CCE works to advance legislation that will protect our natural environment and public health, while working to oppose legislation that will have an adverse impact on our shared environment. The New York State Legislative Session occupies the first six months of each year (January to June), although, as events arise, it can be extended into July, August or later. Below is a list of proposed legislation that CCE will be working to advance in the 2006 New York State Legislative Session.
Summary of CCE’s 2006 NYS legislative priorities
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS:
Clean Water Protection / Flood Prevention Act (A. 2048 DiNapoli / S. 2081 Marcellino)
The Clean Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act strengthens New York’s freshwater wetland protection law by allowing the NYSDEC to protect wetlands that are one acre or larger. Currently, NYS only regulates wetlands that are 12.4 acres or larger. New York’s current wetlands policy leaves our smaller, yet valuable wetlands vulnerable to being filled, drained, and polluted without legal consequence.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
CCE’s wetland protection campaign page
Coastal Conformity Legislation (S.6540 LaValle/ A.11625 DiNapoli)
The need for NY to have strong state rights, particularly concerning coastal protection, is crucial. There are many ecologically sensitive areas that are within New York’s coastal zone. These areas are protected under NY’s coastal zone management and waterfront revitalization program. However, the current program allows for the United States Secretary of Commerce to overrule New York’s objection to certain projects located in coastal areas. This legislation would enhance the Secretary of State’s authority over major projects and projects that are located in environmentally sensitive areas.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
Community Preservation Act (A. 6450B DiNapoli / S. 03153 Marcellino)
The Community Preservation Act affords local communities one more tool to help preserve important spaces, protect natural resources, and ensure community character is not eroded. This legislation grants towns across New York State the right to create a community preservation fund (CPF) after a citizen referendum. The CPF is a perpetual environmental fund that the local community can use to conserve land to preserve community character.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement (A. 09283 DiNapoli / S. 6356 Marcellino)
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) supports numerous programs designed to improve the quality of life for New York citizens, to protect crucial resources such as drinking water and air quality, and to preserve community and state character. This legislation will adequately fund New York State’s EPF—the most valuable and instrumental tool for protecting the environment —to a total of $300 million by FY 2007-2008.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
CCE's EPF campaign information
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (A. 11968 DiNapoli / S. 8187 Marcellino)
In 2001, the eight Great Lakes Governors and two Canadian Premiers, known as the Council of Great Lakes Governors, began a process to develop strong standards by which all large water withdrawals would be scrutinized. On December 13, 2005, the Council released an interstate agreement known as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and an international agreement known as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement. The Compact and International Agreement are a great first step in sustaining water quantity in the Great Lakes basin for generations to come. The Compact will now go before each of the eight state legislatures and then both documents will go to Congress for approval. The Compact has passed the NYS Assembly, and the Senate must now take action!
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
CCE’s Great Lakes Compact campaign page
Renewable Energy Purchasing (S. 4472-A Marcellino / A. 6571 Galef)
This bill clarifies that municipalities can choose to purchase renewable energy, such as wind power, at a slightly higher cost than conventional polluting energy sources. Providing clarification that municipalities can purchase renewable energy will increase the growth of renewable energy production capacity in NYS and decrease our dependence on polluting fossil fuels.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
Bottomlands Protection (S. 3658 LaValle / A. 8866 DiNapoli)
New York's underwater bottomlands are both economically and ecologically important. Our bottomlands provide essential habitat that in turn support the abundant fish, mammal, and bird life throughout the state. Bottomlands also serve as historically and culturally significant dive sites. A comprehensive, independent environmental review process is necessary before potentially harmful, permanent structures are erected on our valuable bottomlands.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
Bigger Better Bottle Bill (A. 2517C DiNapoli / S. 1290C LaValle)
One of the most successful laws adopted in New York State, the Returnable Container Act (RCA) of 1982, places a 5¢ deposit on carbonated beverages and malt liquor bottles, thereby creating an incentive to recycle. This legislation would expand the RCA, commonly referred to as the Bottle Bill, to include non-carbonated convenience beverages as well as allow for the State of New York to collect unredeemed beverage deposits to fund environmental programs.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
Property Tax Exemptions for Renewable Energy Systems (S. 5966A Flanagan / A. 9888 Magee)
New York State has allowed localities and school districts to provide tax exemptions for property containing wind, solar, and farm waste energy systems since January 1, 1991. The enabling legislation for renewable tax exemptions expired on December 31, 2005. A property tax exemption for these important renewable energy systems has made it affordable for many New Yorker’s to utilize sustainable energy sources on their property. CCE urges the legislature to reauthorize the program immediately.
CCE’s memo of support on this legislation
2006 NEW YORK STATE BUDGETARY AGENDA
CCE works to advance budget items that will protect our natural environment and public health, while working to oppose budget items that will have an adverse impact on our shared environment. The budget process begins as soon as the legislature begins, in January, and lasts until April 1, although 19 of the last 25 budgets were passed after April 1. Below is a list of proposed budget items that CCE will be working to advance in the 2006 New York State Legislative Session.
Summary of CCE’s 2006 NYS budgetary priorities
BUDGETARY AGENDA ITEMS:
Wetlands Protection Program in the New York State Budget
Governor Pataki included a program to strengthen New York’s freshwater wetlands protection in his 2006-2007 budget proposal. The program would allow the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to protect wetlands of all sizes, and includes a funding mechanism to finance the program. Currently, the DEC only regulates wetlands that are 12.4 acres or larger. New York’s current wetlands policy leaves our smaller, yet valuable wetlands vulnerable to being filled, drained, and polluted without legal consequence. CCE advocates that the NYS Legislature adopt the Governor’s proposed wetlands program in the 2006-2007 NYS budget.
CCE’s memo of support on this budget item
CCE’s wetland protection campaign page
Oceans, Estuaries, and Great Lakes Funding in the Environmental Protection Fund
New York State is dependent, both economically and recreationally, on the waters that surround it. We are fortunate to have over 1,500 square miles of bays and estuaries, 120 miles of ocean shoreline, and over 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. These waters are a part of history, our current culture, and our future. CCE supports a significant increase in funding for the Ocean and Great Lakes category of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) in the 2006-2007 NYS Budget.
CCE’s memo of support on this budget item
CCE's EPF campaign information
Funding NYSERDA to Administer Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs
Over the past 8 years, the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) has administered the New York Energy $mart™ Program, a project that has successfully promoted energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives. The program has provided substantial benefits to New York States economy, public health, and environment. NYSERDA should continue to administer the program, rather than the NYS Legislature. Allowing the legislature to administer the program could destabilize important clean energy initiatives at a crucial time when they are needed more than ever.
CCE’s memo of support on this budget item