What's happening
This bill directs state agencies to study and report on the environmental and health impacts of JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Why it matters
Brings attention to local community health. By requiring a study of noise and air pollution from JFK and LaGuardia airports, the bill addresses concerns of residents living near these airports, whose quality of life and property values may be affected by aircraft operations.
Establishes data-driven accountability. The mandated monitoring of actual noise levels in 2018 and 2019, and analysis of emissions and pollutants, means future policy decisions or regulatory actions can be based on concrete, localized evidence rather than estimates.
Potential for broader policy impact. The required report to the governor and legislature could inform new regulations, mitigation strategies, or investments aimed at reducing environmental and health harms, potentially setting a precedent for how airport impacts are managed statewide or nationally.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Study Airport Environmental Impact
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to rules
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.
Study Airport Health Impacts
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Brian F. Curran
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6614
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 7, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to direct the department of environmental conservation, with the assistance of the department of transportation, to conduct a study on the environmental and human health impacts of John F. Kennedy international airport and LaGuardia airport
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The department of environmental conservation, with the assistance of the department of transportation, shall conduct a study describing the environmental, noise, and human health impacts caused by runways, including new runways, and air traffic at John F. Kennedy international airport and LaGuardia airport. In conducting this study, the department, with the assistance of the department of transportation, shall monitor actual noise levels experienced in 2018 and 2019 and shall pay particular attention to the impact of air pollution, noise pollution, the emission of gases and fluids by aircraft, and similar factors on the quality of life, health, and property values of persons who live adjacent to flight paths used by aircraft at John F. Kennedy international airport and LaGuardia airport. The department shall deliver a written report of its findings to the governor and the legislature on or before October 31, 2019.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11959-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the department of environmental conservation, with the assistance of the department of transportation, to conduct a study on the environmental and human health impacts of John F. Kennedy international airport and LaGuardia airport
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Transportation to conduct a study describing the environmental, noise, and human health impacts caused by runways, including new runways, and air traffic at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill directs the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with the assistance of the Department of Transportation, to conduct a study describing the environmental, noise, and human health impacts caused by runways, including new runways, and air traffic at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. The bill mandates the monitoring of noise levels experienced in 2018 and 2019 and that particular attention be paid to the impact of pollution and emissions on the life, health, and property values of residents living adjacent to flight paths at such airports. DEC is required to reports its findings to the Governor and Legislature by October 31, 2019.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties and parts of New York City are experiencing a declining quality of life due to noise pollution, environmental impacts, and other possible ill effects from air traffic patterns around JFK and LaGuardia airports. Noise complaints in affected neighborhoods have skyrocketed as a result of changing air traffic patterns and too many planes flying on low approaches to these airports. This has led to a near-constant and deafening noise level that studies have shown is frequently above the day-night average noise level (DNL) of 65 decibels (dB), which is considered a significant aviation noise threshold. This bill will mandate that New York State study the environmental and health effects of flight patterns associated with the use of certain runways, particularly at night, at these airports.
Prior legislative history
2017: Assembly Bill A8283 Curran
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
There could be some financial cost to the agencies tasked with conducting these studies.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.