Palumbo, Thiele & Giglio Host Virtual Environmental Roundtable

                Senator Anthony Palumbo (R,C-New Suffolk) today hosted a virtual Environmental Roundtable with Assemblyman Fred Thiele (AD-1) and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (AD-2). The East End lawmakers were joined by local elected officials, environmental advocates, and area stakeholders for the event.

            “Although I’ve attended the Environmental Roundtable for many years, this is my first year hosting this event and I’m truly honored to carry on this critically important discussion. The feedback from this event helps to shape our legislative priorities, enabling us to better protect the local environment and our natural resources here on the East End,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo. “We must continue to make environmental protection a priority throughout this year’s Legislative Session and fight to ensure our environmental concerns are kept at the forefront. These issues are too important for the region and the health of our community.” 

            “On eastern Long Island, our environment is our economy. We must continue to work to combat climate change, and fight to secure critical funding for organizations like the Peconic Estuary Partnership, which has worked diligently to protect our water, habitat and wildlife. As we continue to see the impacts of climate change on our coastal community, the stakes have never been higher,” Assemblyman Thiele stated. “I would like to thank Senator LaValle, who throughout his long tenure in the New York State Senate was a tireless advocate for our environment and championed countless initiatives to preserve and protect the East End, including the creation of this roundtable. I look forward to continuing to expand on its success in partnership with Senator Palumbo and Assemblywoman Giglio.”

            “We all know that the environment is critical to the well-being of our community, but it is what we do, the actions that we take that will make the difference. Last week on the floor of the legislature I spoke in support of an amendment to the State Constitution that would guarantee each person the right to clean water, clean air, and a healthful environment,” said Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio.  “Clean water is of utmost importance. I am fighting for state funds to extend public water to those with wells contaminated from the Grumman plume in Calverton, so that all our residents have clean water for their families.”

            Participants at this year’s Environmental Roundtable included representatives from: Suffolk County Community College, Concerned Citizens of Montauk, Long Island Environmental Voters Forum, DefendH2O, Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Peconic Baykeeper, Garden Club of East Hampton and The Nature Conservancy as well as Congressman Lee Zeldin and several Town and local elected officials.

            During the roundtable discussion, panelist and participants spoke about several key issues including fully funding the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), greater oversight to protect local communities from the impact of sand mining, protecting the region’s drinking water from PFOA/PFOS and 1,4 Dioxins, solid waste disposal, renewable energy, land conservation and protecting the region’s shorelines and waterways. 

            “Today’s Environmental Roundtable discussion was a great success and will help to shape this year’s legislative agenda,” said Senator Palumbo. “I am truly grateful to everyone who participated and for sharing their knowledge and expertise on a host of issues that are of critical importance to the local environment and the health of residents.”

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