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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Print number 1879a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Prohibits the use of pentachlorophenol with regard to new or existing transmission utility poles or facilities
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1879A
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of pentachlorophenol with regard to new or existing transmission utility poles or facilities
Purpose
This legislation prohibits the future use of utility poles treated with Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and call for the posting of warnings to inform people about the dangers of contact with PCP on existing poles in counties with a population of one million or more which draw their primary source of drinking water for the majority of residents from a designated sole source aquifer.
Summary of provisions
Article 37 of the environmental Conservation Law is amended by adding a new title 9 relating to Pentachlorophenol.
Justification
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "Pentachlorophenol was once one of the most widely used biocides in the United States but it is now a restricted use pesticide and is not longer available to the general public, Pentachlorophenol is extremely toxic to humans from acute (short-term) ingestion and inhalation exposure. Acute inhalation exposures in humans have resulted in neurological, blood and liver effects and eye irritation. Chronic (Long-term) exposure to pentachlorophenol by inhalation in humans has resulted in effects on the respiratory tract, blood, kidney, liver, immune system eyes, nose and skin. Human studies suggest an association between exposure to pentachlorophenol and cancer. Oral animal studies have reported increases in liver tumors and two uncommon tumor types. EPA has classified pentachlorophenol as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen".
The federal government has made it clear that PCP is a dangerous chemical and has outlawed its use by the general public. It is to be used only for industrial purposes away from the general population. Yet, this chemical has been used to treat utility poles for transmission lines that are only a few feet from residential dwellings, exposing children and families to this dangerous substance. Further, at a time when much focus has been placed on the degradation of our water, wood treated with this substance should not be permitted to leach into the groundwater.
The use of PCP is a public health and safety matter. This type of coating to preserve utility poles needs to be discontinued for public health reasons as soon as possible. This legislation would prohibit the future installation of utility poles treated with PCP. It also would make the public aware of its presence on existing poles so that citizens can take measures to protect themselves, their children, their pets and their water supply from the potential dangers posed by this chemical.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.