EPA Administrator Zeldin Concludes Four-Day New York Tour, Advancing Clean Water and Energy Priorities
NEW YORK – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin wrapped up a four-day swing across New York State on Monday, June 8, spotlighting Trump Administration priorities on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley, and in the Southern Tier. Over the course of the trip, Zeldin toured clean-water research and shellfish-restoration efforts, championed food-waste reduction, and pressed state leaders to expand access to affordable natural gas.
Administrator Zeldin started his morning on Friday, June 5, 2026, on Long Island at Stony Brook University’s New York State Center for Clean Water Technology. Originally launched in 2015 to address excess nitrogen in waterways, research at this center has recently expanded into PFAS and other contaminants of local priority. The Administrator met program leaders to learn more about the work taking place to combat PFAS contamination, along with new technologies being developed to better equip water systems to address this critical human health issue. At the conclusion of his conversation with leadership, Administrator Zeldin toured the campus facilities and met with scientists leading the work.
Later that day, Administrator Zeldin traveled to Oyster Bay where he met with Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and EPA Region 2 staff to discuss efforts to preserve the Long Island Sound. During a boat tour of the Sound, the group reviewed projects to restore shellfish populations, address derelict fishing gear, protect water quality, and more. They also toured the Town of Oyster Bay’s shellfish hatchery that aids in breeding, maturing, and seeding efforts. At a press conference following tour, Administrator Zeldin highlighted accomplishments of the Trump EPA in the Long Island Sound, which include:
- In 2025, the maximum area of hypoxia in Long Island Sound was 18.34 square miles, a historic low since monitoring began in 1987.
- Awarded 66 projects directly benefiting communities and municipalities.
- Measured 473 acres of new eelgrass meadows for a total of 2,014 across Long Island Sound.
- Reached 629 decision-makers through training, workshops, and direct engagement.
- Educated 328,602 people through Long Island Sound Futures Fund projects.
The Trump EPA recently celebrated 40 years of protecting and restoring Long Island Sound.
On Sunday, June 7, Administrator Zeldin traveled to the Hudson Valley where he met with Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and the Rockland Green Solid Waste Management Authority. After meeting with Rockland Green leadership and local elected officials, he toured the authority’s Hillburn facility where food waste is turned into compost. At a closing press conference, the group underscored the importance of reducing food waste and EPA's Feed It Onward initiative, which highlights organizations across the country taking action on the issue.
On Monday, June 8, Administrator Zeldin held a press conference in Binghamton calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to approve the Constitution Pipeline and reverse the state’s ban on the safe extraction of natural gas.
Proposed by Williams Companies, the Constitution Pipeline is a proposed 125-mile natural gas pipeline that will transport energy from Pennsylvania through New York and into New England. This pipeline is designed to deliver up to 650,000 dekatherms of natural gas capacity, enough to serve the daily needs of roughly 3 million homes. Getting this pipeline approved is a top priority of President Trump, but New York State has been sabotaging this project, blocking millions of Americans from accessing this reliable, durable, energy.
The Trump Administration recently broke ground on the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Pipeline to deliver affordable natural gas to 2.3 million downstate New Yorkers by the end of 2027. Administrator Zeldin urged the state to allow the Constitution Pipeline to move forward as well.
In addition to blocking critical pipeline projects, New York State has long banned the extraction of natural gas. This has stunted the state’s ability to produce energy and has instead increased reliance on energy from other states and foreign sources. While Pennsylvania taps into the Marcellus and Utica shales that New York also shares, Southern Tier communities have been restricted from the prosperity that tapping into these resources would provide. The state has also banned gas hookups on new building construction, and gas stoves, while pushing to eliminate the sale of gas-powered vehicles as well.
The result has been an unnecessary, self-imposed increase in energy prices for the New Yorkers who can least afford it.
