Senate approves stronger pollution legislation

The state Senate unanimously approved legislation on Wednesday to strengthen the state’s ability to hold polluters accountable.

The measure codifies the right of water authorities to bring lawsuits against polluters up to three years after contaminants are detected, as opposed to three years after the contamination occurred, as state law has been interpreted to mean in multiple cases.

“When deep-pocketed companies pollute our water and contaminate our drinking water, they should be responsible for the cost of cleaning it up, not ratepayers. Safe, clean drinking water is a human right and we must treat it as such,” said Sen. Jim Gaughran, a Long Island Democrat, who sponsors the measure.

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