Monday, November 28, 2011
Something Really Stinks: Part II
...and this time it's not the sewage plants (see post from 11/1), it's the politics surrounding the sewage plants. It's pretty obvious from the letter I received from Peter Schmitt, presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature, that the real problem is in-fighting between the Democrats and Republicans. How unusual! Hopefully, neither party will let Long Island's only natural asset disappear before the fight is called. Judge for yourself: http://ge.tt/9soR7UA?c.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Something Really Stinks
On the ocean side of Long Beach island, pristine, white sands as far as the eye can see. On the bay side, sewage sludge from two different plants pumping freely into Reynolds Channel.
The Long Beach and Bay Park sewage treatment plants have both been graded "D" by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which ranked 10 plants across Long Island for permit violations, energy efficiency and public notification of untreated or excess release of effluent into local waterways. The plants were tied for worst place, with scores of 66, compared to Huntington's score of 97 and A+ rating. But there's no need to take the campaign's word for how bad it is. You can see for yourself on YouTube.
There are no words sufficient to express the disgrace and sheer sadness of the reality that we are poisoning our own waterways. But there is something we can do to at least ameliorate the immediate health hazard. We can pressure the Nassau County Legislature to pass the Right to Know Bill, which has been languishing in Mineola since last spring. Everyone who cares should sign and send the Spill Bill letters that have been circulating, before Election Day. Let's let our elected officials know that they can't ride to glory on the backs of our dead fish.
The Long Beach and Bay Park sewage treatment plants have both been graded "D" by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which ranked 10 plants across Long Island for permit violations, energy efficiency and public notification of untreated or excess release of effluent into local waterways. The plants were tied for worst place, with scores of 66, compared to Huntington's score of 97 and A+ rating. But there's no need to take the campaign's word for how bad it is. You can see for yourself on YouTube.
There are no words sufficient to express the disgrace and sheer sadness of the reality that we are poisoning our own waterways. But there is something we can do to at least ameliorate the immediate health hazard. We can pressure the Nassau County Legislature to pass the Right to Know Bill, which has been languishing in Mineola since last spring. Everyone who cares should sign and send the Spill Bill letters that have been circulating, before Election Day. Let's let our elected officials know that they can't ride to glory on the backs of our dead fish.
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