In an effort to close state budget shortfalls, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation has recommended closing Orient Beach State Park. Orient Beach State Park is one of the few public beaches on the North Fork, serves over 110,000 people annually, and is an engine for the local economy. Its closure will undoubtedly have an effect on North Fork tourism. Over 5,500 people have joined a coalition on Facebook to oppose these budget cuts. For more details and to stay updated on this issue, join the coalition against state park closures on Facebook.

See this Newsday article to find out what else Long Islanders are doing to help.

Read more to find out what you can do.

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Attend the Town Board Hearing
Southampton Town Hall
Tuesday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Tell the Town Board to say NO!

Consequences of a toxic plume beneath the site are unknown.
State and local agencies have been extensively studying the Speonk Solvent Plume but have not yet completed their final reports (due in March).  Without accurate information the Town Board should halt the review of this application. 

Density proposed is four times the allowable limit.
A large-scale sewage treatment plant would be required to accommodate the project, which is more than four times the density permitted by the Town’s zoning code. Although the project claims some community benefits, these benefits will never outweigh the traffic, sewage and suburban sprawl burdens the community will bear if the project is approved.

Join us -- Urge the Town Board to deny Serenity Estates.
Given that the application is a Planned Development District (PDD), the Town Board has the right to deny a change to the underlying zoning. Unlike a typical project where the applicant is allowed a certain density as of right, the Town Board can simply say no to a PDD. As of today, we are unsure where the Town Board stands on this project. If this application makes it to a Planning Board review, there is little that can be done to stop it.

Read more from The Southampton Press.
Contact us if you have questions.

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What's Happening: This past June, Southampton Town Councilwoman Nancy Graboski introduced Dark Skies legislation with the intent to reduce energy consumption, protect the environment, public health, safety and preserve the view of the nighttime sky.

The proposed legislation garnered widespread public support. Over 500 residents have signed a petition in favor of the legislation and the Town's files contain at least 60 letters and e-mails in support. The Town's Planning Board is in favor and dark skies legislation has been implemented in other East End towns.

The Problem: Unfortunately, over the last 5 months and 8 public hearings, in an effort to appease some vociferous local business opponents (whose comments have been largely outweighed by public support for the law) the Town Board has removed critical elements of this worthy legislative initiative and allowed a proposal with widespread public support and demonstrated conservation value, to be run into the ground. One such element was the sunset provision which effectively addresses existing sources of light pollution over time.

As the 9th public hearing approaches, the proposed Dark Skies legislation is again in jeopardy. Without your support, the proposal will either be voted down or substantially weakened.

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The New Suffolk Waterfront Fund (NSWF) is an exceptionally committed, community-based organization that is dedicated to transforming the New Suffolk Waterfront property into a remarkable and environmentally responsible community space for generations to come.

Realizing that this 3.4-acre parcel would forever face tremendous development pressure, the NSWF secured the option to purchase the property and develop a responsible plan that would preserve open space, public access and the historic value the property has to offer.

In just two years, the NSWF raised over $1.2 million! Yet, in order to fulfill their contract and see their visionary plan become a reality, the NSWF must raise an additional $1.4 million by December of 2010.  We need your help to secure additional funding!

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Nothing could be better for our community and the local environment than a group of seriously committed citizens with a vision. The Marion Lake Project has that and more!

Marion Lake (East Marion, NY) was in sad shape, with invasive phragmites suppressing native vegetation and altering wildlife habitat. Luckily, members of The Marion Lake Project (a nonprofit created to restore one of the North Fork's most treasured coastal embayments) have worked tirelessly to improve the health and vitality of Marion Lake. They have secured grant funding from the State of New York, invested their own resources and volunteered their time not only to improve their local environment but also to improve the overall health of the Peconic Estuary, into which Marion Lake drains.

The Marion Lake Project is more than half-way completed,
but critical funding is needed to get the job done as soon as possible!

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With your help, Group for the East End could win $50,000 America’s Giving Challenge!

Just donate $10, $25 or whatever you can between October 29th and October 30th, which our focused time period for the contest. With your help, we could win the daily challenge and a prize of $1,000. The overall highest number of donors by Novemer 6th receives up to $50,000!

You MUST donate using this link to count in the contest. (Donations are limited to one per day.)

For over a year, Group for the East End President Bob DeLuca and acclaimed radio personality Bonnie Grice hosted a monthly series on WLIU FM 88.3. The Friday Forums have explored the most pressing environmental issues facing our region, with leading environmental experts sharing their knowledge and advice. The Friday Forum, along with other programs on 88.3FM, have provided East Enders with the knowledge they need to be informed and involved citizens over the years.

After all its terrific broadcasting and community involvement, WLIU 88.3FM is now in danger of losing its license, which is being offered up for sale by Long Island University. Luckily, a volunteer committee of concerned citizens, SPREE (Save Public Radio on the East End), has come together to ensure that the eastern end of Long Island has a free and independent, non-commercial National Public Radio voice.

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Potentially hazardous chemicals (including several toxic solvents) left behind from the Navy’s former weapons facility at the EPCAL site in Riverhead are currently flowing through Calverton’s groundwater, away from the EPCAL property and towards the Peconic River. These volatile organic compounds (known as VOCs) will decrease water quality, and pollute valuable habitat throughout the Peconic River, much of which is protected by New York State under the Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Act.

VOCs can have negative health impacts for humans as well. So far, the compounds contained in this toxic plume have already contaminated one drinking well at a nearby sportsman’s club and, while the plume is not yet threatening any surrounding residences, the deeper these chemicals get in the groundwater the further they may travel and potentially contaminate more drinking water.

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The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which governs America’s commercial fisheries, was re-authorized in 2006 with broad public support. The Act required an end to overfishing and a timeline to rebuild depleted fish stocks. We have already seen signs of success through this bill with improvement in the summer flounder fish stocks. Now, the Act is being threatened by a new Senate bill!

Unfortunately, Senator Charles Schumer recently introduced the “Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009,” which creates numerous loopholes in the MSA and egregiously extends deadlines for rebuilding threatened fish stocks. The bill adds five fairly vague clauses that can be used to extend the ten-year deadline to rebuilding an exploited fishery.

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There is no debate -- plastic and paper disposable bags provided by retail stores wreak havoc on our environment.  Plastic bags plague our waterways, killing tens of thousands of marine animals annually.  They litter our natural landscapes and roadways.  Worst of all, plastic bags are made from petroleum products, which never completely break down in the environment. Why not ask for paper instead? An estimated 14 million trees are cut down annually for paper bag production!
 
Who needs disposable bags anyway? Reusable bags are widely available, affordable and last for years!

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