S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9057
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 31, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Environmental Conservation
 
 AN ACT to amend the  environmental  conservation  law,  in  relation  to
   declaring  a policy of equal treatment in the development and enforce-
   ment of environmental laws, regulations and policies
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 1-0101 of
 the  environmental  conservation law is designated paragraph a and a new
 paragraph b is added to read as follows:
   B. IT IS FURTHER THE POLICY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT ALL  PEOPLE,
 REGARDLESS OF RACE, CULTURE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, INCOME, GENDER IDENTITY OR
 EXPRESSION,  DISABILITY,  OR  COMMUNITY  OF  RESIDENCE, SHALL BE TREATED
 EQUALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND  ENFORCEMENT
 OF  ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES. IT IS A BASIC RIGHT OF
 ALL NEW YORKERS TO LIVE AND WORK  IN  SAFE,  HEALTHFUL,  PRODUCTIVE  AND
 AESTHETICALLY AND CULTURALLY PLEASING SURROUNDINGS. THIS POLICY OF ENVI-
 RONMENTAL  JUSTICE  IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS THAT
 ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE FREE FROM ANY DISPROPORTIONATE EXPOSURE OR RISK  OF
 EXPOSURE  TO POLLUTION, AND FROM THE CUMULATIVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS RESULT-
 ING FROM THE DISPARATE CONCENTRATION OF POLLUTED SITES OR  ENVIRONMENTAL
 FACILITIES LICENSED, REGULATED OR APPROVED BY STATE AGENCIES, NOR SHOULD
 PEOPLE  BE  DEPRIVED  OF LOCALLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE OR OTHER ENVIRON-
 MENTAL BENEFITS DUE TO LACK OF POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC STRENGTH.
   § 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 3 of section 1-0101  of  the
 environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
   It shall further be the policy of the state to foster, promote, create
 and  maintain  conditions under which [man] PEOPLE and nature can thrive
 in harmony with each other, and achieve social, economic and  technolog-
 ical progress for present and future generations by:
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03117-02-1