Highlights and Happenings: February 2025

Help CCE build on our success, and support our campaigns to protect public health and the environment in NY and CT. 
Make a contribution today.

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Highlights

Celebrating 40 Years! 
We are celebrating 40 years of working to protect our air, land, and water—and fight climate change! Your generosity has given us 40 incredible years! Help us to keep up the fight and continue our mission of empowering communities and advocating solutions. Together we can make a difference! Your contribution helps us continue our fight for a cleaner, healthier future! Please support us today! 

Turn Off the Tap to Toxic PFAS Chemicals! 
We joined advocates from across the state in Albany to fight to prohibit the unnecessary use of PFAS chemicals in a variety of consumer products. The ubiquitous use of these “forever” chemicals has contributed to the contamination of drinking water sources across NYS and threatens our health. We are fighting to ban the use of PFAS chemicals in a host of everyday products, including rugs, cookware, paints, children’s products, dental floss, and cleaning products. Take action today and urge your elected representatives to support passage of this critical legislation in 2025. 

Adrienne Esposito wins LI Herald Sustainability Award 
Congrats to our Executive Director, Adrienne Esposito, for being honored at the first ever Long Island Herald’s Sustainability Awards, powered by Reworld Waste. It was a great event with fantastic honorees, including other advocates that we have worked with for decades! Congrats to all! 

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Happenings

Fighting for Clean Water
Clean water is an essential human need and is vital to our health and economy. NY’s historic investments have produced significant results for clean water, but NY’s clean water needs remain at nearly $90 billion. We joined our NY Clean Water Coalition partners to host the 7th Annual Clean Water Forum, where experts spoke about New York’s top 2025 priorities, including protecting drinking water from emerging contaminants, replacing lead pipes, upgrading wastewater infrastructure, and more. A key priority is increasing clean water funding in this year’s state budget. If you haven’t yet, email Governor Hochul and your Legislative leaders and urge them to provide at least $600 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act in the 2025-2026 NYS budget. 

Another Step Forward on Great Lakes Restoration 
In February, the U.S. Senate joined the House in introducing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025—to reauthorize the successful program for another 5 years at $500 million annually. We need your help to ensure that this bill is passed into law—please email your Congressional representatives today! 

Bringing Together a Diverse Group to Fight for Long Island
Last month, the Long Island Lobby Coalition, representing a diverse group of Long Island small business, civic, human service, downtown planner, labor, environment, student, and transportation advocates, headed to Albany for the Long Island Coalition Lobby Day. We spoke to Long Island’s Assembly and Senate representatives and the Governor’s staff about a range of issues, including sewer infrastructure, drinking water protection, renewable energy, transportation, and much more. Thanks to all who took the trip up to Albany and advocated for Long Islanders with us! 

Supporting Increased Funding for the Environmental Protection Fund
New York’s environment, economy, and public health are dependent upon the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). From Buffalo to Long Island, all New Yorkers benefit from the numerous programs and projects in the EPF. EPF projects improve water quality, protect clean air, conserve open space, save family farms, bolster recycling programs, revitalize waterfronts, build community parks, and more. In February, we joined advocates from across the state to call on elected officials to increase the EPF to $500 million. 

Updates on Our Work to Advance Offshore Wind: 

• Follow Wind Works New York - We’re excited to share that Wind Works New York has officially moved to a new public Facebook page! Follow or Like Wind Works New York to get the latest updates on offshore wind news, events, and actions and share with the people you know who care about clean energy. 

• Excelsior Wind Begins Federal Approval Process - Vineyard Offshore and Excelsior Wind have begun the federal permitting process for their Vineyard Mid-Atlantic Lease Area. This project has the potential to provide enough to power approximately 1.5 million NY homes. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published Notice of Intent (NOI) to start an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and we worked with our Wind Works partner groups to submit comments.

