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Gearing Up to Turn off the Tap to PFAS in NYS in 2025!
In recent years, communities across NY and the nation have discovered their drinking water sources are contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals. These toxic chemicals are unnecessarily added to many of the products we use every day, such as cookware, cleaning products, dental floss, children’s products and more. Due to widespread use, PFAS chemicals have been polluting our drinking water, soil, air, and even our bodies. To protect public health, drinking water, and the environment, NY needs to pass legislation in 2025 to ban PFAS from a number of everyday products. Take action today and urge your elected representatives to support passage of this critical legislation in 2025!
Important Bills to Fight Climate Change Signed into Law at the End of 2024 in NY!
While it’s been years since we worked to successfully ban hydro-fracking (which uses water to extract gas) due to its inherent threats to our climate, water, and health; a company recently attempted to exploit a loophole by offering leases to residents in the Southern Tier to extract gas by instead injecting CO2 into shale formations (which poses similar threats to our environment as hydro-fracking). To close this loophole a bill was signed to prohibit the process of fracking using CO2 in NY. Additionally, the Climate Superfund Act, which will require fossil fuel corporations, rather than taxpayers, to pay for the cost of damage caused by climate change and to make NY more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Once implemented, this “polluter pays” law is expected to generate $3 billion per year for NYS.
Governor Vetoes Horseshoe Crab Protection Bill
Horseshoe crabs have existed for over 350 million years, having shared this planet with the dinosaurs. Sadly, the species is now vulnerable to local extinction unless action is taken soon. Horseshoe crab populations are being depleted, and one contributing factor is the commercial fishermen who catch them and chop them up for use as bait. Horseshoe crabs are an essential species in the food web. In order to save the horseshoe crab, and the species that depend upon them, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to ban harvesting of horseshoe crabs. Unfortunately, Governor Hochul vetoed the bill in December, leaving horseshoe crabs on the chopping block and at risk of further population loss. Thanks to the thousands of you who sent emails and made calls in support of the bill. We will keep fighting to save the horseshoe crab!
Protecting New York’s Water in 2025
Much of New York’s wastewater and drinking water infrastructure is aging and failing, putting public health and our environment at risk. New York State has made significant investments to upgrade water infrastructure in recent years; however, much more needs to be done to provide clean water for all New Yorkers. To make drinking water safe and affordable for all New Yorkers, protect our environment, and create jobs, we are urging Governor Hochul and the legislature to provide at least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the 2025-2026 NYS budget! Email Governor Hochul and your elected representatives today!
Updates on Our Work to Advance Offshore Wind
Fighting for Battery Energy Storage - As part of NY’s transition to renewable energy, especially offshore wind, we will need to use battery energy storage systems (BESS). BESS systems store energy from renewable energy sources and deliver it when electricity demand is greatest, helping to create a more reliable grid. In December, we urged Town of Babylon to not extend their moratorium on battery storage and to move forward with zoning changes that will allow good BESS projects to move forward. Unfortunately, Babylon passed a moratorium extension. Several other Long Island towns have moratoriums or extensions to existing moratoriums up for vote in the coming months, so stayed tuned for more info on how you can help support BESS. We also joined Jupiter Power for a public meeting on their proposed 275-megawatt battery energy storage system in Glenwood Landing, New York.
Upcoming: Battery Storage Educational Forum - The Town of Brookhaven will be hosting a free community meeting on January 21, 2025, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Shea Theater at Suffolk County Community College. There will be a panel of experts to discuss how battery energy storage systems work and address safety concerns. You can register and submit questions in advance here.
Celebrating the South Shore Estuary Reserve Awards
The South Shore Estuary Reserve is a unique network of 173 square miles of bays along Long Island’s south shore. In December, we joined the South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) Office to host the 2024 SSER Stewardship Award Breakfast. Thanks to all who joined us to celebrate our progress in protecting the South Shore Estuary Reserve and learn what is needed for the future. Congratulations to our 2024 SSER Stewardship Awardees: Village of Patchogue, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and Tom Wilson from Stony Brook University.
Saying No to Sandmining Southampton
Sand mining operations have threatened Long Island’s sole source aquifer and public health for decades. Last month, Southampton Town held a public hearing on the Proposed Amortization of Nonconforming Sand Mines, which would allow the town to prevent these sand mining operations that have contaminated drinking water for decades. We testified in support of finally closing down these harmful mines. You can check out our testimony here.
State officials have called on Northrop Grumman to propose a more stringent plan to investigate the extent of contaminated soil at Bethpage Community Park, the former dumping grounds of Grumman Aerospace.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation action comes weeks after the agency accused the Town of Oyster Bay of causing delays to the prolonged cleanup.
Lee Zeldin is one Trump nominee who cannot be easily put into a box.
When Adrienne Esposito, executive director of a New York environmental group, appealed to the then-congressman to keep funding for Long Island Sound restoration in the federal budget, he and two other representatives from the state secured the reauthorization of $65 million per year in 2018.
