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Establishes a task force to examine, assess and report on the potential effects of an offshore oil spill on Long Island
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Harvey Weisenberg
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S8359
Title of bill
An act to establish a task force to examine, assess and report upon the potential effects of an offshore oil spill on Long Island
Purpose
Establishes a task force to examine, assess and report on the potential effects of an offshore oil spill on Long Island
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Establishes a task force to examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the potential effects of an offshore oil spill on the counties of Nassau and Suffolk providing that, to the extent practicable, the task force will coordinate with the Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The task force will direct its attention to the potential effects of an offshore oil spill on the counties of Nassau and Suffolk relating to: evaluating the probability of an offshore oil spill occurring that will affect the counties of Nassau and Suffolk; evaluating consequences of an offshore oil spill; evaluating the commercial, legal and environmental impacts; and examining methodologies which may prevent offshore oil spills and those that would mitigate the effects.
Section 2. Provides for the composition of the task force including nine members: one member appointed by the commissioner of environmental conservation, the attorney general, the director of the state emergency management office, the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation, the state comptroller, the governor, the commissioner of transportation, and one member appointed by a majority vote of the county legislature of the county of Nassau, and one member appointed by a majority vote of the county legislature of the county of Suffolk. The chair of the task force shall be elected by the task force amongst its membership.
Section 3. Provides for the duties and powers of the task force.
Section 4. Prohibits compensation for members of the task force but allows for actual and necessary expenses.
Section 5. Allows the task force to request and receive, and utilize facilities, resources, and data of any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdivision.
Section 6. Requires that the task force submit a written report to the governor and the legislature of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations within 120 days of the effective date of the act.
Justification
The disastrous and deadly Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion of April 20th has become the worst spill in American history. To date, oil has coated the shores of multiple states, and projections for the flow of oil have it entering the Gulf Stream and endangering the eastern seaboard. The forecast for any successful containment of the oil spill has been August 20 10, and Long Island has been overdue for Category I, Category II, and Category III hurricanes based on meteorological trends. While the possibility of the oil or any pollutants reaching the shores of Long Island remains unclear, preempting contamination is key in mitigating any harmful effects. Such harmful effects encompass the immediate dangers presented to the coastal communities of Long Island, including but not limited to, commercial, legal, and environmental interests and also the tangential byproducts of a large environmental disaster to the rest of the State including a loss of tourism, the impact on business communities, and cleanup efforts. To be fully prepared, and to protect our citizens, we have the duty to take preventative steps in an attempt to alleviate any future crises.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Local fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.