• Upcoming: Climate Change Symposium 
Join us on Thursday, April 10, from 9:30am - 12:00pm at Babylon Town Hall for our Climate Change Symposium. This is an exciting educational program to explore how climate change is impacting our local community and what you can do to help. Featured speakers include Dr. Paul Shepson, Dean of The School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University and Dr. J Bret Bennington, Professor and Chair of the Dept of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University, amongst others. Register today. 

• A Windy Day on the Water – This past fall, we joined many of our Wind Works NY partners for an incredible trip out to see South Fork Wind, NY’s first offshore wind farm located 35 miles off the coast of Montauk. The project is now supplying clean, renewable energy to 70,000 homes on the south fork of Long Island. In fact, it is generating more power than expected! Learn more about the trip and South Fork Wind by watching our video, A Windy Day on the Water and check out our YouTube Channel and social media pages for additional Offshore Wind Chats. 

Combatting PFAS Contamination in Calverton, Long Island 
We are working with a coalition of municipalities, elected leaders, other environmental groups, and community members in Calverton to address legacy contamination from the Navy/Grumman site. Toxic soil and water contamination at the site was discovered as far back as the mid-1980s. This contamination, including PFAS “forever chemicals,” migrated off site and contaminated residential drinking water wells and surface waters. The community is still working for the groundwater plume and soil contamination to be remediated. Last month we joined Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine to call on the US Navy to clean up toxic PFAS contamination in Calverton. The Navy needs to step up and clean up their mess to protect families and the environment. Watch our Executive Director’s comments here. 

Banning 1,4-Dioxane in Household Products in Connecticut 
1,4-Dioxane is an emerging contaminant and likely carcinogen found in drinking water throughout the nation. Our independent testing found this “hidden carcinogen” in 65 out of 80 products we tested (including shampoos, body washes, baby products, laundry detergents, hand and dish soaps). As a result, New York became the first state in the nation to ban 1,4-dioxane from products. NY’s law took full effect last year and has been an overwhelming success. Now, Connecticut is considering similar legislation. We testified in support of banning 1,4-dioxane in household products at the Environment Committee last month and are urging the General Assembly to protect public health and drinking water by banning this hidden carcinogen. 

Pushing for the Environment at NYS Senator Anthony Palumbo’s Roundtable 
We joined NYS Senator Palumbo’s annual environmental roundtable with over two dozen Long Island environmental organizations, and discussed local and regional environmental issues, concerns and needs. We urged our Long Island elected leaders to pass the ban on PFAS in everyday products and fund the Environmental Protection Fund, including increasing funding for the South Shore Estuary Reserve. 

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Upcoming: Learning about Propel NY 
New York Power Authority and New York Transco are hosting Propel NY Energy Community Information Sessions on Long Island. We recently attended an informative session, but if you missed it, there are more to come. Sessions include Q&A through written questions and answers from experts. Following the session there will be an open house to allow attendees the opportunity to speak to the experts one-on-one. Register here. 

Upcoming: Whale Tales and Real Facts 
Humpbacks, Minke, Right Whales, oh my! There are many species of whales that inhabit our waters throughout the year. Join us to learn more about these whales off New York’s coast and the threats whales are facing. This virtual forum will feature whale experts that have decades of experience in tracking individual whales, conducting necropsies on deceased whales, and monitoring growing threats to whales and other marine mammals. Please join us for our free virtual webinar on March 19th at noon and learn more. Register here. 

Upcoming: Long Island Sound Summit
The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network will be hosting its second LIS Summit on March 27 from 11am-2:45pm at Housatonic Community College in CT. The Summit is for everyone who lives, works, and plays in the Long Island Sound region. Clean water advocates, municipal leaders, and local individuals and groups looking for actionable ways to reduce their pollution contributions to LIS might find it especially engaging and helpful. This is a great opportunity to gather in person to learn, network, exchange ideas, and celebrate the work we’ve already accomplished for Long Island Sound. Register today. 

Long Island Sound Summit

The Long Island Sound Coastal Watershed Network (LIS CWN) is focused on bringing together communities, groups and individuals working to reduce pollution loads entering Long Island Sound and its rivers, harbors, and bays. Our goal is to increase the pace and number of clean water projects by sharing the latest science, technology, policies and practices, spotlighting lessons learned, and building new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships across Long Island Sound geographies.

This year’s Summit will be an opportunity to explore the power of collaboration in advancing clean water solutions. Informed by each other’s perspectives and experiences and guided by resources like the updated Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), we will focus on building strong partnerships, sharing knowledge, and exploring communication approaches.

We hope you can attend the 2025 LIS Summit as we explore the benefits of partnerships in targeting and reducing local sources of pollution entering the Sound, mainly consumer plastics and debris, fecal bacteria, and nitrogen entering the Sound through stormwater, sewage, and groundwater.

Join us to:

• Connect with Network members and clean water professionals across the Sound.

• Learn about tools and resources for clean water project design and implementation and tips for communicating about your work.

• Share personal experiences and lessons learned.

• Discover new collaboration opportunities to advance key projects.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 27 
Time: 11am – 2:45pm
Location: Beacon Hall, Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT
Cost: $25 Registration Fee (covers your lunch)
Register: Limited spaces! Register Now!

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

You’re Invited to Zoom Forum! Whale Tales & Real Facts

Humpbacks, Minke, Right Whales, oh my! There are many species of whales that inhabit our waters throughout the year. Join us to learn more about these whales off New York’s coast and the threats whales are facing. This virtual forum will feature whale experts that have decades of experience in tracking individual whales, conducting necropsies on deceased whales, and monitoring growing threats to whales and other marine mammals.

In 2016 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event for Humpback whales, Minke Whales, and North Atlantic Right Whales. These endangered species are highly vulnerable to ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, plastic pollution and climate change. Scientists are closely monitoring whale populations and working on solutions that safeguard these critical marine animals.

Please join us for our free virtual webinar on March 19th and learn more about whale populations and data in the summer of 2024 and the current threats whales are facing off New York Coasts.

Whale Tales and Real Facts

DATE: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
TIME: 12pm – 1pm
WHERE: Via Zoom – register here
WHO:

• Marianne McNamara, Vice President and Naturalist, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island

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

Thank you for joining us!

Sincerely,
All of Us at CCE

Long Island Climate Change Symposium

Please join us for our free Climate Change Symposium! This forum is for everyone wanting the facts and truth on climate change, its impacts to Long Island, and climate solutions. 

We are excited to welcome Dr. Paul Shepson, Dean of The School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, as our keynote speaker. There will also be a panelist discussion featuring Dr. J Bret Bennington, Professor and Chair of the Dept of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University, amongst others. The symposium will conclude with a Community Q&A session. 

Long Island Climate Change Symposium 
Date: Thursday, April 10
Location: Babylon Town Hall, 200 Sunrise Hwy, Lindenhurst, NY
Time: 9:30am - 12pm 
Registration: This event is free to attend and open to the public. Spots are limited, please register at https://tinyurl.com/climate-symposium. We also encourage you to share the invite and spread the word! 

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE

Diverse Coalition of Environmental Groups, Drinking Water Suppliers, and Wastewater Treatment Operators Join in Albany to Present Plan to Provide Clean and Affordable Water for All New Yorkers

In the face of cuts to clean water programs and critical agency staff at the federal level, the NY Clean Water Coalition calls on NY to step up and increase clean water funding and protections

For immediate release: Tuesday, February 25, 2025

For more information, contact:

Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, 631-384-1378, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org

Brian Smith, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, 716-472-4078, bsmith@citizenscampaign.org

Albany, NY—Today the New York State Clean Water Coalition announced their 2025 Clean Water Agenda in Albany. From increased funding for clean water infrastructure, to increased staffing at the Department of Health, to policies that would eliminate toxic PFAS chemicals from products, and more, the 2025 Clean Water Agenda lays out budget and policy priorities needed to protect New York’s water, from its source to our taps. The Coalition stressed the urgency for New York State to act, given the federal administration's efforts to halt federal funding, cut staff at environmental agencies, and rollback clean water protections.

