Funding for Kansas Lab Dropped from Federal Budget Proposal

February 21, 2012 (Southold, NY) – Group for the East End President Bob DeLuca applauded the work of Congressman Tim Bishop last week for his efforts to prevent the private sale of Plum Island to the highest bidder and maintain the recently renovated Plum Island Laboratory as a critical component of the Nation's Homeland Security infrastructure. Despite the recent investment of some $35 million in safety and security improvements, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have slated the lab for closure as part of a complex plan to build what is likely to be a new $1 billion agro and bio defense laboratory in Manhattan, Kansas.

According to DeLuca, "As part of an unusual scheme to fund the massive costs of the new facility, the federal government has slated the 840-acre Plum Island for a private sale to the highest bidder. The decision comes despite the island's diverse array of protected, rare, and endangered species, and its exceptional wealth of historical artifacts and buildings associated with Fort Terry, a structure that was actively used from the Spanish American War through the end of World War II.”

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Environmental Groups Unite to Maintain Public Interest and Trust in Conservation Funding

February 7, 2012 (Southold, NY) – This morning, Group for the East End President Bob DeLuca urged the Suffolk County Legislature to maintain a strong commitment to the future of land protection funding across the County. Mr. DeLuca's attendance was precipitated by recent events that have raised significant concerns about the Legislature's sustaining commitment to its vaunted land protection program.

Joined by other conservation and community leaders from the East End and across Suffolk County, Mr. DeLuca pointed out that, as the County's Drinking Water Protection Program goes from an "accelerated borrowing" to a "pay as you go" program, there is an intense and immediate need to set objective environmental priorities and protect the most fragile and important properties from development.

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For about 15 years, the US Navy has been cleaning up contaminants at the Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL), in the Town of Riverhead. A toxic groundwater plume from the site is threatening the Peconic River and has contaminated a few drinking water wells in the surrounding area.

We encourage the Navy to move forward with their remediation plan, but we also believe that there is more work needed to fully clean up the toxic plume. A major portion of the plume remains outside of the EPCAL fence line and there are currently no plans for treating that portion.

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Environmental, Health & Community Organizations Act To Protect Long Islanders’ Drinking Water

January 11, 2012 (Farmingdale, NY) – At a press conference today, Group for the East End joined with over 20 organizations* from the environmental and health communities to protect Long Island's drinking water supply. These groups are urging the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to use its legal authority to ban the three pesticides that are most prevalent in Long Island’s drinking water supply.

These toxic chemicals are making their way into the underground water supply or into our local surface waters, posing threats to the health of humans and animals. The solution is clear – ban the most harmful pesticides and create a plan to eliminate all pesticides from Long Island’s drinking water supply. The DEC has legal authority to adopt a zero tolerance policy for pesticides in groundwater within the Long Island Pesticide Use Management Plan, and environmental advocates are calling for action. A letter of comment on the DEC's most recent plan was submitted by all groups on January 6, 2012.

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December 12, 2011 (Riverhead, New York) – On December 6, 2011 Group for the East End applauded the approval of new site plan review requirements that will allow the public to weigh in on proposed commercial development projects within the Town of Riverhead. For months the Group has advocated in partnership with the Riverhead Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, and many other civic associations to see this constructive legislation become a reality.

Under the new law, public hearings will be noticed in the newspaper and signage will be posted on the proposed project site to notify interested community members of when and where they can provide comment. Group advocate Jenn Hartnagel noted,  “The new legislation helps to create a more open and transparent decision-making culture that the Town of Riverhead so desperately needs.” The Town of Riverhead was the only town in the region that excluded public input on commercial and retail site plan applications. 

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December 6, 2011 (Suffolk County, New York) – In November, Group for the East End received a $45K grant through the Suffolk Couty 1/4 percent sales tax “Drinking Water Protection Program” to implement the Pharmaceutical Disposal and Aquifer Protection Initiative within the five East End towns of Long Island.

The initiative addresses the environmental and human health impacts of improper disposal of medications by providing East End police departments with lock boxes where residents can properly dispose of unwanted or expired medications. In addition, the initiative seeks to fund a public outreach and education campaign to reach the approximately 88,000 households that make up Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, Shelter Island and East Hampton Towns.

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ACTION ALERT!

Non-agricultural PDDs allow for development proposals that can disregard existing zoning in exchange for providing public benefits, which have been difficult to secure in the past. Although the design flexibility and opportunity for public benefits could be positive, the best outcome requires a review process that includes public scrutiny and a high level of certainty in Town Board decisions.  

The supermajority requirement assures a higher standard for agreement among Town Board members for approval of non-agricultural PDDs, which is essential to proper community planning. 

If you are registered to vote in Southampton Town, we urge you to VOTE YES on this important referendum!

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Group Applauds Preservation of 450 Acres in Southampton and Riverhead Towns

October 24, 2011, Suffolk County, New York – Group for the East End applauds the recent preservation of two large parcels of land in eastern Long Island. These parcels account for about 450 acres in Southampton and Riverhead towns. Their preservation represents a critical collaboration between County and local governments and the consistent advocacy of conservation organizations.

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In response to the September 15 article “Environmentalists: County Has Illegally Raided Preservation Fund,” printed in The Suffolk Times.

To the Editor:

The Long Island Pine Barrens Society was right to challenge the reallocation of voter-authorized funds from the County's drinking water protection program. 

The adopted text of this voter-approved conservation program was unambiguous in requiring that any amendments needed to be placed before the voters for their approval, and that did not happen here. In fact, it does not appear that this recent amendment to the program was even subjected to a formal public hearing by the Legislature before it was approved.  

Clearly, the latitude to redirect scarce and necessary conservation funds for other projects, or to patch budget holes without public approval or scrutiny, could easily invite future mischief by lawmakers and diminish the value of (and faith in) this fund over time.

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Environmental Art Sale at Group for the East End North Fork Office through Labor Day

Southold, New York (August 25, 2011) -- An art exhibit featuring local landscapes and natural elements of eastern Long Island is now open to the public at the North Fork office of Group for the East End (54895 Route 25, Southold). Featured artists are donating 30% of their art sales to the local nonprofit, which is dedicated to protecting and restoring the environment of eastern Long Island. Members of the public can view and purchase artwork from Monday through Friday, between 10:00AM and 4:00PM or by appointment, through Labor Day.

“Anyone is invited to stop by and see nine beautiful works by Cynthia Loewen, Joan Tripp, Phyllis Chillingworth, Mary Milne and Gene Samuelson. These East End artists find their inspiration in the local environment, so if you love the East End, you will enjoy these paintings and glass works,” said Judy Christrup, Director of Development at Group for the East End. 

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