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 2010 New York State Legislative Session.
CCE’s 2010 Legislative and Budget Priorities
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS:
Complete Streets (S. 5711 – Dilan / A. 8587 – Gantt)
Providing safe public access to streets in our cities and towns contributes to safer, healthier, and more livable communities. Public access should include all users, including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and passengers, motorists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The legislation will require that bicycle and pedestrian ways be included in the planning and development of state, county, and local transportation facilities, plans, and programs.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Victory! The Child Safe Playing Fields Act (A. 7937a –Englebright / S. 4983a –Foley)
Pesticides are used outdoors at most schools in New York State, even with no evidence of need. The growing body of peer reviewed scientific evidence indicates that pesticide exposure can lead to serious long-term and short-term adverse health impacts, especially for children. There is clear science showing that pests and weeds can be successfully managed with readily available and affordable non-toxic alternatives. To help protect our kids, New York State should ban non-essential pesticides on outdoor school grounds in schools K-12 and daycare facilities.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
CCE’s Pesticide Free Schools campaign page
Drug Take-Back Program: Require drug manufacturers to collect unused and expired drugs from hospitals and residential health care facilities for safe disposal (A. 10274 –Maisel / S. 7998 –Stavisky)
Flushing unwanted or expired drugs down drains and toilets is an antiquated way of disposal that can lead to contaminating our waters. Emerging research has detected pharmaceuticals in surface and groundwater throughout New York State and the nation. The effects of constant exposure to low levels of various pharmaceuticals on ecosystems and humans are uncertain. However, negative impacts have been observed in several studies. This legislation, which will require manufacturers to create collection programs that take back unused drugs from hospitals and residential health care facilities and dispose of them in an environmentally-sound manner, is a much-needed step to curb pharmaceutical contamination of our waterways.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Victory! Electronic Waste Recycling (S. 6047A – Thompson / A. 9049 – Sweeney)*NOT SAME AS
Electronic waste is the fastest growing component of the nation’s municipal waste stream and its disposal burdens local municipalities, taxpayers, and the environment. According the EPA, in 2007 about 2.5 million tons of e-waste were discarded nationally. Currently the burden of managing e-waste properly falls upon local municipalities and solid waste authorities, further burdening the local taxpayers. There is a clear role and benefit for producers to manage the end-of-life issues associated their products. New York State should enact a comprehensive e-waste recycling and reuse law, as nearly twenty other states have already done. The switch from analog to digital TV broadcasts has lead to millions of additional televisions being discarded, making this legislation very timely. Enacting a comprehensive e-waste recycling and reuse law will benefit the health, welfare, economy, and environment of New York State.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Energy Efficient Residential Building Codes (S6912A – Foley / A. 10288A – Englebright)
Delays in updating energy efficiency standards for new residential buildings has prohibited New York State from fully enjoying the environmental, economic and job creation benefits of increased energy efficiency in new home builds. This legislation will set a minimum performance-based standard for the energy efficiency of new residential construction and require performance testing of all new homes built, to ensure that the standard is met.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Food Service Waste Reduction Act (A. 428a – Kavanagh / S. 2832a – Krueger)
Polystyrene Foam, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, is commercially manufactured from petroleum and is a suspected carcinogen and neurotoxin. Every year 25 million polystyrene foam cups are thrown away. A single cup can take 500 years to disintegrate. This legislation will require all public departments and institutions use food service materials that are not polystyrene foam and require the Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a study on the feasibility and environmental impact of a statewide ban on the use of disposable Styrofoam food service ware.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Gallons-Per-Mile Fuel Savings Guide (S. 6141B – Squadron)
The purpose of this act is to encourage the purchase of more efficient vehicles through clear and accessible information to the public. Information will include cost savings and fuel usage comparisons between vehicles, by emphasizing the gallons of gasoline used by a vehicle rather than the number of miles driven.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Global Warming Pollution Control Act (S. 4315c – Thompson / A.11507a – Sweeney)
Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that human activities contribute to global climate change. Our planet is getting hotter and our climate is changing, adversely impacting New York’s economy, public health, environment, natural resources, and quality of life. This legislation will reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions economy wide 80% by 2050, and develop a plan to adapt change already beginning to occur.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
CCE’s Climate Change campaign page
Hazardous Waste Reporting Act (A. 349 – Kavanagh S. 1100 – Lanza)
Under current law there is a disincentive to report a hazardous spill. If a spill is reported quickly the DEC is better able to determine the amount of the release, which makes it easier to prove a felony violation. In contrast, if a spill is not reported in a timely manner it frequently only results in a misdemeanor. This bill would criminalize the failure to report the release of a hazardous substance, providing the necessary incentive for individuals to report the releases, and in addition would provide greater punishment for chronic concealment of releases.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Heavy Duty Vehicle Idling Prohibition (S. 5287C – Squadron)
Idling engines contribute to air quality degradation, and are a significant source of pollution. Idling has negative health effects, including increasing asthma rates. Preventing idling will improve air quality for all New Yorkers. This legislation will prohibit idling for more than three minutes by heavy duty vehicles 8,500 lbs. or more.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Hydraulic Fracturing Moratorium (A. 10490 –Englebright / S.7592 - Addabbo)
High volume hydraulic fracturing uses millions of gallons of water per well and creates waste products that New York State cannot currently accommodate. Hydro-fracking has reportedly contaminated water in other states. In response to public outcry and Congressional request, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has launched a study to determine the effects of hydraulic fracturing on water resources. To protect public health and the environment, New York State should enact a moratorium on hydro-fracking until EPA completes the study.
