Senator Kevin Parker Passes Earth Day Legislation that Combats Climate Change and Protects the Environment

(Brooklyn, NY)  Today, Senator Parker and the Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation to mark Earth Day and further advance the Conference’s efforts to protect New York’s natural resources and waterways. The legislation included in this package builds on the work accomplished in last year’s legislative session to solidify New York’s position as a national leader in environmental protection. The bills advanced today will protect the State’s waterways from pollution by extending protection to class C streams; ban the use of hydrofracking wastewater in our highways; keep dangerous PFAS chemicals out of more products; help support local efforts to remove lead pipes from New York’s water supply with the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act; and add lakes to the areas eligible to participate in the Municipal Adoption Program.

This environmental conservation package also includes legislation that will reduce food waste; help farmers find a beneficial use for their unwanted tires; strengthen the State’s procurement practices by enacting the New York Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act; protect wildlife by passing the New York Wildlife Crossing Act, and bolster enforcement of environmental laws by enacting the Bottle Redemption Fraud Task Force. This slate of legislation also expands our infrastructure for a greener future by requiring certain State parking facilities to install electric vehicle charging stations and provides credits for excess electricity generated.

“Earth Day is growing in importance as a holiday as we become more aware of the looming climate crisis and the benefits of being good stewards of our planet and its natural resources. My legislation builds on this growing awareness by incentivizing families to move from traditional to sustainable and renewable energy sources like solar and wind. As Chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, I am proud to help lead the charge to build a Green Energy Economy here in our great state that will create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers. I am equally excited that Leader Stewart-Cousins and the Senate Majority have included my legislation in the overall plan to create a sustainable New York,” stated Senator Parker.

                   The legislation passed by the Senate Democratic Majority includes:

• New York Wildlife Crossing Act: This bill, S4198, sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie, directs the Department of Transportation to identify sites along all highways, thruways, and parkways in the state where wildlife crossings are most needed to increase public safety and improve habitat connectivity and create a priority list of wildlife opportunity areas to implement the top five projects identified.
• Stream Protection: This bill, S1725, sponsored by Senator Peter Harckham, would provide protection for certain streams by adding class C streams to the list of protected streams.

Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program: This bill, S5331, sponsored by Senator Peter Harckham would expand the food donation and food scraps recycling program by scaling down the annual average tonnage requirement every two years until 2027. This legislation will make excess food more available to qualifying entities that work to address food insecurity and result in less food waste.

• Ban of PFAS in Anti-Fogging Sprays and Wipes: This bill, S992, sponsored by Senator Hoylman-Sigal would prohibit the sale and distribution of anti-fogging sprays and wipes containing PFAS chemicals.
• Parking Garage Electric Vehicles Charging Stations: This bill, S1535, sponsored by Senator Hoylman-Sigal requires certain state-owned and operated parking garages, open parking lots, and other parking facilities to install and maintain charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles.
• Prohibits Drilling Fluids and Flowback Water For De-icing: This bill, S1538, sponsored by Senator Hoylman-Sigal prohibits the use of wastewater from hydrofracking, which contains chemicals and radioactive contaminants from being used on any highway for any purpose including de-icing or dust suppression.
• The New York Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act: This bill, S4859, sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger enacts the New York Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act requiring that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical primary forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains. It also establishes the supply chain transparency assistance program to assist small and medium-sized businesses and minority- and women-owned businesses in achieving compliant supply chains.
• Bottle Redemption Fraud Task Force: This bill, S3419, sponsored by Senator John Mannion establishes the Bottle Redemption Fraud Task Force to provide the Governor and the Legislature with information on the fraud, enforcement, and reporting requirements related to the New York State Returnable Container Act.
• Adopt a Lake Program: This bill, S4636, sponsored by Senator Rachel May would add lakes to those areas that are eligible to participate in the Municipal Adoption Program, allowing volunteer groups to enter into agreements to maintain these natural resources.
• Credits for Excess Electricity: This bill, S4304, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, provides that credits for excess electricity generated by customer-generators subject to net energy metering may be carried over and used to offset electricity used.
• Waste Tire Management and Recycling Fee Funds: This bill, S1688, sponsored by Senator James Sanders, expands permitted uses of funding in the Waste Tire Management and Recycling Program so that it can be used for agricultural reuse demonstration projects and analysis of other reuse opportunities. This legislation will help farmers find a beneficial use for their unwanted tires by expanding the existing authorization for the Department of Economic Development to conduct market analysis, including demonstration projects related to reuse in agricultural settings.
• The Lead Pipe Right to Know Act: This bill, S5512, sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera would enact the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act requiring public water systems to take service line inventories and make information about the number and location of lead pipes easily accessible to the public and decision-makers so that state and federal resources can be secured and efficiently targeted to support local efforts to get the lead out of New York's drinking water by removing all lead pipe

About State Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse Brooklyn district comprising sections of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Kensington, Ditmas Park Midwood, Flatlands, Canarsie, Georgetown, Old Mill Basin, Mill Basin, Marine Park, and Bergen Beach. A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker is the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee and is a member of the following standing committees: Rules, Banks, Internet and Technology, and Budget and Revenue.