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 2007 New York State Legislative Session. Summary of CCE's 2007 NYS legislative priorities

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS:

Hazardous Waste Landfills in the Great Lakes Basin (A. 248 DelMonte / S. 5862 Maziarz)

Despite progress made to improve the health of the Great Lakes as a result of the passage of the federal Clean Water Act nearly 35 years ago, the lakes are currently at a tipping point of ecological collapse. Further toxic pollution to the lakes would be catastrophic to the health of the ecosystem. This bill would prevent a new hazardous waste landfill from being sited in a location that has the potential to discharge hazardous waste in to the Great Lakes system.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact

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.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
CCE’s Great Lakes Compact campaign webpage

Oil Filter Recycling (A. 6777 Pretlow)

An estimated seven hundred thousand gallons of waste oil remains in the eighteen million used oil filters generated in New York each year. The filters currently end up in landfills and thus have the potential of contaminating our state’s waterways and groundwater supplies. This legislation requires that used oil filters are source seperated and recycled in New York State.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

Hybrid and High-Efficiency Vehicle Tax Exemptions (S. 3947 Skelos / A. 7626 Englebright)

Automobiles use approximately 40% of the oil consumed in the United States. The millions of automobiles in New York State use a substantial amount of oil, which increases dependence on foreign oil, creates pollution that adversely impacts our environment and public health, and puts consumers at risk to highly volatile price spikes. This legislation will compensate consumers in New York for purchasing vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the chief pollutant that causes global warming.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

Bottomlands Protection (S. 5528 LaValle / A. 7816 Englebright)

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 for this legislation

Bigger Better Bottle Bill

One of the most successful laws adopted in New York State, the Bottle Bill, places a 5-cent deposit on carbonated beverages and malt liquor bottles, thereby creating an incentive to recycle. The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would improve and modernize this legislation to include a 5-cent deposit on non-carbonated convenience beverages. Additionally, NYS would collect unclaimed deposits, estimated to reach more than $200 million under an expanded Bottle Bill. CCE strongly supports the legislature modernizing the Bottle Bill after 25 years to include non-carbonated beverages.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

Climate Change Solutions for New York State

This suite of legislation will ensure the proceeds raised from the sale of carbon credits benefit the public by providing for a transparent process to support energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy development. CCE strongly supports legislation, including Climate Change Solutions Program Act (A.7365 Sweeney/ S.5347 Marcellino) Climate Change Solutions Fund Act (A.7366 Gianaris / S.5371 Marcellino), and Climate Change Commission (A.7367 Sweeney / S. 5427 Marcellino), to help solve the climate crisis.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation
CCE's global warming web page

Energy Efficient Lighting Act (A. 7944 Sweeney / S. 5823 Marcellino)

According to the Department of Energy, lighting consumes 22% of electricity produced in the United States. By switching to energy efficient lighting technologies and phasing out inefficient and outdated lamps, New York will help lead our Nation towards energy independence. This legislation requires that a general service incandescent lamps shall not be sold in New York State after June 1, 2012.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

Aquatic Nuisance Species Coalition Participation Act (S. 959 Maziarz)

There are currently 185 aquatic invasive species that have been established in the Great Lakes. One new non-native species is found in the Great Lakes on average once every twenty-eight weeks. More than 60% of all aquatic invasive species-54 of 85 invaders-discovered in the Great Lakes since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, are attributable to ballast water discharge from ocean-going vessels. Invasive species are a detriment to the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy. This legislation authorizes NYS to work collaboratively with other Great Lakes states to develop effective basin-wide regulations to address the discharge of aquatic invasive species from ballast water of ocean-going vessels.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

Oswego River Basin Water Level Management Commission (A. 6905 Magnarelli / S. 3761 DeFrancisco)

The Oswego River Basin, a subwatershed of the Great Lakes Basin, is a delicate ecosystem that provides drinking water for surrounding communities and memorable recreational opportunities for residents and tourists. This legislation establishes the Oswego River Basin Water Level Management Commission, which will take a watershed approach to identifying objectives and designing a water level management plan that involves key stakeholders and the public.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act (S. 4369 Lavalle / A. 7335 Hoyt)

New York State has a history of making decisions when funding state infrastructure that have supported sprawling development. These decisions have resulted in loss of open space, higher costs to taxpayers and a failure to adequately address aging infrastructure in existing urban and suburban communities. This legislation will require state agencies that fund projects to construct, expand, or reconstruct infrastructure, to give priority based on “smart growth” criteria defined in the legislation.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation

Article X Energy Siting Law (A. 8697 Tonko / S. 5908 Wright) *Bills are currently not the same*

The review and approval process for siting major electric generating facilities expired on December 31, 2002, which provided NYS with an opportunity for much-needed reform. CCE urges the legislature to adopt an Article X energy siting law that protects vulnerable communities, ensures resources for meaningful public participation, prohibits industrial development on conservation easement lands, and advances cleaner, more efficient energy generation.
CCE's memo of recommendations on this bill

Environmental Protection Fund Expansion (A. 8339 Sweeney / S. 5304 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 in FY 2009 – 2010 and each year thereafter.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation
CCE's EPF campaign web page

Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act (A-7849-B Bradley / S. 6271 Leibell)

The Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act affords communities in Westchester and Putnam Counties 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 for this legislation

Updated by dglance 7/6/07