New York State Senate Passes Legislation to Strengthen Climate and Environmental Protections

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Official release

Source material from New York Senate. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

As New York State continues to reckon with how to more effectively follow through on its environmental initiatives, the Senate today passed legislation that further protects New York's natural resources and better meets the state’s ambitious climate goals. The legislation marks the Majority Conference's continued environmental efforts, including The Environmental Bond Act, The Environmental Protection Fund and The Climate Superfund Program. Today’s package includes legislation that would propose stricter standards for toxic air and lead contaminants; call for certain businesses to annually disclose their emissions; provide municipalities with funding to remediate drinking water site contamination; prohibit the sale of many consumer goods containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); and require heavy distribution warehouses to reduce their air pollution impacts on disadvantaged communities and demonstrate their operations comply with federal and state air quality standards.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Our senate majority has continually prioritized legislative initiatives that champion climate action and support environmental protection. In last year’s budget, we were proud to help secure the largest investment towards The Environmental Protection Fund in our state’s history. Protecting our environment must always be an ongoing effort, and today’s package builds on that commitment by strengthening environmental protections, removing harmful ‘forever chemicals’ in our water, and reducing the impacts of air pollution on disadvantaged communities. I thank today’s bill sponsors for their work to continue moving our state’s climate goals forward.”

Senate Deputy Leader, and bill sponsor, Mike Gianaris said, “I introduced the Clean Deliveries Act to address the proliferation of e-commerce warehouses and the impacts on the health of our communities. By passing this legislative package we are making significant strides in our fight to combat climate change and make our communities safer and healthier.”

Chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, and bill sponsor, Senator Pete Harckham said, “The passing of this important package of environmental legislation is necessary because President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin have failed in their responsibility to ensure the safety of our communities and natural resources. Bills that limit the toxins we breathe and the PFAS in our environment, protect our children from lead contamination, monitor greenhouse gases — they all confirm that New Yorkers will stand up and fight for what’s right. Thank you to Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for advancing this package of bills.”

Release text attributed to New York Senate. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.