Senator Webb and the Senate Majority Pass Earth Week Legislation that Combats Climate Change and Protects the Environment

This week, Senator Webb and the Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation to mark Earth Week and further advance the Senate Democratic Conference’s commitment to protecting New York’s natural resources and waterways. The legislation put forth 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 being advanced today include setting standards and limits for the emissions of toxic air contaminants, efforts to shift state buildings to cleaner more renewable energy, putting charging stations into state owned parking garages, and prohibiting drilling fluids and flowback water for de-icing. This package also includes the climate change adaptation cost recovery program, legislation to establish plans to have cellphone towers powered by renewable energy, and to prohibit the lease of state land or wildlife areas for the purposes of gas production.

Said Senator Lea Webb, “I am proud of our continued efforts in the NY Senate Majority to deliver on our promise to protect our health, environment and address the impacts of climate change in our communities. This package includes critical legislation that will make sure that consumers do not pay for the damage caused by polluters and important measures to protect our fresh water. I thank Majority Leader Stewart Cousins for bringing this Earth Week package to the floor.”  

The legislation passed Tuesday, May 7th, 2024 by the Senate Democratic Majority includes:

• Emission Limits of Toxic Air Contaminants: This bill, S3328-A, sponsored by Senator Fernandez, directs the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish ambient air quality standards and fenceline monitoring for certain toxic air contaminants

• Clean Fuel Oil Powered State Buildings: This bill, S2994-B, sponsored by Senator Harckham, prohibits the use of fuel oil, grade number four in any state building or facility.

• 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-A, sponsored by Senator Hoylman-Sigal, prohibits the use of waste water from hydrofracking, which contains chemicals and radioactive contaminants, from being used on any highway for any purpose including de-icing or dust suppression.

• Climate Change Superfund: This bill, S2129-B, sponsored by Senator Krueger, would require companies that have contributed significantly to the buildup of greenhouse gasses, the primary cause of climate change, to bear a share of the costs of infrastructure investments required to adapt to the impacts of climate change in New York State.

• Renewable Energy Cell Towers: This bill, S4305, sponsored by Senator Parker, would require cellular telephone companies and third party providers to present plans in preparation to convert cell tower energy usage to renewable energy resources.

• Prohibit Oil and Gas production on Protected State Land: This bill, S724-A, sponsored by Senator Serrano, would prohibit the lease of state forests, reforestation areas, wildlife management areas and unique areas for the purpose of oil and gas production.

The legislation passed Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 by the Senate Democratic Majority includes: 

• Memorial Lands Facility Permits: This bill, S3024-B, sponsored by Senator Comrie,  

establishes a new memorial lands program to provide dual benefits of conservation and respectful disposal of cremated and organically reduced remains.

• Wildlife Crossings: This bill, S4198-B, sponsored by Senator Comrie, directs the Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority to identify sites along all highways, thruways and parkways in the state for wildlife crossings.

• Adopt-A-Lake: This bill, S4636, sponsored by Senator May, would add lakes to the areas that are eligible for the Municipal Adoption Program.

• Expanding Food Donation Program: This bill, S5331-A, sponsored by Senator Harckham, expands the food donation and food scraps recycling program by scaling down the annual tonnage requirement every two years until 2028 and removes exceptions regarding recycler capacity. 

• Improving Municipal Water Quality: This bill, S5728-A, sponsored by Senator Harckham, creates a program to assist municipalities with water quality improvement of water bodies within the municipality managed by lake associations.

• Fees Paid to Conservation Enforcement: This bill, S7086-A, sponsored by Senator Harckham, provides that fees paid for certain environmental violations are deposited into a new Conservation Enforcement Account, which will provide funding for scientists, environmental law enforcement officers, attorneys, administrative support and to support environmental law enforcement generally. 

• Ban of PFAS in Anti-Fogging Sprays and Wipes: This bill, S992-B, sponsored by Senator Hoylman-Sigal, prohibits the sale and distribution of anti-fogging sprays and wipes containing PFAS chemicals.

• Prohibition of Polystyrene Containers: This bill, S4414-A, sponsored by Senator Krueger, prohibits the sale or distribution of expanded polystyrene containers that are designed or intended to be used for cold storage.

• Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Prevention Act: This bill, S8356, sponsored by Senator May, requires the DEC to establish a coordinated system of HABs monitoring, evaluation, prevention and mitigation, finally putting the state on a path to be able to predict and prevent the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms in our water bodies.

   

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