Provides reimbursement to fire companies for costs associated with responding to spills of hazardous materials

1 Co-sponsor

• Antoine M. Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to providing reimbursement to fire companies for costs associated with responding to releases of hazardous materials

Purpose

This bill will allow the municipalities or fire districts that contract with or control fire companies to bill transportation companies for certain costs in responding to hazardous material spills.

Summary of provisions

Section one defines a fire company as any volunteer fire department in the State.

Section two amends the Environmental Conservation Law to allow a municipal corporation or fire district that contracts with or controls a fire company to seek reimbursement (after approval by the state fire administrator) for certain costs associated with the response for any incident involving the release or threatened release of a hazardous material by a transporter of hazardous materials. This section also establishes a date, July 1, 2009, where the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, Secretary of State, Director of the State Emergency Management Office, and the State Fire Administrator shall identify resources and funding from already existing sources, for the reimbursement for the costs authorized by this bill.

Existing law

Currently, municipal corporations or fire districts that contract with or control fire companies do not have the authority to bill hazardous materials transporters for their spill response costs.

Justification

Many small municipal and volunteer fire companies accumulate significant costs in responding to hazardous materials spills. The current law does not provide a mechanism to allow these companies to allow for recovery of these costs.

Legislative history

S.3834-A of 2007-2008 S.891-E of 2005-2006 S.7030-A of 2004

Fiscal implications

None to the state. Beneficial to municipal corporations and fire districts as costs associated with hazardous spill responses can be recovered.

Effective date

Immediately.