The Coalition joined with Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, chairs of the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees, to call for increased funding in the 2025-2026 budget for the NYS Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA). The coalition is requesting $600 million. Governor Hochul has proposed to maintain funding for the program at $500 million in her executive budget proposal. The U.S. EPA estimates a $90 billion need to upgrade and maintain wastewater and drinking water infrastructure in NYS.

Senator Harckham, Chair, Environmental Conservation Committee said: “The Clean Water Infrastructure Act has helped communities across the state with vital water quality improvements for their residents. We need to increase our commitment in protecting our fragile drinking water supplies to ensure long-term sustainability for our residents.”

“All New Yorkers deserve access to clean, safe drinking water. The Clean Water Infrastructure Act is critical funding that has made progress in addressing some of New York’s aging water infrastructure, but each year, the need is far greater than the funds available. As we look at the increased flooding and storm surges that come with climate change, along with uncertainty of support from the federal government, New York investing in clean water has never been more important. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature along with advocates to ensure that CWIA funds are prioritized in the final budget agreement,” said Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee.

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said: “New York’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act has been a resounding success for our environment and economy, but we have much more work to do. Now, as the federal government signals an assault on clean water protections, it’s more important than ever for New York to step up and increase clean water funding and protections. We look forward to working with Governor Hochul, Senator Harckham, Assemblymember Glick and other elected leaders to meet the moment and take every action needed to protect clean and affordable water for all New Yorkers.”

Jenny Ingrao-Aman, Executive Director, New York Section American Water Works Association said: "New York’s water systems are at a critical crossroads. With federal cuts threatening clean water programs and environmental protections, it is imperative that our state steps up to invest in our water infrastructure, workforce, and regulatory agencies. We urge our state leaders to prioritize increased funding to protect public health, safeguard our environment, and secure the future of New York’s water systems."

Rob Hayes, Senior Director of Clean Water with Environmental Advocates NY, said, "Every county in New York State has benefitted from the Clean Water Infrastructure Act. These grants are protecting public health, creating good-paying union jobs, and keeping water bills affordable. But the need to safeguard our drinking water is greater than ever, especially with new federal requirements to replace dangerous lead pipes and filter toxic PFAS chemicals. We are grateful for Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Glick's leadership in advocating to increase Clean Water Infrastructure Act funding to $600 million this year, and we look forward to the State Legislature and Governor including this investment in the final state budget."

Jill Jedlicka, executive director of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper stated: “State funding is crucial to the health of New York’s Great Lakes and our other waterways in Western New York. Local communities continue to be challenged by crumbling water infrastructure, the threat of PFAS and lead in our drinking water supplies, and the need for source water protection. The most important action our leaders can take is to ensure that policies like the Clean Water Infrastructure Act are funded at meaningful levels relative to the scale of the problem. Our lawmakers in New York State have demonstrated leadership on these issues before. Today, our communities are counting on our Governor, legislative leadership and Western New York representatives to unite and rise to the occasion again to protect the health and integrity of Western New York’s waterways and Great Lakes.”

"New Yorkers deserve clean, safe water — but right now, too many communities are struggling with failing pipes, sewage overflows, and drinking water contamination," said Jeremy Cherson, Associate Director of Government Affairs for Riverkeeper. "With the chaos at the federal level, we can’t afford to wait. The Clean Water Infrastructure Act has been a game-changer, but demand now exceeds the funding available. That’s why our broad coalition of environmental advocates, wastewater and drinking water utilities, and workers are calling on the Legislature to increase funding to $600 million. This is about protecting our health, our economy, and our future."

