NY State Senate Bill 2025-S3797

Senate Bill S3797

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Establishes a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf pending a comprehensive environmental and public health study

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 30, 2025	referred to environmental conservation

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2025-S3797 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Environmental Conservation
Law Section:: Environmental Conservation Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§8-0109 & 27-1901, En Con L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7239

2025-S3797 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf pending a comprehensive environmental and public health study; relates to environmental impact assessments of the use of synthetic turf; provides for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof.

2025-S3797 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3797

SPONSOR: MYRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to establish a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf
pending a comprehensive environmental and public health study; to amend
the environmental conservation law, in relation to environmental impact
assessments of the use of synthetic turf; and providing for the repeal
of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 establishes the legislative findings.

Section 2 defines key terms such as, "Crumb Rubber", "Synthetic Turf,
and "Moratorium".

Section 3 outlines the agencies and organizations tasked with studying
the use and long-term health implications of "Synthetic Turf.

Section 4 amends section 8-0109 of the environmental conservation law by
adding subdivision 10 which states that there must be site site-specific

impact statement created for any project that requires the installation
of synthetic turf.

Section 5 amends section 27-1901 of the environmental conservation law
by adding subdivision 2a which specifies the definition of "Crumb
Rubber".

Section 6 provides for the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Synthetic turf is increasingly installed in many locations across New
York State, including parks, athletic fields, indoor facilities, and
other settings where natural grass was previously grown. In recent
years, crumb rubber which is a result of processing waste has been
introduced as a component of synthetic turf and mulch.

Tires contain numerous chemical components, some of which are known to
be hazardous. These contaminants can include arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, vanadium, zinc, and acetone, and are known to have the potential
to cause adverse health effects including birth defects, cancer, nervous
system damage, and immune system suppression.

In 2004, the Legislature passed the historic, Waste Tire Management Act,
which provided for the collection and recycling/reuse of millions of
waste tires stockpiled in New York State. But while diverse options for
waste tire use are essential to reduce accumulation, they should not
threaten or compromise the public health or the environment.

Some testing of synthetic turf has already occurred, identifying within
it levels of concern of contaminants including lead, arsenic, cadmium,
and chromium; however, more data is necessary to inform decisions on
appropriate uses of this material. To prevent adverse health impacts and
mitigate the contamination of natural resources, an investigation into
the potential threats associated with the use of synthetic turf is
warranted. Therefore the DOH is mandated, in cooperation with the DEC,
to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the exposure and contam-
ination potential of synthetic turf, including routes of exposure
through the installation, maintenance, removal, and disposal of synthet-
ic turf, as well as alternatives including natural turf. This report
shall be submitted to the Governor and the Legislature.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S7329 of 2023-24: Referred to Environmental Conservation.

S4321 of 2015-16: Referred to Environmental Conservation.

S4086 of 2013-14: Referred to Environmental Conservation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; (a) provided, however, that
sections two and three of this act shall continue in full force and
effect for six months from such effective date, or until the department
of environmental conservation reports to the governor and the legisla-
ture as required by section three of this act, whichever date is later,
when upon such date the provisions of sections two and three of this act
shall be deemed repealed; and (b) provided that the commissioner of
environmental conservation shall notify the legislative bill drafting
commission upon filing the report required in section three of this act
in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effec-
tive database of the official text of the laws of the state of New York
in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the
legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.

2025-S3797 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3797
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 30, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. MYRIE, HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Environmental
   Conservation
 
 AN  ACT  to establish a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf
   pending a comprehensive environmental  and  public  health  study;  to
   amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to environmental
   impact assessments of the use of synthetic turf; and providing for the
   repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  Legislative findings. The legislature finds that  increas-
 ingly,  synthetic  turf is being installed in many locations in New York
 state, including parks, athletic fields and other settings where natural
 grass was previously grown. In recent years, crumb rubber fill is  being
 used  as  a  component  of synthetic turf and mulch. Crumb rubber is the
 result of processing waste tires,  which  contain  numerous  components,
 some  of  which are known to be hazardous to people and the environment.
 The hazardous components include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, vana-
 dium, zinc and acetone. Health effects associated with these components,
 at dangerous levels,  include  birth  defects,  cancer,  nervous  system
 damage  and  immune  system suppression. While various options for waste
 tire use are essential to reducing the significant stockpiles  of  waste
 tires, such uses should not threaten or compromise public health.
   The  legislature  finds  that more information is necessary to make an
 informed decision on the appropriate uses of synthetic  turf  containing
 crumb  rubber.  In the interest of preventing adverse health impacts and
 contamination to natural resources, the legislature finds that a compre-
 hensive environmental and public health study on the  potential  threats
 associated with the use of synthetic turf is warranted.
   Therefore,  the  legislature  finds  that it is consistent with public
 policy to require such comprehensive  environmental  and  public  health
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08348-01-5

 S. 3797                             2
 
 study to be undertaken immediately; and, in the meantime, to temporarily
 suspend  the  installation of synthetic turf products that contain crumb
 rubber.
   §  2.    Moratorium  on  the installation of synthetic turf. 1.  Defi-
 nitions. For the purposes of this act, the following  terms  shall  have
 the following definitions:
   a.  "Crumb rubber" means ground rubber derived from waste tires, which
 contain one or more of  the  following  ingredients:  arsenic,  cadmium,
 chromium, lead, vanadium, zinc, and acetone;
   b.  "Synthetic  turf" means any materials or compositions that include
 crumb rubber as a component used in place of  grass  to  surface  parks,
 outdoor  playing or athletic fields, indoor athletic facilities or other
 venues.
   2. Moratorium. A moratorium is hereby established on the  installation
 of  synthetic  turf  for a period of 6 months from the effective date of
 this act or until the department of environmental  conservation  reports
 to  the governor and the legislature on its findings and recommendations
 as required in section three of this act.
   § 3. Study of the use of synthetic turf. 1. The department of environ-
 mental conservation, in cooperation with the department of health, shall
 immediately undertake a review of all available  data  relating  to  the
 potential  environmental and health risks and effects of synthetic turf,
 with particular attention to the crumb rubber content of such  synthetic
 turf.
   2.  The commissioner of environmental conservation, or their designee,
 shall:
   a. Solicit input from environmental and public health specialists, and
 other stakeholders in an open, public process;
   b. Examine various routes of exposure and the health and environmental
 impact of these pathways including,  but  not  limited  to,  small  fill
 particle inhalation, volatility, leaching to groundwater, dermal absorp-
 tion,  and  persistence  in  the environment of original and degradation
 by-products;
   c. Prepare a report to the governor and the legislature which includes
 research and studies conducted on synthetic turf which were  the  source
 of  the report findings and recommendations for appropriate and inappro-
 priate use of synthetic turf, crumb rubber and waste tires. Such  report
 shall  be  filed  within  six  months of the effective date of this act,
 unless the commissioner of environmental conservation requests in  writ-
 ing, an extension of time; and
   d.  Conduct  an  outreach program to inform local governments, private
 organizations, schools and the public regarding  the  findings  of  such
 report. If necessary, information on safe alternatives to synthetic turf
 in  settings  where  this  material is a potential or actual health risk
 should be disseminated to the public.
   3. All other departments or agencies  of  the  state  or  subdivisions
 thereof, and local governments shall, at the request of the commissioner
 of  environmental  conservation, provide expertise, assistance, and data
 that will enable such commissioner to carry out their powers and duties.
   § 4. Section 8-0109 of the environmental conservation law  is  amended
 by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
   10.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  LAW,  RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, A
 SITE-SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SHALL BE PREPARED  FOR  ANY
 ACTION THAT INCLUDES THE INSTALLATION OF SYNTHETIC TURF. FOR PURPOSES OF
 THIS  SUBDIVISION,  "SYNTHETIC TURF" MEANS ANY MATERIALS OR COMPOSITIONS
 THAT INCLUDE CRUMB RUBBER AS A COMPONENT  USED  IN  PLACE  OF  GRASS  TO
 S. 3797                             3
 
 SURFACE  PARKS,  OUTDOOR  PLAYING  OR  ATHLETIC  FIELDS, INDOOR ATHLETIC
 FACILITIES OR OTHER VENUES. SUCH  IMPACT  STATEMENT  SHALL  INCLUDE  THE
 POTENTIAL  PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS FROM EXPOSURE TO SYNTHETIC TURF AND MAIN-
 TENANCE  PRODUCTS,  INCLUDING INHALATION IMPACT, VOLATILITY IMPACTS, AND
 IMPACT OF HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF CONSTITUENTS OF SYNTHETIC  TURF.  ENVIRON-
 MENTAL IMPACTS SHALL  BE ASSESSED, INCLUDING MIGRATION OF CHEMICALS FROM
 THE  SYNTHETIC TURF INTO AIR, WATER AND  SOIL. SUCH STATEMENT SHALL MEET
 THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MOST DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL    IMPACT  STATEMENT
 REQUIRED  BY  THIS SECTION OR BY ANY SUCH RULE OR REGULATION PROMULGATED
 PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   § 5. Section 27-1901 of the environmental conservation law is  amended
 by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
   2-A.  "CRUMB  RUBBER"  MEANS  GROUND  RUBBER DERIVED FROM WASTE TIRES,
 WHICH CONTAIN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS: ARSENIC,  CADMI-
 UM, CHROMIUM, LEAD, VANADIUM, ZINC, AND ACETONE.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately; (a) provided, however,
 that sections two and three of this act shall continue in full force and
 effect for six months from such effective date, or until the  department
 of  environmental  conservation reports to the governor and the legisla-
 ture as required by section three of this act, whichever date is  later,
 when upon such date the provisions of sections two and three of this act
 shall be deemed repealed; and
   (b) provided that the commissioner of environmental conservation shall
 notify  the  legislative bill drafting commission upon filing the report
 required in section three of this act in order that the  commission  may
 maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text
 of  the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the
 provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of  the
 public officers law.

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Senate Bill S3797

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Sponsored By

Zellnor Myrie