No SPDES program fee for any volunteer fire company or department, voluntary ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad discharging at a de minimis level

4 Multi-sponsors

• Clifford Crouch
• Stephen Hawley
• Teresa Sayward
• Fred Thiele

BILL NUMBER:A10913

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to state pollutant discharge elimination system program fees for certain volunteer organizations

Purpose

An act to amend the conservation law, in relation to state pollutant discharge elimination system program fees for certain volun- teer organizations.

Summary

Amends subdivision q of Section 72-0602 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by Chapter 449 of the laws of 2001, by the addition of a new subdivision r to exempt any P/C/I volunteer fire company or department, volunteer ambulance service or volunteer rescue squad determined to be discharging at a de minimis level from SPDES program fees.

Justification

Since volunteer emergency services operate for the good of the state and its citizens, and whereas their resources for operation and services tend to be limited, it is in the interest of the safety and welfare of the state to exempt such organizations from the payment of burdensome fees to state agencies for activities which are within the scope of their services. Provided that the discharge of waste be found to be at de minimis levels, the SPDES fees should be waived for those emergency service providers whose operations are voluntary and in the best interest of the common good.

Legislative history

2008: A.5308; Held for consideration in Environmental Conservation 2007: A.5308; Referred to Environmental Conservation 2006: A.3835; Held for Consideration in Environmental Conservation 2005: A.3835; Referred to Environmental Conservation 2004: A.2297; Held for consideration in Environmental Conservation 2003: A.2297; Referred to Environmental Conservation 2002: A.10613; Referred to Environmental Conservation

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations neces- sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is author- ized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.