What's happening
This bill establishes a moratorium on renewing permits to drill or withdraw water from the Lloyd Sands in Kings and Queens counties.
Why it matters
Stronger protection for Lloyd Sands water in Kings and Queens. By adding a moratorium on *renewing* permits (not just issuing new ones), the bill more tightly restricts further drilling or water withdrawals in these counties, aiming to prevent overuse or depletion of a critical aquifer.
Impacts existing water users and future development. Entities with expiring permits could lose access to Lloyd Sands water, which may affect industrial, municipal, and private users. This could also limit new development or expansion that relies on this water source.
Prioritizing environmental safeguards. The bill reflects concerns about water contamination and saltwater intrusion by halting new and renewed withdrawals until further research and management plans are in place, signaling a precautionary approach to groundwater management.
Creates regional differences in water policy. While Nassau and Suffolk counties can eventually lift their moratoriums with sufficient study and safeguards, Kings and Queens face stricter, indefinite restrictions—potentially leading to disparities in water access and management strategies across Long Island.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Pause Well Permits in NYC
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred 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.
Pause Kings, Queens Drilling
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4011
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- 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 a moratorium on the renewal of permits to drill in the Lloyd Sands in Kings and Queens counties
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 15-1528 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 773 of the laws of 1986, subdivisions 2 and 4 as amended by chapter 567 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows: § 15-1528. Moratorium on the drilling of [new] certain wells in the
Lloyd Sands.
1. The department is directed to identify those areas of Long Island within the counties of Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk which, for the purposes of this section, shall be considered coastal communities.
2. (a) A moratorium shall be established on the granting of new permits to drill public water supply, private water supply or industrial wells into the Lloyd Sands or to permit new withdrawals of water from the Lloyd Sands or to permit the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd Sands. Such moratorium shall apply to all areas that are not coastal communities, provided however that such moratorium shall apply to all areas including coastal communities for the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd Sands. The waters of the Lloyd Sands shall be reserved for the use of coastal communities during the moratorium, however, nothing required herein shall affect the permits of wells presently screened in the Lloyd Sands and withdrawing water therefrom.
(b) A moratorium shall be established on the granting of renewal permits to drill public water supply, private water supply or industrial wells into the Lloyd Sands or to permit withdrawals of water from the Lloyd Sands or to permit the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04217-01-7
S. 4011 2
Sands in the counties of Kings and Queens. Such moratorium shall apply to all areas that are not coastal communities, provided however that such moratorium shall apply to all areas including coastal communities for the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd Sands.
3. The moratorium shall be lifted on the granting of new permits for Nassau and Suffolk counties upon a directive from the commissioner. The directive shall be based upon his or her finding that sufficient research has been conducted so as to provide a sound working knowledge of the details, dynamics, water volume, and levels of safe withdrawal appropriate to maintain a safe quantity of Lloyd Sands water. Further, the commissioner must find that a workable program is in place that can properly administer a well permit program for the Lloyd Sands water. Such program shall take into account both the localized and regional aspects and implications of Lloyd Sands water withdrawals, with special attention given to the prevention of water contamination and salt water intrusion. The program must ensure that a safe level of withdrawal from the Lloyd Sands is not exceeded.
4. The commissioner may grant exemptions for Nassau and Suffolk counties to the moratorium upon a finding of just cause and extreme hardship. Such exemptions shall not apply to the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd Sands. An adjudicatory hearing shall be held and findings presented to the commissioner prior to the granting of an exemption.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 a moratorium on the renewal of permits to drill in the Lloyd Sands in Kings and Queens counties
Purpose
To lift the moratorium to allow drilling into the Lloyd Sands to occur in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends Section 15-1528 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Subdivision 2 of section 15-1528 of the Environmental Conservation Law is amended to create paragraph (a) and a new paragraph (b) to provide a moratorium that will be established on the granting of renewal permits to drill public water supply, private water supply or industrial wells into the Lloyd Sands or to permit withdrawals of water from the Lloyd Sands or to permit the storage or pumping of water into the Lloyd Sands in Kings and Queens counties.
Subdivisions 3 and 4 of Section 15-1528 of the Environmental Conservation Law is amended to add the language "on the granting of....new permits for Nassau and Suffolk counties" to reflect the moratorium lifted on granting new permits for Nassau and Suffolk counties, and to provide that the commissioner may grant exemptions for Nassau and Suffolk counties in relation to the moratorium if there is a finding of just cause and extreme hardship.
Section 2 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Existing law
Currently the law does not provide for the moratorium to be lifted for Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Justification
The Lloyd Sands Aquifer is one of the most important and pristine bodies of water in New York State. It is critical that this natural resource be protected for future generations. However, we must balance that with the needs of the people of Nassau and Suffolk counties for clean water.
The lifting of the moratorium on granting permits specifically for Nassau and Suffolk counties for drilling into the Lloyd Sands Aquifer will achieve this end and help to provide more clean water for these two counties in need.
Legislative history
Died in committee.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
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.