Prohibits the construction, development or siting of hazardous wildlife attractants near airports

1 Co-sponsor

• Liz Krueger

BILL NUMBER:S6243A REVISED 04/04/12

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to limiting the presence of hazardous wildlife attractants near certain airports located in cities having a population of one million or more persons

Purpose or general idea of bill

During the past century, wildlife aircraft strikes have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives worldwide, as well as billions of dollars in aircraft damage. Hazardous wildlife attractants on and near airports can jeopardize future airport expansion, making proper community land use planning essential. This legislation provides airport operators and those parties with whom they cooperate with the guidance they need to assess, address and minimize potentially hazardous wildlife attractants when locating new facilities and implementing certain land-use practices on or near public-use airports.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill will limit the presence of wildlife attractants at or near airports, landing fields or seaplane harbors. This bill applies to any municipality with a population of one million or more and any public authority operating or establishing airports, landing fields or seaplane harbors within such municipality. Permits municipalities to promulgate rules and regulations.

Justification

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose a serious risk to aircraft and to the traveling public. New York state must develop science-bawd policies, procedures and legislation to control hazardous wildlife on airports and other locations where they present a hazard to aviation safety.

New York state must, as in the case of Arizona and North Carolina, develop within a two year period, science-based recommendations, policies, procedures and legislation to control hazardous wildlife on airports and other locations where they present a hazard to aviation safety in cooperation with other governmental agencies and wildlife protection organizations.

Most New York state airports have large tracts of open, undeveloped land that provide added margins of safety and noise mitigation. These areas can also present potential hazards to aviation if they encourage wildlife to enter an airport's approach or departure airspace or Air Operations Area (AOA). Constructed or natural areas-such as disposal operations, wastewater treatment plants, commercial agricultural or aquaculture activities, surface mining, or wetlands, can provide wildlife with ideal locations for feeding, loafing, reproduction, and escape.

During the past century, wildlife-aircraft strikes have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives worldwide, as well as billions of dollars in aircraft damage. Hazardous wildlife attractants on and near airports can jeopardize future airport expansion, making proper community land use planning essential.

This legislation will implement provisions which will assist airport operators and, those parties with whom they cooperate, assess, address and minimize potentially hazardous wildlife attractants when locating new facilities and implementing certain land-use practices on or near public-use airports.

Prior legislative history

Assembly Bill 7157 - 2011

Fiscal implications

None known.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become law.