CCE's memo of support for this legislation
CCE's Hydro-fracking campaign page
Municipal Green Power Purchasing (S.4599a-Stewart-Cousins / A.7096a–Galef)
Development of renewable energy is critical to combating climate change, improving public health, increasing energy independence, creating jobs, and strengthening our economy. Currently, there is ambiguity regarding if NYS general municipal law allows municipalities to purchase electricity generated from renewable sources, if it is not the lowest bid. This bill clarifies that municipalities can choose to purchase renewable energy, at a slightly higher cost than conventional polluting energy sources.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Victory! Net Metering Fix for Solar and Wind (S. 6700 –Maziarz / A. 7557a –Cahill)
Net metering is a policy that allows electric ratepayers with on-site renewable generation to receive a credit for energy sent out to the electric grid when not needed on-site. In 2008, the NYS Legislature updated New York’s net metering law to include non-residential customers; however language included undermined the original intent of the law and now prevents many customers from installing appropriately sized renewable energy systems. This legislation would remove problematic language, ensuring greater development in renewable energy and the economic viability of on-site renewable power generation.
CCE’s memo in support for this legislation
Phosphorus: Ban in Dishwashing Detergents and Limit in Lawn Fertilizers (S. 3780 - Thompson / A. 8914 - Sweeney)
Overloading of phosphorus is a leading cause of water quality impairment in NYS. More than 60 NYS water bodies are impaired due to phosphorus, including the New York City watershed, Lake Champlain, and Onondaga Lake. Continued phosphorus loading from unregulated dishwasher detergents and lawn fertilizers threatens the health of our valued water bodies, multi-billion dollar fishing industry, recreational opportunities, and quality of life. This legislation will ban the use of phosphorus in dishwasher detergents and limit phosphorus in fertilizers in NYS.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
Victory! Reducing Sulfur Content in Home Heating Oil (S. 1145-c. Perkins / A. 8642-a. Sweeney)
This legislation would mandate that the content of sulfur in all home heating oil sold in NY be significantly reduced from 15,000ppm to 15ppm. Although other areas of the oil industry are mandated to use low-sulfur fuel, home heating oil is not. Excess sulfur emissions have been shown to cause asthma, cancer, and even premature death. They also help create acid rain and smog. Oil with less sulfur is healthier, more efficient, and creates less wear-and-tear on heating systems in homes. Reducing the amount of sulfur in heating oil from 15,000ppm to 15ppm would have positive health, fiscal, and environmental benefits. For all of these reasons, New York State should enact this legislation.
CCE’s memo in support for this legislation
Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act of 2010 (A. 11004 – Englebright / S. 7093a – Thompson)
The Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act of 2010 would establish a baseline market for solar power in New York, and build upon the Governor’s commitment to 100MW of solar power in New York State by 2011. The Act provides a market commitment for solar power in New York, thus creating jobs, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and helping to combat climate change.
CCE’s memo of support for this legislation
2010 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 with the release of the Governor’s executive budget to the Legislature and is officially due by April 1 each year. Below is a list of proposed budget items that CCE will be working to advance in the 2010 New York State Legislative Session.
CCE’s 2010 budgetary priorities
BUDGETARY AGENDA ITEMS:
Victory! Preserved the integrity and the funding stream of the EPF
Environmental Protection Fund
For seventeen years, the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) has served as New York’s foremost tool to protect and preserve our treasured water, air and land resources, while bolstering local economies and creating green jobs. CCE supports restoring full funding to the EPF; and for maintaining essential programs, such as protecting open space and farmland, controlling polluted stormwater runoff, revitalizing our waterfronts, and restoring our ocean and Great Lakes. The final EPF was funded at $134 million.
CCE’s memo of support for the EPF
Letter from Ocean and Great Lakes Coalition in support of EPF
CCE’s EPF campaign page
Updated by bsmith 6/14/10