipment and devices such as IV tubing are also tested with LAL. Currently, scientists have found synthetic compounds that reproduce LAL, which are now being used by Pfizer, Eli Lilly and other leading pharmaceutical companies. There have been NO permits issued in over a decade for the harvesting of horseshoe crabs for medical uses in NY waters. All the permitted harvesting of horseshoe crabs is for fishing, not biomedical purposes. However, as other states prohibit taking for biomedical uses, pressure to permit the practice may increase in NY if action is not taken to protect horseshoe crabs.
Horseshoe Crabs Under Threat
For decades, horseshoe crabs were looked upon as unimportant to our waters. They are slow to mature and therefore are susceptible to harvesting pressures. Horseshoe crabs were once used as fertilizer and livestock feed, which almost led to their populations being wiped out in the 1940s. In the 1970s, the populations recovered only to see resurgence in their use as bait for eel, conch, and whelk fisheries. The horseshoe crabs are chopped up and used as bait by commercial fisherman.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reported horseshoe crab stocks have been in decline for at least 15 years. Horseshoe crab populations were rated as “good” in 2009 but declined to “poor” in 2019. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has listed horseshoe crabs as vulnerable to local extinction in our region. The importance of horseshoe crabs to our ecosystem and the growing threat to the survival of the species had led other states, including Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey, to implement policies banning the taking of horseshoe crabs.
New York State Needs a Ban on Horseshoe Crab Harvesting
This year, the New York State Legislature passed Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.3185A / A.10140), which prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical uses. This legislation will allow New York to restore the population of horseshoe crabs and ensure the survival of this species for future generations. Neighboring states, including Connecticut, have already enacted similar legislation. It is time for NY to step up and ban the harvesting of horseshoe crabs! The bill was recently delivered to Governor Hochul’s desk—we need her to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!
Thank you for taking action
Sincerely,
All of us at CCE
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.
The numbers behind Proposition 2 in Suffolk County
SOURCE:
(Click link to watch video)
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.
