Government Briefs 05.24.18

New York State

Bill to Curb Sand Mines

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. and State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle have introduced legislation that would prohibit state agencies from approving permits for sand mining in cases in which the sand mine is located together with facilities where waste is processed, stored, sold, or transferred. 

The legislation is in response to documented cases of groundwater contamination in which sand mines and waste-processing facilities have been located in places designated as special groundwater protection areas. The legislation, if approved, will only apply to Suffolk and Nassau Counties, as Long Island is primarily served by an underground sole-source aquifer. The bill is currently before the Environmental Conservation Committee.

Federal

Congressional Candidates Debate

Candidates in the Democratic Congressional primary here will discuss the issues during a debate in Hampton Bays tonight sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons. Five candidates are running for the chance to face Representative Lee Zeldin in November: Kate Browning, Vivian Viloria-Fisher, Elaine DiMasi, Perry Gershon, and David Pechefsky. 

At tonight’s debate, which begins at 7 in the Hampton Bays High School auditorium, each will make timed opening and closing statements and then answer questions submitted by members of the local media, the league, and the audience. Cathy Peacock, a co-chairwoman of the league’s government committee, will moderate. 

The debate will be taped by Southampton Town’s public access channel, SEA-TV, and will be made available to East Hampton Town’s LTV as well. The primary will be held on June 26.