U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn, is applauding the recent commitment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce nitrogen levels in the Long Island Sound.
Though we are making progress, last summer was disastrous for wildlife in the Long Island Sound,” Murphy said. “Thanks to the hard work of local advocates like Save the Sound, we are in a better place today.”
Excessive nitrogen, which is caused by sewage treatment plants, fertilizers, and tributary sources among other factors, reduces oxygen levels in water, killing marine animals and plants. The EPA’s actions came after local environmental advocates submitted a petition demanding a revised Nitrogen Reduction Strategy, which hasn’t been updated since 2000.
“The EPA’s actions to further reduce nitrogen is long overdue, and I’ll be working hard with local partners to make sure that the EPA keeps its word and that Connecticut, New York, and upstream states each do their part,” Murphy said.
The petition to the EPA was led by Save the Sound and co-signed by Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Environment Connecticut, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Friends of the Bay, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut and Long Island Soundkeeper.
