Senator Rachel May Passes Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act

Albany, NY - Today, Senator Rachel May (SD-53) successfully passed the Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act (S2270A) to prevent the construction of any new incinerators in the Finger Lakes Region. The bill was co-sponsored this session by Senator Helming (SD-54).

The Finger Lakes Community Preservation Act prevents a waste to energy facility from receiving approvals if it poses risk to public health and safety within an environmentally sensitive area; is within 10 miles of a priority waterbody which is a critical source of drinking water, a tourism driver, and has vulnerabilities to harmful algal blooms (HABs); is within a thriving agriculture-tourism region; is within 50 miles of a state approved landfill of other solid waste management facilities.

“The Finger Lakes are just outside my district, but pollution and natural beauty don’t adhere to political boundaries. I was happy to partner with Senator Helming to ensure that we are protecting our state’s natural beauty,” said Senator May. “The Finger Lakes region is home to thriving wine country, beautiful and productive farmland, and drinking water sources for many of our cities and towns across Upstate. It is vital that we work collaboratively to ensure our natural resources are cared for and we are protecting our growing local economies from large outside corporate interests.”

The bill is retroactively effective February 1, 2018, ensuring that the bill will not apply to any facility in operation as of that date.