What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Adds national estuary implementation projects as projects eligible for state funding pursuant to the environmental protection fund
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to adding national estuary implementation projects as projects eligible for state funding pursuant to the environmental protection fund
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to make state funding from the Environmental Protection Fund available for projects which would implement water quality improvement projects pursuant to an approved action or comprehensive conservation and management plan under the National Estuary Program.
Summary of provisions
Adds §54-1104 of the ECL which defines a national estuary implementation project.
Adds §54- 1005 of the ECL to provide that national estuary implementation projects would be eligible for Environmental Protection Fund money.
Amends §54-1107 of the ECL adding a new subdivision 2 relating to the application process for national estuary implementation projects under the Environmental Protection Fund.
Amends §54-1109 of the ECL in relation to contracts for state assistance for national estuary implementation projects under the Environmental Protection Fund.
Amends §54-1111 of the ECL by adding a new subdivision 2 to permit the state to directly undertake national estuary implementation projects using Environmental Protection fund money.
Justification
The Environmental Protection Fund was recently instituted by the state Legislature to provide an annual source of reliable funding to undertake projects to protect the environment. Under current law, funds can be utilized for open space preservation, landfill closures, waste reduction and recycling, waterfront revitalization, parks and historic preservation projects, coastal rehabilitation, and nonprint source pollution abatement.
As currently written, the EPF would not legally be able to provide funding for the full range of projects that might be undertaken to improve water quality under the National Estuary Program. Currently, three New York State estuaries are in the program, including Long Island Sound, Peconic Bay, and New York Harbor/New York Bight. For example, brown tide research or upgrades to sewage treatment plants would not qualify unless pursuant to a waterfront revitalization plan. This legislation would give NEP plans the same status for funding as waterfront revitalization.
Because the state is the sponsor and a participant in all the NEP programs, it should be able to utilize its own EPF to implement these NEP plans. This legislation would insure that this is the case.
Legislative history
2007-08, S.661; 2005-06, S.1337; 2003-04, S.756-A; 2001-02, S.2078; 1999-00, S1623-A; 1997-98, S.1377; 1995-96, S.6015 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.