When he served as a Republican congressman from New York, Lee Zeldin delighted environmentalists by championing efforts to protect critical wildlife habitat from potential development efforts, including a golf course proposed by Donald Trump.
State, town and county officials announced on Tuesday the completion of a $13.7 million sewer project in downtown Central Islip that they hope will spur long-sought development there.
The project includes about 4,500 feet of new sewer line installed along Carleton Avenue, according to state officials, with “an average flow of 277,000 gallons per day.” Civic leaders and government officials at a news conference touted the infrastructure as “vital to the success” of the hamlet’s downtown by allowing restaurants and increased density.
City officials and water management experts are working to stop overflows from New York’s archaic sewer system without really knowing how much worse climate change will make storm surges and extreme rainfall.
As climate change intensifies, New York City is increasingly facing weather extremes. Currently, the city is on drought watch, and recently, wildfires have erupted in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut.
With the holiday season upon us, our minds turn to traditions — Thanksgiving meals filled with comfort and gratitude, and other gatherings of family and friends over the coming weeks.
These moments of celebration are precious, but they also give us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to give back. Thanksgiving, rooted in the idea of gratitude, serves as a poignant reminder of our privilege and the responsibility to extend a hand to others. Here on Long Island, where vibrant communities thrive amid significant challenges, there is no shortage of causes deserving our time, attention and generosity.
One of Michael E. White's prized possessions is a flag commemorating the first Earth Day in 1970.
More than a half-century later, the environmental lawyer has been selected by Stony Brook University to serve as interim director of its Waste Reduction and Management Institute. He is principal investigator overseeing a state-funded study of Long Island's municipal trash and recycling programs. The institute is using a $250,000 grant for the research.
The views are certainly mixed, to put it mildly, about President-elect Donald Trump announcing last week that he would nominate Lee Zeldin, the former congressman from Suffolk County, to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
New York faces a major environmental decision as it considers what role — if any — it wishes to play in the future of Whitney Park, a 36,202-acre tract of land in the central Adirondacks. We think the potential opportunity to acquire such a large piece of wild land is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that demands prudence.
For immediate release: December 15, 2024
For more information, contact: Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director: 516-390-7150, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org
Albany, NY – Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.3185A/A.10140), which was resoundingly passed by the NYS Legislature and has immense support from the public. This law would have prohibited the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes in New York. A broad coalition of advocates and environmental organizations are disturbed by the Governor’s decision to veto this bill.
In response to the veto, Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment said:
“Governor Hochul didn’t just drop the ball; she dropped the axe by vetoing the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act. It’s unacceptable to allow the continued antiquated practice of chopping up horseshoe crabs so they can be used as bait by fisherman. Overharvesting has drastically depleted horseshoe crab populations, to the point where they now face local extinction. This archaic harvesting practice should have been left in the past, but with this veto, horseshoe crabs may be lost to history. We are appalled that Governor Hochul squandered a rare and special opportunity to save an ancient species from extinction. The Governor’s inaction is not only harmful to horseshoe crabs, but also to the many other species that rely on them, such as the Red Knot. Other states have already passed or are considering legislation to end the taking of horseshoe crabs, but New York has repeatedly failed to implement any meaningful protections. We are truly saddened that we are now more likely to see horseshoe crabs in museums than on our shores.”
Horseshoe Crabs have existed for over 350 million years, having shared the planet with the dinosaurs. Horseshoe crabs act as a keystone species in the food web, their eggs are the single most important food source for millions of migrating shorebirds, including threatened birds, such as the Red Knot. As horseshoe crab populations have drastically dropped, so has the Red Knot’s. Experts predict the Red Knot may become extinct unless action is taken to protect horseshoe crabs. Sharks, sportfish, sea turtles, and other species also feed on horseshoe crabs, making them critical to the food web and a diverse ecosystem.
According to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, horseshoe crab populations have been in decline for at least 15 years. This is largely due to harvesting by commercial fishermen who chop up the crabs and use them as bait for eel and conch. Horseshoe crabs are slow to mature and therefore very susceptible to harvesting impacts. Alternative eel and conch bait are in development to reduce the exploitation of horseshoe crabs while satisfying the needs of fishermen.
Horseshoe crab’s blue blood is used by pharmaceutical and medical manufacturers to test products for the presence of bacterial substances known as endotoxins. However, New York has not issued permits for biomedical harvesting of horseshoe crabs in over 10 years. Now there are synthetic alternatives that are widely available and are an effective replacement for the blue blood of horseshoe crabs.
Over 40,000 letters, post cards, and emails from members of the public have been sent to the Governor in support of the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act and yet, the Governor ignored all of them. Connecticut has already banned the taking of horseshoe crabs and other states are considering similar action which may drive increased harvesting in New York’s waters. The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.3185A/A.10140) would have prohibited that taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes and would have protected this vulnerable species and the many other species who rely on them.
