Senator Biaggi And Assemblymember Septimo Announce Passage of Bill to Reduce Air Toxins Across New York State

ALBANY, NY – The New York State Senate and Assembly both passed S4371D/A6150B last week. The bill, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish air quality standards for seven toxic air contaminants.

“For decades, companies have unleashed toxic contaminants in the Bronx’s predominantly Black and Brown communities, resulting in high rates of respiratory disease and other illnesses that have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill aims to reduce the emission of harmful air contaminants into the air we breathe, and hold corporations accountable for their role in creating pollution within vulnerable communities. The climate crisis has not and will not affect us all equally, and we must address our environmental policy failures that have led to these racial inequities. Everyone, regardless of their zip code, deserves the right to breathe clean air and live healthy lives,” State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester).

“The environmental protections afforded by A6150B build accountability and substantive control of air quality in communities like the South Bronx. This long-needed regulation puts our communities at the forefront of the fight for public health and the push to make New York air and water cleaner for all.  These new requirements address historically harmful conditions, including the policy decisions that sacrificed the health and rights of Bronx residents for decades.  Now is the time to defend Environmental Justice Communities against serious public health crises, particularly as we have watched the exacerbation of these conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (D-Bronx).

S4371D/A6150B will require DEC to promulgate ambient air quality standards for the seven toxic air contaminants not currently covered by state or federal standards: benzene, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, trichloroethylene and mercury. DEC will be required to incorporate toxic air contaminants into major source permits beginning January 1, 2024 and establish regulations for when fenceline monitoring will be required by major sources. These regulations must take into account existing air quality and the proximity of major sources to environmental justice communities. 

###