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S6716Senate2017-2018 SessionSame asA8267

Pause Queens Water Permits

Official title

“Relates to a moratorium on permit renewals within Queens county to withdraw water from the Lloyd Sands”

Sponsor Elaine PhillipsSD-7+2 co-sponsorsAffects Environment & Energy
Status
In Senate Committee
Environmental Conservation
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Environmental Conservation

What's happening

This bill establishes a moratorium on renewing permits to withdraw water from the Lloyd Sands in Queens, except in emergencies.

Why it matters

  1. Protects local water resources. By halting permit renewals for water withdrawals from the Lloyd Sands aquifer in Queens, the bill aims to prevent over-extraction and potential depletion of a critical groundwater resource relied upon by both people and ecosystems.

  2. Environmental safeguard against long-term harm. The moratorium could help avoid ecological damage caused by lowering water tables, such as land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, or loss of habitat, making it a proactive step in local environmental stewardship.

  3. Prioritizes emergency needs. The exception for emergencies ensures that, despite the moratorium, public health and safety won’t be jeopardized during droughts or water supply crises—balancing conservation with practical necessity.

  4. Signals increased scrutiny of water use. By targeting permit renewals rather than new permits, the bill may encourage existing water users to reassess and potentially reduce their reliance on the Lloyd Sands, possibly prompting investment in alternative water sources or conservation measures.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Pause Queens Water Permits

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Elaine Phillips

Senator · Senate District 7

Chair, EthicsChair, Ethics And Internal GovernanceChair, Ethics And Internal Governance CommitteeChair, Infrastructure And Capital Investment

History

  1. Referred to environmental conservation
  2. Returned to senate
  3. Died in assembly
  4. Referred to environmental conservation
  5. Delivered to assembly
  6. Passed senateVote 49–13
  7. Ordered to third reading cal.2142
  8. 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.

A8267Assembly

Pause Queens Water Permits

In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Steven Englebright

Impact 4 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

6716

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

June 14, 2017

Introduced by Sen. PHILLIPS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to a moratorium on permit renewals within Queens county to withdraw water from the Lloyd Sands

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 is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:

2-a. A moratorium shall be established on the granting of renewals for permits within the county of Queens to withdraw water from the Lloyd Sands unless such renewal is necessary to comply with an exigent need in response to emergency water supply shortage and prolonged multi-year upstate drought conditions.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD13063-01-7

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 a moratorium on permit renewals within Queens county to withdraw water from the Lloyd Sands

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to expand the existing moratorium on the use of the Lloyd Aquifer in order to further protect drinking water availability.

Summary of provisions

This bill would restrict the Department of Environmental Conservation's ability to issue certain renewal permits authorizing the use of the Lloyd Sands aquifer. Renewals would be limited to an exigent need in response to emergency water supply shortage and prolonged multi-year upstate drought conditions.

Justification

Long Island receives all of its drinking water from a sole source aquifer. As the negative effects of climate change more fully manifest themselves with impacts like sea level rise and, as Long Island's population increases, aquifer protection becomes increasingly important. The Lloyd, which is Long Island's deepest, oldest and purest aquifer, has long been recognized for its importance, including in 1986 when the State Legislature enacted a moratorium on the issuance of new well permits. This legislation would expand on those protections to ensure that renewal permits for municipalities with alternative water sources are not simply renewed without review, but are instead subject to examination to determine whether such permits are truly needed.

Prior legislative history

This is new legislation.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

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.