BILL NUMBER: S3208

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
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, and reactivation of
marine putrescible or non-putrescible solid waste transfer stations or
facilities within 800 feet of public housing projects in cities of one
million or more.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

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

              

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

Non-applicable

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It is well established that economically underserved 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. This is 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 trick 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 hous-
ing 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 econom-
ically disadvantaged neighborhoods, specifically public housing develop-
ments, which are also often communities of color. Hay ing 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 hous-
ing, who struggle to provide for their families, should not be saddled
with.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: A/10490 - Referred to Environmental Conservation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it becomes law.