What's happening
This bill requires new pipeline construction through villages, towns, or cities in New York to be approved by local legislative bodies.
Why it matters
Empowers local governments. By requiring approval from local legislative bodies (including town boards) for new pipeline routes, the bill gives villages, towns, and cities more direct control over infrastructure projects that could affect their communities.
Increases local oversight on environmental and safety concerns. Local leaders, who are more attuned to residents’ worries about issues like water contamination, property values, or accident risks, will have the authority to scrutinize and potentially block pipeline projects.
May impact energy development timelines and costs. Requiring a two-thirds vote from local bodies could slow down the approval process for pipeline construction, potentially leading to longer project timelines or increased costs for energy companies.
Broadens the scope of affected municipalities. By explicitly adding “towns” alongside villages and cities, the bill ensures that all types of municipalities—not just more densely populated areas—have a say in pipeline approvals, potentially affecting rural as well as urban energy projects.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Local Approval For Pipelines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5139
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the transportation corporations law, in relation to the construction of new pipe lines
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 87 of the transportation corporations law is amended to read as follows:
§ 87. Construction through villages, towns and cities. No new pipe line shall be constructed into or through any incorporated village, town or city in this state, unless authorized by a resolution prescribing the route, manner of construction and terms upon which granted, adopted at a regular meeting of the board of trustees of the village, town board, or the legislative body of the city by a two-thirds vote thereof, but such resolution shall not affect any private right. No pavement shall be removed in any city under the provisions of this article, except as directed by the legislative body, nor until the corporation seeking to remove the same shall give a bond in such sum as the legislative body may require for relaying of any pavements removed. In case any pavement shall have been removed and not properly relaid, the city may sue such corporation, for the cost of relaying such pavement.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01645-03-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the transportation corporations law, in relation to the construction of new pipe lines
Purpose
To amend section 87 of transportation corporations law to give local control to towns over permitting the construction of new pipelines that would be constructed within their municipality.
Summary of provisions
Section one provides that no new pipeline may be constructed through any town without the authorization by resolution of the town board of such town.
Existing law
Current law requires resolutions from cities or villages authorizing the construction of pipelines to be constructed within their boundaries.
Justification
Pipelines can cause great disruption to communities. In addition, they may transport volatile and dangerous materials that pose health and environmental hazards to the communities through and adjacent to which they may be constructed. In order for a new pipeline to be constructed within a town's borders, this legislation would require a resolution by the town board authorizing the construction of the pipeline, including prescribing the route, manner of construction and terms upon which the authorization would be granted.
This proposal simply affords towns the same important local input on new pipeline projects that the law currently grants to cities and villages.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
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.