In a rarely before seen act, the State Senate and State Assembly passed not one but two NYLCV priority bills in this the first week in February! One bill will prevent exploration and drilling for oil and natural gas in New York-owned coastal waters. The other bill will prohibit purse seine fishing for menhaden, a species of fish fundamental to the marine ecosystem.

New York is leading the nation in protecting the state’s drinking water from chemical contaminants linked to cancer even as the Trump administration is moving the nation backward when it comes to keeping drinking water safe.

New York City released its roadmap to eliminate childhood lead exposure by 2029 by expanding blood-lead screening in children, increased enforcement and interagency collaboration, and increasing public education on lead risks. NYLCV believes that while all of these measures will help reduce incidences of lead poisoning, the most critical step towards eliminating lead in paint and dust, the main source of exposure in children, is stronger enforcement that are on the books.

Some Suffolk County communities may soon be integrated into a new public sewer treatment system that would protect public and environmental health from this avoidable form of pollution. There is currently $390 million in federal and state funds ready to be used to advance sewer expansion projects as part of the Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative that was created after Hurricane Sandy.

After advocacy by NYLCV and other environmental groups, the Clean Water Infrastructure Act passed last year and brought a $2.5 billion investment to improve drinking water infrastructure and water quality protection across the State. Last month, Governor Cuomo announced specific investments funded by the CWIA for different regions.

Lead in school drinking water has been a concern in New York because children often spend all day in school facilities and receive much of their drinking water from them. NYLCV is working to prevent lead poisoning in schoolchildren by analyzing the lab reports from all 4,700 public schools in New York to model the impact of a lower lead action level on protecting school communities.

The New York City Council held a hearing on lead poisoning prevention and to discuss a package of 25 new bills aimed at combating lead hazards. In our testimony we emphasized the need to optimize and streamline efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning.