S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6976--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 27, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  HARCKHAM, WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation --
   committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to establishing the
   New York road salt reduction  council  and  the  New  York  road  salt
   reduction advisory committee
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The transportation law is amended by adding a  new  article
 23 to read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 23
                   NEW YORK ROAD SALT REDUCTION PROGRAM
 SECTION 500. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
         501. DEFINITIONS.
         502. NEW YORK ROAD SALT REDUCTION COUNCIL.
         503. NEW YORK ROAD SALT REDUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
   §  500. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS THAT THE REPORT OF
 THE ADIRONDACK ROAD SALT REDUCTION TASK FORCE COMPLIES  WITH  THE  RANDY
 PRESTON  ROAD SALT REDUCTION ACT, AND THAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE
 IMPLEMENTED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE  ENVIRONMENT  FROM  CONTAM-
 INATION  BY  ROAD  SALT.  THE  LEGISLATURE  FURTHER FINDS THAT EFFECTIVE
 IMPLEMENTATION REQUIRES INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND COORDINATION, ATTEN-
 TION EXTENDING BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK. A MECHANISM
 FOR SUCH DOES NOT CURRENTLY EXIST BUT SHOULD BE CREATED. THE LEGISLATURE
 FURTHER RECOGNIZES THAT BOTH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES NEED THE EXPERTISE
 AND EXPERIENCE OF SCIENTISTS,  ENGINEERS,  NONGOVERNMENTAL  INSTITUTIONS
 ADVOCATING  FOR  CLEAN  WATER,  HIGHWAY  USERS, AND OTHERS IN DEVELOPING
 SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS POSED BY THE NEED TO CONTROL ICE AND SNOW  FOR
 THE  SAFETY OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC WITHOUT CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER
 AND IMPAIRING NATURAL RESOURCES SUPPORTING LIFE, A  SOUND  ECONOMY,  AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08643-03-5
              

 S. 6976--A                          2
 
 HEALTHFUL  RECREATION.  THE LEGISLATURE ALSO FINDS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS A
 RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PURCHASE, STORAGE,  AND  USE  OF  ROAD  SALT  BY
 GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND THE EFFECTS THEREOF.
   §  501. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
 HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1. "ADVISORY COMMITTEE" MEANS THE NEW YORK ROAD SALT  REDUCTION  ADVI-
 SORY  COMMITTEE  ESTABLISHED BY SECTION FIVE HUNDRED THREE OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE.
   2. "COUNCIL" MEANS THE NEW YORK SALT REDUCTION COUNCIL ESTABLISHED  BY
 SECTION FIVE HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE.
   3.  "PILOT  PROGRAM"  MEANS  THE  ROAD  SALT  REDUCTION  PILOT STUDIES
 DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT.
   4. "REPORT" MEANS THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE  REPORT  OF  THE  TASK
 FORCE TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND
 BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL APPENDIX.
   5.  "TASK  FORCE"  MEANS THE ADIRONDACK ROAD SALT REDUCTION TASK FORCE
 ESTABLISHED UNDER THE RANDY PRESTON ROAD SALT REDUCTION ACT.
   § 502. NEW YORK ROAD SALT REDUCTION COUNCIL. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
 LISHED THE NEW YORK ROAD SALT  REDUCTION  COUNCIL.  SUCH  COUNCIL  SHALL
 CONSIST OF A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN MEMBERS AND SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) THE COMMISSIONER;
   (B) THE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION;
   (C) THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH;
   (D) THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY;
   (E)  THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
 PROTECTION;
   (F) THE PRESIDENTS OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES,  NEW
 YORK ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS AND THE NEW YORK CONFERENCE OF MAYORS;
   (G) THREE APPOINTEES UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE SENATE MAJORITY;
   (H) THREE APPOINTEES UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY; AND
   (I) THE CHAIR OF THE ROAD SALT REDUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
   WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF THE CHAIR OF THE ROAD SALT REDUCTION ADVISORY
 COMMITTEE AND ANY  MEMBERS  APPOINTED  BY  THE  LEGISLATURE,  ALL  OTHER
 MEMBERS MAY APPOINT A DESIGNEE TO SERVE ON THEIR BEHALF.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
 OR THEIR DESIGNEES SHALL SERVE AS JOINT CHAIRS OF THE COUNCIL.
   3. THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERTISE
 IN THE SCIENCE OF ROAD SALT CONTAMINATION AND THE BEST PRACTICES OF ROAD
 MANAGEMENT.  COUNCIL  MEMBERS  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR
 SERVICES BUT SHALL BE  REIMBURSED  FOR  ACTUAL  AND  NECESSARY  EXPENSES
 INCURRED  IN  THE  PERFORMANCE  OF THEIR DUTIES, TO THE EXTENT FUNDS ARE
 APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE. EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE ENTI-
 TLED TO ONE VOTE. ANY APPROVALS OR ADOPTIONS OF RECOMMENDATIONS  BY  THE
 COUNCIL  SHALL  REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY OF ITS MEMBERS. NO ACTION MAY BE
 TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL UNLESS THERE IS A QUORUM, WHICH SHALL BE A MAJORITY
 OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. ANY VACANCIES ON  THE  COUNCIL  SHALL  BE
 FILLED  IN  THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT. THE COUNCIL
 SHALL MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY.
   4. THE COUNCIL SHALL, WITHOUT LIMITATION:
   (A) FROM TIME TO TIME ASSESS THE NATURE, SCOPE AND  MAGNITUDE  OF  THE
 ENVIRONMENTAL,  ECOLOGICAL,  AGRICULTURAL,  ECONOMIC,  RECREATIONAL, AND
 SOCIAL IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE USE OF ROAD SALT IN THE STATE;
   (B) BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT,  RECOMMEND  QUANTIFI-
 ABLE LIMITS IN REGULATION FOR ROAD SALT USE THAT ARE PROTECTIVE OF WATER
 QUALITY  STANDARDS  AND DRINKING WATER MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS, WHILE
 PRESERVING ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF SERVICE FOR THE DRIVING PUBLIC;
 S. 6976--A                          3
 
   (C) BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN, RECOMMEND  INCENTIVES
 FOR  STATE  AND  LOCAL ADOPTION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR MINIMUM
 SALT USE DURING WINTER ROAD MAINTENANCE;
   (D)  RECOMMEND  REGULATIONS  FOR  THE  ESTABLISHMENT OF SCIENTIFICALLY
 DEFENSIBLE DRINKING WATER MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS AND  WATER  QUALITY
 STANDARDS  THAT  PROTECT  FRESHWATER  ECOLOGY  AND  PUBLIC HEALTH, TO BE
 ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION  AND  DEPARTMENT
 OF HEALTH, RESPECTIVELY;
   (E)  RECOMMEND LEGISLATION OR REGULATIONS FOR STATE AGENCIES TO UNDER-
 TAKE TO COMPLY WITH QUANTIFIABLE LIMITS FOR ROAD SALT  USE  AS  PROPOSED
 UNDER PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION;
   (F)  RECOMMEND  BUDGET  ALLOCATIONS  AND/OR  LEGISLATION  NECESSARY TO
 REDUCE ROAD SALT USE WHILE MAINTAINING ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF SERVICE  FOR
 THE DRIVING PUBLIC;
   (G) FROM TIME TO TIME MAKE A RECORD OF ACTIONS AND PUBLISH SAID RECORD
 IN  THE  ENVIRONMENTAL  NOTICE  BULLETIN,  TO BE TAKEN BY MEMBERS OF THE
 COUNCIL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND THE PUBLIC  TO  IMPLEMENT  THE
 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNCIL IN THE REPORT;
   (H)  MONITOR  THE PROGRESS OF THE ADIRONDACK ROAD SALT REDUCTION PILOT
 PROGRAMS, DETERMINE WHAT FOLLOW UP STEPS ARE IN THE PUBLIC  INTEREST  TO
 IMPLEMENT  RECOMMENDATIONS  STATEWIDE,  AND  RECOMMEND  ADDITIONAL PILOT
 PROGRAMS IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE STATE; AND
   (I) REGULARLY SHARE DATA, INCLUDING  THAT  PROVIDED  BY  THE  ADVISORY
 COMMITTEE,  AMONG  MEMBERS  OF THE COUNCIL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS,
 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE PUBLIC TO INFORM DECISION-MAKING, REDUCE
 INCONSISTENT AND REDUNDANT  ACTIONS,  AND  IDENTIFY  PROBLEMS  REQUIRING
 COORDINATED ACTIONS.
   5.  THE  COUNCIL  SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT DESCRIBING ITS ACTIV-
 ITIES DURING THE PRECEDING TWELVE MONTHS. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED
 TO THE GOVERNOR AND  LEGISLATURE  AND  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  THE  PUBLIC,
 THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL NOTICE BULLETIN.
   §  503.  NEW  YORK ROAD SALT REDUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 1. THERE IS
 HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE NEW YORK ROAD SALT REDUCTION  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE
 THAT  IS COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA-
 TIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF  ROAD
 SALT  USE,  EXPERTISE  IN  DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY
 STANDARDS OR DRINKING WATER MAXIMUM  CONTAMINANT  LEVELS,  OR  TECHNICAL
 PROFICIENCY  IN  SAFELY  REDUCING  OVERALL ROAD SALT USE.  SUCH ADVISORY
 COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE UP TO TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS, WITH UP TO SEVEN MEMBERS
 SELECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSER-
 VATION AND HEALTH, UP TO SIX MEMBERS SELECTED BY THE SENATE MAJORITY, UP
 TO  SIX  MEMBERS  SELECTED BY THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY, UP TO THREE MEMBERS
 SELECTED BY THE SENATE MINORITY AND UP TO THREE MEMBERS SELECTED BY  THE
 ASSEMBLY MINORITY, WITH AT LEAST ONE MEMBER FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) ADIRONDACK WATERSHED INSTITUTE AT PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE;
   (B) COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY;
   (C) RIVERKEEPER;
   (D) LAKE GEORGE ASSOCIATION;
   (E) ANY NEW YORK BASED BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION;
   (F) SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION;
   (G) THE NEW YORK SECTION OF THE AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION;
   (H) THE NEW YORK STATE DRINKING WATER QUALITY COUNCIL;
   (I) CARY INSTITUTE;
   (J) NEW YORK STATE FEDERATION OF LAKE ASSOCIATIONS; AND
   (K) ADIRONDACK COUNCIL.
 S. 6976--A                          4
 
   2. PROMPTLY UPON THE SELECTION OF AT LEAST TWELVE MEMBERS TO THE ADVI-
 SORY  COMMITTEE,  THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION SHALL CONVENE A MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT  WHICH
 THE  ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT SHALL SELECT A
 CHAIR  FROM  AMONG  THE  MEMBERS  TO PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING AND FUTURE
 MEETINGS. THEREAFTER, MEETINGS MAY BE HELD AS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE
 CHAIR OR UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS.  ANY  MEMBER
 CAN ATTEND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN PERSON OR BY MEANS OF COMMUNI-
 CATIONS  EQUIPMENT ALLOWING ALL PERSONS PARTICIPATING TO HEAR EACH OTHER
 AT THE SAME TIME. A MAJORITY OF THE SELECTED AND  THEN  SERVING  MEMBERS
 SHALL  CONSTITUTE  A  QUORUM  FOR  THE  CONDUCT  OF BUSINESS AT ADVISORY
 COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
   3. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL PROVIDE INFORMATION, ADVICE, AND GUID-
 ANCE TO THE COUNCIL CONCERNING THE USE, MANAGEMENT, AND EFFECTS OF  ROAD
 SALT  ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLEMENTING THE
 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNCIL, CONDUCTING THE PILOT PROGRAM, NEW  RELE-
 VANT  SCIENTIFIC  DATA  AND FINDINGS, CHANGES IN SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT
 TECHNOLOGIES, AND FACTORS RELATING TO THE  APPROPRIATE  BALANCE  BETWEEN
 MAINTAINING SAFE ROADS AND OTHERWISE PROTECTING CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND
 OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES FROM CONTAMINATION.
   4.  THE  MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPEN-
 SATION, EXCEPT MEMBERS SHALL  BE  ALLOWED  THEIR  NECESSARY  AND  ACTUAL
 EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.