LI coalition heading to Albany for sewer funding

DEVELOPMENT

When a coalition of more than 30 Long Island business, civic and environmental groups travels to Albany on Tuesday to meet with legislative leaders, one of the major topics will be funds for more sewer construction, which helps create economic development and jobs.

The coalition went to Albany for the first time as a group last year, calling the event Long Island Lobby Day, but came up short, at least as far as sewer funding went.

"We felt we didn't get our fair share last year," said Adrienne Esposito, a coalition organizer, who heads the Citizens Campaign for the Environment in Farmingdale.

The Island received about $15 million in such funding through the state's Environmental Facilities Corp., which provides low-cost financing for environmental projects for several sewer projects. Esposito estimated the Island needs about $100 million a year for such projects.

She said areas like Rocky Point, Wyandanch, Mastic and Shirley need sewer construction funds, noting that a fast-food chain was unable to open an outlet in Wyandanch because the water table was too high.

Babylon Town has said it plans to begin construction that will bring sewers to Wyandanch. The town said it would spend $5 million of its own money and is seeking $10 million to $12 million in federal funds, which would come through the state.

Esposito said the coalition plans to meet with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and heads of the Environmental Facilities Corp.

At a glance

What: Sewers

Why: There aren't enough of them on Long Island, and a business coalition says building more would stimulate the economy and create jobs. Only about 30 percent of Suffolk is served by sewers, while about 90 percent of Nassau is.

What's happened: Dozens of Long Island communities, facilities and development projects have asked the state for sewer funding but only a few - Greenport Village, Stony Brook University, the Birches (a development) in Locust Valley, Patchogue and Brookhaven Industrial Park - have received money.

What's happening: The coalition traveling to Albany on Tuesday is asking for sewer funding for Mastic-Shirley; the Bay Park sewage treatment plant in Nassau County; Wyandanch; Rocky Point; the Bergen Point treatment plant in Suffolk County; and the Smithtown-Kings Park area.