What's happening
This bill requires stricter permitting and contaminant screening for public supply wells using sole source aquifers in large counties, with additional emergency permit provisions.
Why it matters
Increases oversight of water safety. By requiring new permit applications (rather than simple renewals) for public supply wells tapping sole source aquifers in large counties, the bill ensures that wells undergo more thorough and up-to-date environmental reviews, rather than relying on possibly outdated assessments.
Mandates comprehensive contaminant screening. The law compels the state to develop susceptibility screening tools for both known and emerging contaminants, meaning water sources will be evaluated for a broader range of potential threats, reflecting growing concerns about pollutants not previously regulated.
Ties permits to scientific groundwater studies. No new permits can be issued until phase one of the Long Island groundwater study is finished, linking policy decisions to scientific research and potentially delaying new water projects until better data about groundwater conditions and risks is available.
Balances emergency needs with environmental safeguards. While the bill allows for rapid issuance of temporary emergency permits (within 72 hours) to address threats to health and safety, it limits these to two six-month terms before requiring a full environmental review, preventing indefinite reliance on emergency permissions and ensuring eventual compliance with environmental standards.
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Who cares
Public water suppliers in counties with two million or more residents
Operators of wells accessing a sole source aquifer would need new permit applications instead of renewals and face a permitting freeze until phase one of the comprehensive Long Island groundwater study is complete.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The department would have to conduct a tracking analysis and develop a susceptibility screening tool for all known and emerging contaminants before issuing covered well permits.
Residents served by covered public supply wells
The bill would require additional contamination review before well permits are issued while allowing temporary permits for emergencies threatening human health and safety.
Water suppliers seeking emergency permits
The department would have to act on requests within 72 hours, with permits valid for six months and only two allowed before a state environmental quality review must be completed.
Headline styles
Tighten Well Permits Long Island
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Reported and committed to rules
- 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.
Tighten Aquifer Well Permits
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6352
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 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 permits for public supply wells accessing a sole source aquifer in counties with two million or more residents
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 15-1527 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. a. In any county with two million or more residents the department shall require a new permit application, rather than an application for a permit renewal for a public supply well that accesses a sole source aquifer. Before any permit for a public supply well that accesses a sole source aquifer in a county with two million or more residents is issued the department shall conduct a tracking analysis and develop a susceptibility screening tool for all known contaminants and emerging contaminants. The department shall not issue any permit for public supply wells in a county with two million or more residents accessing a sole source aquifer until completion of phase one of the comprehensive Long Island groundwater study.
b. In the event of an emergency that threatens human health and safety the department may issue a temporary emergency permit for a public supply well accessing a sole source aquifer in a county with two million or more residents. The department shall act on the emergency permit request within seventy-two hours. Temporary emergency permits shall be valid for six months and only two such permits may be issued before a state environmental quality review must be completed pursuant to article eight of this chapter and its implementing regulations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11311-03-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to permits for public supply wells accessing a sole source aquifer in counties with two million or more residents
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to direct the DEC to require a new permit application rather than an application for renewal for a public supply well in a county with a population of two million or more when such well would access a sole source aquifer and to require the DEC to develop a tracking analysis for all known and emerging contaminants before issuing such permits. The DEC would be prohibited from issuing permits for such wells until the completion of phase one of the comprehensive Long Island groundwater study.
Summary of provisions
Section one would require the DEC to accept a new permit rather than an application for renewal for public supply well which accesses a sole source aquifer in a county with a population of two million or more. In order to issue a permit for such wells, the DEC would be required to conduct a tracking analysis and develop a susceptibility screening tool for all known and emerging contaminants. The DEC would be prohibited from issuing such permits until phase one of the comprehensive Long Island groundwater study is complete.
Section one also provides for an emergency permitting mechanism through which such wells maybe accessed. The emergency permits would last for a duration of six months and two emergency permits may be issued before a state environmental quality review must be completed.
Section two provides for the effective date.
Justification
Conserving Long Island's sole source aquifer is critical for the health and wellbeing of millions of the New York residents. The importance of protecting the aquifer is indisputable and requires strict state protection.
Each time a well is tapped for water withdrawal it creates effects the entire aquifer, especially the communities adjacent to the withdrawal. Therefore the DEC must carefully consider when it is wise to reopen public supply wells that have been abandoned for withdrawal even if such wells have existing permits.
This bill will ensure that the DEC carefully and thoroughly reviews the impact of reopening long abandoned public supply wells can have on the aquifer.
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.