What's happening
This bill requires petroleum bulk storage facilities in New York City to implement accident prevention plans and undergo quarterly independent audits.
Why it matters
Increases accountability for petroleum storage facilities. By requiring independent, quarterly audits, the bill ensures that operators are not solely self-policing, reducing the risk of negligence or overlooked safety issues.
Targets urban environmental risks. The law specifically applies to New York City, where the density of people and infrastructure means that petroleum spills or leaks could have especially severe public health and environmental impacts.
Proactive accident prevention. Mandating comprehensive prevention planning shifts the focus from responding to spills after they happen to actively working to prevent them, potentially reducing costly and hazardous incidents.
Allows for updated regulatory oversight. The bill gives the Department of Environmental Conservation authority to make rules immediately, enabling faster adaptation and enforcement as risks or technologies evolve.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Prevent Petroleum Spills in Cities
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bills
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.
Prevent Petroleum Spills in Cities
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Prevent Petroleum Spills in Cities
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Joseph Lentol
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1799
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sens. SQUADRON, HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to comprehensive accident prevention planning by and auditing of petroleum bulk storage facilities in cities with a population of one million or more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 17-1006 to read as follows: § 17-1006. Comprehensive accident prevention in cities with a population
of one million or more.
Every owner or operator of a facility, as defined in subdivision one of section 17-1003 of this title, located within a city with a population of one million or more shall undertake comprehensive accident prevention planning for the prevention of spills and leaks of petroleum, and shall hire an independent company to audit, on a quarterly basis, the implementation by such owner or operator of the hazard control plan adopted for such facility.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however effective immediately the commissioner of environmental conservation may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act prior to such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00501-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to comprehensive accident prevention planning by and auditing of petroleum bulk storage facilities in cities with a population of one million or more
Summary
Owners and operators of petroleum bulk storage facilities, in cities with a population of one million or more persons, shall be required to undertake comprehensive accident prevention planning and shall hire an independent company to quarterly audit the implementation of the hazard control plan.
Justification
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the department receives approximately 16,000 reports of confirmed and suspected releases to the environment every year. Ninety percent of these releases involve petroleum products. The danger to the environment from these spills is great, including water and air pollution.
According to the organization, Riverkeeper, between 17 and 30 million gallons of oil leaked beneath the Greenpoint area in Brooklyn, over the last century. This spill contaminated more than 50 acres of land beneath local businesses and residential areas.
This bill would require accident prevention planning that could greatly reduce the likelihood of an oil spill.
Prior legislative history
2016: S106/A556 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION/ referred to environmental conservation 2015: S106/A556 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION/ referred to environmental conservation 2013-2014: S196/A1740 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 2009-2010 2011-2012: S84/A480 - REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION A.11561/S.8151 of 1989-1990 A.4358/S.4024 of 1991-1992 A.2583/S.1518 of 1993-1994 A.724/S.559 of 1995-96 A.16/S.198 of 1997-98 A.262/S.575 of 1999-00 A.552/S.2692 of 2001-02 A.216 of 2003-04 A.2066 of 2005-06 A.1620 of 2007-2008 S8253/A3892 of
Fiscal implication
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, provided however, the commissioner of environmental conservation shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act prior to such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.