EPA's Lee Zeldin touts Long Island Sound preservation efforts, defends agency record on clean drinking water standards

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, former Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin, touted federal funding for Long Island Sound preservation efforts on Friday while New York Democrats criticized the Trump administration for rolling back clean drinking water standards.

Zeldin toured Oyster Bay Harbor on a boat Friday with Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. He called on federal elected officials to maintain $40 million in funding for the Long Island Sound program.

The EPA is working with groups such as Cornell Cooperative Extension as part of preservation efforts, Zeldin said.

The Long Island Sound Partnership found record low levels of hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, which covered 18.34 square miles last year. The group forecasts declining levels this year, which would benefit marine life. The Town of Oyster Bay is also expanding its shellfish hatchery to grow 100 million oysters and clams each year.

"We've celebrated 40 years of protecting and restoring Long Island Sound. Oyster Bay is one of 33 Long Island Sound stewardship areas, which are places of unique ecological and recreational value," Zeldin said.

While Zeldin touted preservation efforts for the Sound, Democrats and environmental groups have criticized his record overseeing the EPA, including rolling back efforts to reduce plastic contaminants and "forever chemicals," known as PFAS, in drinking water.

Speaking at a different event on Long Island on Friday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, (D- N.Y.), praised Long Island Sound preservation efforts, but said Zeldin and the Trump administration have a poor environmental record.

"He's forgetting his roots, he's forgetting the challenges we used to work on getting PFAS out of the water,” Gillibrand said, referring to Zeldin. "This administrator and this EPA has failed on every count to protect clean water. So, I'm glad he's coming home. I hope he listens to the constituents here, because the truth is, we rely on clean water, and we expect more out of the EPA."

Zeldin said the proposal last month to rescind federal limits on certain PFAS chemicals was to help rural communities manage the cost of water treatment. He said the proposal would also have polluters pay for treatment, rather than water systems.

Zeldin also said states could opt in to a 2029 deadline for water suppliers to meet contamination standards set under former President Joe Biden, or to grant extensions to 2031 to meet those requirements.

Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) said Long Island's congressional members, including Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Rep. Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre), sent a letter in March calling to maintain $40.5 million in annual funding for Long Island Sound.

He said Zeldin and the EPA should work with bipartisan support for clean water protection efforts.

"Long Island Sound is our national park, that's the thing that defines this region, both as far as recreation, as far as the economy, as far as the quality of life, and we have to protect it," Suozzi said. 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.