Government

While a challenge to the State Department of Environmental Conservation concerning the Sand Land mine in Noyac makes its slow way through the courts, Acting Supreme Court Justice James H. Ferreira has been asked to intervene in a dispute between the two sides.

The environment — including preservation, mitigation, and adaptation to a changing climate — was the dominant topic of East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc’s State of the Town address Tuesday at the town board’s annual organizational meeting.

Funding for a project on the East Hampton Town Board’s wish list was not among the nearly $7.7 million in New York State economic development money earmarked for the South Fork last month, but officials insist that the relocation of the town’s shellfish hatchery from Montauk to Gann Road in Springs is still the goal.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Monday that an expansion of New York’s $175 million Workforce Development Initiative would include the launch of the Offshore Wind Training Institute at the State University at Stony Brook and Farmingdale.

Two Suffolk County laws intended to reduce the use of plastics went into effect on Jan. 1.

Manifestations of climate change multiplied in 2019, with record air and water temperatures, wildfires, and floods occurring in multiple regions around the globe.     

Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, which together with Eversource Energy is developing the proposed 130-megawatt South Fork Wind Farm and the 880-megawatt Sunrise Wind, will be busy in 2020, a spokeswoman predicted last month.     

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has vetoed legislation that would have allowed residents of the five East End towns to vote on imposing a .5-percent real estate transfer tax to create the Peconic Bay Community Housing Fund.     

Construction of a new electrical substation to replace the antiquated substation on Industrial Road in Montauk is to begin next week, PSEG Long Island announced on Monday.     

Linda James, chairwoman of East Hampton Town’s energy sustainability and resiliency committee, announced her resignation at the close of the committee’s Dec. 18 meeting. In the new year, Ms. James, of East Hampton Village, will join the advocacy group Renewable Energy Long Island as an associate. 

LTV, East Hampton’s local access television offering government, public, and educational programming, was recognized last Thursday on the 35th anniversary of its incorporation by the East Hampton Town Board.

Skyler Johnson, a college student from Mount Sinai, has announced he will seek the Democratic nomination to run in 2020 for the New York State Senate seat held by Kenneth P. LaValle.