BILL NUMBER:S2556

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting marine solid waste transfer stations located in proximity
to public housing projects in certain cases

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To prohibit the construction, location, relocation, or reactivation of
marine putrescible or non-putrescible sold waste transfer stations or
facilities within 800 feet of public housing projects in cities of one
million or more.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Prohibits the DEC or local agencies from issuing permits which would
allow the siting of a marine transfer station within 800 feet of a
housing project.

JUSTIFICATION:

It is well established that economically under-served neighborhoods
have higher asthma rates. For example, East Harlem, which has been
called the "asthma capital of New York," has the dubious distinction
              

of claiming an asthma hospitalization rate that is at five times the
City average according to a 1999 study by Mt.  Sinai Hospital one of
the highest rates in the nation. The New York City Department of
Health confirms these alarming numbers, reporting that East Harlem has
the highest rate of child hospitalization for asthma and other
respiratory ailments in all of New York City. Many well-documented
studies link air pollution to asthma attacks and other respiratory
problems. Traffic, particularly truck traffic, is a major contributing
factor to this type of pollution.

Many of these same neighborhoods that have high rates of asthma also
are more likely to include a greater number of public housing
developments, the last bastion of truly affordable housing for
low-income New Yorkers in the city. It is important that we ensure
that the locating of waste transfer facilities does not unfairly
impact economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, specifically public
housing developments, which are also often communities of color.
Having garbage trucks that spew noxious fumes and leak trash driving
past your home all day every day is an undue burden that low-income
residents of public housing, who struggle to provide for their
families, should not be saddled with.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Unknown.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.