What's happening
This bill exempts farm pond dams from certain environmental permitting requirements and directs the creation of guidelines for their management.
Why it matters
Streamlines agricultural operations. by removing the need for farmers to obtain environmental permits for building or maintaining farm pond dams, potentially reducing administrative burden and costs.
Establishes a formal definition and management framework. for “farm pond dams,” ensuring they are used primarily for agricultural, environmental, and conservation purposes, and are subject to guidelines and best management practices developed by the state.
Shifts regulatory responsibility. from the Department of Environmental Conservation to the Department of Agriculture and Markets for these types of dams, reflecting a policy choice to prioritize agricultural needs and expertise.
May raise environmental oversight concerns. since exempting farm pond dams from certain permitting requirements could reduce scrutiny over potential impacts on water resources, wildlife, and downstream properties, making the effectiveness of new guidelines and best management practices especially important.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Regulate Farm Pond Dams
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3601
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, GIGLIO, DiPIETRO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, HAWLEY, RIVERA, STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the environmental conservation law, in relation to farm pond dams
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 50 to read as follows:
50. Develop guidelines and best management practices in conjunction with the state soil and water conservation committee for the classification, operation and maintenance of farm pond dams.
§ 2. Subdivision 7 of section 15-0107 of the environmental conservation law is renumbered subdivision 8 and a new subdivision 7 is added to read as follows:
7. "Farm pond dam" shall mean those dams meeting guidelines established by the department of agriculture and markets pursuant to section sixteen of the agriculture and markets law and installed to principally enhance agricultural, environmental and conservation benefits on farms.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 15-0503 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 364 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
3. The requirement of a permit pursuant to this section shall not apply to the following facilities:
a. A dock, pier, wharf or other structure used solely as a landing place on water providing dockage for five or fewer boats and encompassing within its outer perimeter an area less than four thousand square feet;
b. A mooring facility providing mooring for fewer than ten boats;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00485-02-9
A. 3601 2
c. Seasonal replacement or reinstallation of structures referenced and listed in paragraph b of subdivision 1 of this section installed prior to the effective date of this paragraph[.];
d. Farm pond dams.
§ 4. Section 15-0507 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall not apply to farm pond dams.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.