Advocacy 2024 - Keeping an Eye on Overdevelopment and Water Quality
“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.” - Ernest Hemingway
Since 1972, Group for the East End has led the way in protecting and restoring the environment of eastern Long Island. As our landscape changes, we continue to tirelessly advocate for the protection of our land, water, and wildlife. And we can’t do it without you.
There are several environmental issues we’ll be keeping an eye on in 2024. After you read through, get involved.
Sand Land
After a decade of advocacy, it appears that the Sand Land mine has finally ceased operations. This outcome was not as immediate as it should have been, however. Despite the unanimous decision of the New York State Court of Appeals last winter to annul all permits for the mine, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) chose to largely ignore the decision and allow operations to continue. Then, Southampton Town issued a stop work order in support of the Court of Appeals decision. Yet, Sand Land continued operating, blatantly ignoring court and town orders for months.
The Group has consistently advocated for the mine to shut down as a necessary action to stop the ongoing threat to our drinking water. And while for now the mine has closed, we cannot yet call this a final environmental victory for the future of water quality as it remains unclear if the state will assure that the mine stays closed for the future. Nonetheless, with the help of substantial public support, we have taken a substantial step forward in protecting our water quality. We will keep a close eye on what’s next and push for site reclamation.
Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act
While the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act faced politically-motivated challenges in 2023, this critical clean water initiative once again has the opportunity to make it on the ballot in November.
The Group is now part of the largest environmental coalition to form since the Community Preservation Fund, and we are working to advance this legislation that would provide long-term funding for wastewater improvement through a 1/8-of-one-cent increase in the county sales tax. If Suffolk County residents are given the chance to vote on this legislation, and approve this proposal, this once-in-a-generation opportunity could generate more than $3 billion in clean water infrastructure over the next 35 years.
These funds will make it possible for tens of thousands of Suffolk County homeowners to replace their failing and outdated septic systems, with new state-of-the-art systems that are specifically designed to reduce nitrogen pollution and improve our ground and surface water quality.
Comprehensive Town Plans
Comprehensive plans establish a community’s policy and goals for future development and land-use projects. These plans include input from the public, making it vital that community members make their voices heard during the planning process. Environmental protection, zoning, subdivision, and land use codes are some of the top priorities for the Group.
The Towns of East Hampton and Southampton already have plans in place, and the Town of Southold is in the process of considering recommendations from its plan adopted in 2020. Southampton has also recently adopted a climate action plan to increase sustainability, improve quality of life, and become carbon neutral by 2040. This year, Shelter Island and Riverhead are in the process of updating their plans with respective hearings expected this spring.
Top environmental priorities for Riverhead includes protections against overdevelopment of the 1,600-acre EPCAL parcel in Calverton, farmland preservation, water quality restoration, and the assessment of industrial warehouse/distribution centers to control usage, and ensure size and scale limitation that protect community character and needs of the surrounding areas. We will further support the requirement that comprehensive environmental impact statements be prepared to fully assess density implications, sanitary wastewater generation, potential increases to traffic conditions, habitat loss etc., and to evaluate reasonable alternatives to development plans for all major land parcels in the town.
On Shelter Island, the town's ongoing comprehensive planning process provides an important opportunity for the town to balance identified community needs alongside a long-term wastewater management and water quality restoration strategy. The Group will be engaged in shaping a process that maximizes community input and ultimately grounds the plan in a firm commitment to the long-term natural resources protection and community character preservation.
These plans are only as good as the actions that follow to support positive change. The public plays an integral role in the creation of these comprehensive plans. Attending hearings and writing letters to elected officials ensures community voices are heard and considered in the planning process.
Plum Island
As a founding partner of the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, the Group is joining its more than 100 fellow organizations and advocates to see Plum Island become a national monument for the purposes of ecological conservation, historical preservation, and the discovery and celebration of our shared cultural heritage. We see a pressing need for immediate conservation of the island’s sensitive environmental, historical, and cultural resources.
The island is highly valued by many Long Islanders including, most notably, the descendants of local Indigenous people as part of their important cultural heritage. Write a letter of support to President Biden here.
Development at EPCAL
For the past five years, Calverton Aviation & Technology (CAT) has been working on a 1,600-acre land purchase of the former Calverton Navel Weapons Plant from the Town of Riverhead. Known today as the Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL), the project site contains approximately 1,000 acres of pine barrens, wetlands, grassland habitat, and rare species, alongside 600 acres that would be more suitable for development.
Among other concerns, the developer's vague outline for the future use of the property raised grave concerns that the site could eventually be repurposed as a commercial cargo jetport and related industrial development. In the fall of 2023, advocates and community members experienced an incredible victory when the Riverhead town board finally considered all the information available and canceled the contract for purchase.
The EPCAL property is now the subject of a lawsuit, with CAT suing the Town of Riverhead and two of its agencies to try to force the sale, in January of 2024. The town board voted in favor 4-1 of a six-month moratorium on industrial projects, giving officials time to update the master plan mentioned above. The Group and our community partners look forward to supporting the town's position.
Strong’s Marine Yacht Center
Developers in Mattituck proposed a massive project that would cause irreversible damage to the environment, negatively impact the neighborhood’s community character and quality of life, and threaten our precious groundwater. Last spring, the Group advocated alongside other concerned citizens before the Southold Town Planning Board, emphasizing the proposal’s inconsistency with the town’s comprehensive plan that advocates for the protection of lasting environmental resources, and offers nothing substantial to mitigate or offset the harm the project would cause. This matter is still ongoing, and we anticipate providing further input when the proposal next comes up for public hearing or comment this year.
Wainscott Commercial Center
This 50-lot commercial industrial complex proposed for a 70-acre site just north of Montauk Highway in Wainscott presents significant groundwater and surface water quality issues, and would likely have a negative impact on nearby Georgica Pond, which is already plagued by nitrogen pollution. It will also create more congestion on Montauk Highway, causing long-term negative effects on air quality and quality of life in the region.
In early 2023, the Group testified before the East Hampton Town Planning Board. Now, we are waiting for the town’s review of the draft environmental impact statement, and will continue to advocate for the protection of the natural resources of Wainscott and the waters of Georgica Pond in 2024.
There are more than 3,000 acres of active and pending development projects proposed across the East End. Many development proposals will very likely violate the Green Amendment, a New York State Bill of Rights section that states New Yorkers have the right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment. And while this constitutional right exists, it does not guarantee access.
However, the Group was built on the concept of strength in numbers. And today, we need your support in ensuring our land, water, and wildlife is protected now and for generations to come. Attend hearings, join your local civic association, write advocacy letters, and vote in local elections. Join our mailing list and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to learn how you can stand up for the future of our precious East End environment.
Together, we can protect the nature of the place you love.
