Legis. to introduce LI Sound Improvement Act
By Claude SolnikLong Island Business News
July 23, 2010
Legislators are gearing up to introduce legislation designed to improve the quality of water in the Long Island Sound.
U.S. Reps. Timothy Bishop and Peter King on Friday plan to announce the details of the Long Island Sound Improvement Act that would help fund efforts to protect that body of water.
In a written statement, Bishop and King today said the legislation has support of members of Congress, environmental groups and local elected officials.
They said it would “improve and restore water quality in Long Island Sound” with funding and regulations letting municipalities protect waters throughout the Sound’s watershed.
The legislation would authorize the continuation of $40 million annually in funding and hundreds of millions in new funding, including $125 million in the first year and $250 million annually after that.
The funds would be used for wastewater infrastructure repair, construction and upgrades, including stormwater systems and green infrastructure technology.
New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Suffolk County Legislators Ed Romaine and Vivian Viloria-Fisher and the Citizens Campaign for the Environment all support the legislation.