S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7141
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
June 2, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to establish a commission to be known as the "New York seawall
study commission"; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. New York seawall study commission. 1. There is hereby
established, within the department of environmental conservation, a
seawall study commission ("commission") which shall consist of 16
members who shall be appointed as follows:
(a) the commissioner of environmental conservation or his or her
designee;
(b) the secretary of state or his or her designee;
(c) three members appointed by the governor, at least one of whom
shall have expertise in environmental justice issues;
(d) two members to be appointed by the temporary president of the
senate;
(e) two members to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(f) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(g) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
(h) two members to be appointed by the mayor of the city of New York;
(i) one member to be appointed by the county executive of the county
of Nassau;
(j) one member to be appointed by the county executive of the county
of Suffolk; and
(k) one member to be appointed by the county executive of the county
of Westchester.
2. The at large members should include individuals with expertise in
one or more of the following areas: climatology; hydrology; environ-
mental; aquaculture; flood risk management; environmental justice;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07033-01-1
S. 7141 2
ecological restoration and management; oceanography or coastal ocean
science; and engineering.
3. Commission members shall receive no compensation for their services
but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in
the performance of their duties.
4. The chairperson of the commission shall be the commissioner of
environmental conservation or his or her designee. The commission shall
meet no less than four times and at other times at the call of the
chairperson.
5. Any vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the manner
provided for in the initial appointment.
6. The commission shall be authorized to hold public hearings and
meetings to enable it to accomplish its duties.
7. The commission may consult with any organization, educational
institution, other government entity or agency or person including, but
not limited to, the army corps of engineers, in the development of its
report required by subdivision 10 of this section.
8. The department of environmental conservation shall provide the
commission with such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the
commission to carry out its powers and duties. Additionally, all other
agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof may, at the request of the
chairperson, provide the commission with such facilities, assistance,
and data as will enable the commission to carry out its powers and
duties.
9. The purpose of the New York seawall study commission shall be to
identify the feasibility, costs, impacts, and best locations for
construction of a seawall to protect the city of New York from sea level
rise and storm surge along the entire coastline.
10. No later than December 31, 2024, the commission shall transmit to
the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of
the assembly a report containing the following:
(a) coastal areas at greatest risk from sea level rise based on
projections established pursuant to section 3-0319 of the environmental
conservation law;
(b) areas at risk from storm surge based on current sea levels;
(c) areas that are more likely to be at risk from coastal hazards
including rising groundwater levels, saltwater intrusion, coastal flood-
ing, and extreme weather events including coastal storms, with such
projections extending through year 2100;
(d) the locations for construction of a seawall and any communities
likely to be at risk from such construction;
(e) the feasibility, costs and locations of natural and nature-based
solutions and onshore measures to protect New York city from sea level
rise and storm surge;
(f) the costs, including fiscal impacts, impacts on vulnerable popu-
lations and natural resources, of such construction of a seawall; and
(g) recommendations on state and local regulatory and/or statutory
alterations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed January 1, 2025.