David Ansel, vice president of water protection, Save the Sound: "Nitrogen pollution is the leading threat to water quality in Long Island Sound. Clean Water Infrastructure Act programs like the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, Intermunicipal Grant program, and the Septic System Replacement Program support communities seeking to repair and upgrade their infrastructure to reduce nitrogen pollution in their bays and harbors and protect habitat and marine life. To meet the growing challenges in the Long Island Sound region and across the state, clean water infrastructure funding must keep up with rising costs. That is why Save the Sound supports a $100 million increase to the CWIA in the budget for FY2026."

The CWIA supports a number of programs that work to protect clean water, from its source to the tap. This includes, but is not limited to, upgrading outdated sewage treatment plants, installing advanced treatment technology to filter emerging contaminants from drinking water, lead pipe replacement, replacing failing septic systems, acquiring land critical to protecting source water, reducing pollution from farms that impact water quality, and more. The state has appropriated $5.5 billion to the CWIA since its inception in 2017.

The Coalition highlighted several points to justify a funding increase, including but not limited to:

• An estimated 296 communities across New York State will have to comply with new federal drinking water regulations for dangerous PFAS chemicals, costing communities hundreds of millions of dollars to install new drinking water treatment technology.

• Federal regulations require that New York State replace all of its estimated 494,000 lead pipes by 2037, which is estimated to cost up to $5 billion.

• According to the EPA, New York’s wastewater and drinking water needs have reached nearly $90 billion

• New York can and must spend more:

  • In 2024, NYS awarded approximately $800 million to at least 250 projects through the CWIA—far exceeding the $600 million request being supported by coalition.

  • The Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA), a program within the CWIA, was significantly oversubscribed in 2024—271 eligible, shovel-ready applications, requesting $744 million, did not receive the funding they needed.

• CWIA is estimated to create 17 jobs for every million dollars invested. Extrapolated out for the $5.5 billion appropriated thus far, the CWIA is estimated to create over 93,000 jobs!

PROTECT HORSESHOE CRABS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

  Pass the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into Law!

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 introduced a bill to ban harvesting of horseshoe crabs. We can’t afford to wait any longer—New York must act now. Email your elected representatives today and urge them to support the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act!

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 Senate and Assembly introduced the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.4289 / A.4997), 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! 

Thank you for taking action!

Sincerely, 
All of us at CCE

Learn More About the Propel NY Energy Transmission Project

Photo by Amanuel Flores from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hand-touching-a-light-bulb-16036409/

Join NYPA and New York Transco for a series of community meetings on their energy transmission project to create a more stable and reliable Long Island grid

Long Island needs to improve the reliability and resiliency of our energy grid to ensure capacity during high demand times. Our summers are getting hotter, and storms are increasing in intensity. We need to upgrade Long Island’s antiquated transmission infrastructure to ensure that energy is delivered reliably and in a timely manner. The Propel NY Energy transmission project is part of the solution, strengthening the electric grid with increased transmission capacity and helping inject more clean energy into the statewide grid. This project is critical to ensure Long Island’s interconnectedness to the rest of the state and can bring energy from upstate to Long Island, including hydropower! 

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York Transco will be hosting Propel NY Energy Community Information Sessions on Long Island. The Propel team will give a presentation followed by a Q&A. Question cards will be collected from community members and answered during the Q&A period. Following the session there will be an open house to allow attendees the opportunity to speak to the experts one-on-one.  

You can register for a Community Information Session here. 

Tuesday, February 25, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Hicksville Community Center
28 W Carl St, Hicksville NY 

Monday, March 10, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Farmingdale State College, Campus Center Building
2350 Broadhollow Rd, Farmingdale, NY  

Tuesday, March 25, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Oceanside Library
30 Davison Ave, Oceanside NY 

Wednesday, March 26, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Mineola Community Center
155 Washington Ave, Mineola NY

Thursday, April 10, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
Virtual  
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ufEkH5VASbCrTPurO-7lag   

Thank you for your interest in attending these educational sessions!

Sincerely,
All of us at CCE