What's happening
This bill prohibits treating or reusing oil and gas waste in areas of New York that rely on primary or sole source aquifers for drinking water.
Why it matters
Protects critical drinking water supplies. by banning oil and gas waste treatment or reuse specifically in areas dependent on primary or sole source aquifers, which are often the only or main source of water for many communities.
Targets a broad range of oil and gas waste products. , including not just obvious contaminants but also drilling fluids and produced waters, which can contain harmful chemicals and radioactive materials.
Requires state regulatory action. , compelling the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish enforceable rules, thus embedding this protection into the regulatory framework and not just as a temporary policy.
May impact industrial practices and local economies. by limiting where oil and gas industry waste can be processed or reused, potentially increasing disposal costs or changing operational decisions for companies operating in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Oil and Gas Waste
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2491
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PHILLIPS -- 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 prohibiting the treatment of all waste resulting from the production of crude oil or natural gas in certain areas of the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 15-0514 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5-a to read as follows:
5-a. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations which shall prohibit the treatment or preparation for reuse of all waste resulting from the exploration, development, extraction or production of crude oil or natural gas, including, but not limited to, drilling fluids and produced waters, within areas of the state that derive drinking water from primary water supply aquifers or sole source aquifers.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06733-01-7
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 prohibiting the treatment of all waste resulting from the production of crude oil or natural gas in certain areas of the state
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prohibit the processing or treatment of hydraulic fracturing fluids in primary water supply aquifers and sole source aquifers.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends section 15-0514 of the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new subdivision 5-a directing the Department of Environmental Conservation to prohibit the treatment or preparation for reuse of all waste water resulting from traditional or high volume hydraulic fracturing activities in areas of the State where drinking water is derived from a primary water supply aquifer or a sole source aquifer.
Section two states that this legislation shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Surrounded by saltwater, Long Island derives almost all of its drinking water from groundwater. In fact, Nassau and Suffolk counties rely on a sole source aquifer for drinking water and depend on an estimated 375 million gallons of water per day from this source for various uses. A recent study by the Department of Environmental Conservation included certain Long Island waste water treatment facilities on a list of potential locations that could process waste water resulting from hydraulic fracturing activities if specified upgrades were implemented. This bill will safeguard the extremely sensitive sole source aquifer that Long Islanders rely on for drinking water, as well as all primary water supply aquifers across the state.
Prior legislative history
S.297 (2016) - Referred to Environmental Conservation S.1892 (2014) - Referred to Environmental Conservation S.6583 (2012) - Referred to Environmental Conservation
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
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.