The United Civic Association of North Oyster Bay, a coalition of civic and homeowner groups, and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto held a press conference on Tuesday to announce broad based environmental initiatives that will include two important measures to preserve underground drinking water supplies in central Nassau County.

Immediate plans call for a moratorium on new development in the state-designated Special Groundwater Protection Area, which is an area in north-central Nassau that sits atop one of Nassau's purest aquifers.

The second step will be the introduction of legislation Venditto has drafted to create an Aquifer Protection Overlay District, which would impose the strict development limitations in the SGPA.

Venditto also announced the creation of a new department in the Town of Oyster Bay, which is in the works now, to oversee environmental issues. "One of the first projects this new department deals with will be the Aquifer Protection Overlay District," said Venditto. "We are also willing to listen to any good ideas that residents have and encourage people to get involved."

This measure is a joint effort of many groups, with Joseph Lorintz, president of the United Civic Associations of North Oyster Bay and Venditto at the helm. Lorintz and Venditto once ran against each other for the Oyster Bay Town Supervisor position and are now working together for the good of Oyster Bay residents.

"For several months, my staff has been formulating legislation to establish a new Environmental Department in the Town of Oyster Bay," said Venditto. "This new department will promote efforts to prevent damage to the environment and enhance community services to protect the many natural resources we are blessed to have in this town. At the same time, we've reviewed proposals made by the United Civic Associations to step up drinking water protection in the town and enthusiastically embrace them."

Joseph Lorintz has been working with the town to implement the plan. "I welcome Supervisor Venditto and the town board's support for drinking water protection," said Lorintz. "The implementation of these measures is a very important step in the overall protection of our fragile groundwater supply and the establishment of a new environmental protection department is an exciting advance. We look forward to working with our town leaders to see that these measures are achieved."

Venditto said he intends to introduce a resolution to impose the moratorium at an upcoming town board meeting. "A moratorium will give us the time necessary to follow the requirement for creating the Aquifer Overlay District," said Venditto. "Coming on the heels of the preservation of the Underhill Property, the implementation of these measures is further proof of the town's commitment to protect our environment and work with citizen groups to accomplish shared goals."

At the press conference, which was held at a site adjacent to Jericho's Underhill Property, Venditto said, "we can't undo development that's been done. The charge on local government now is to protect what has been done and also preserve the open space that is left."

Venditto warned developers that development must be done in an "environmental-way" in the Town of Oyster Bay. He advised developers to reach out to local zoning authorities when planning development.