What's happening
This bill amends the public authorities law to clarify and expand public notice requirements before approval of certain Long Island Power Authority transmission projects.
Why it matters
Narrows the definition of projects requiring notice. by specifying only electric transmission lines operating at 65 kilovolts or higher are included, which could exempt smaller projects from the expanded notice requirements.
Clarifies environmental review information. by requiring that public notices summarize all environmental studies, including environmental assessments or impact statements, rather than providing full reports up front—potentially streamlining the initial notice but still ensuring key information is disclosed.
Expands who receives notice. by requiring mailed notice not only to affected municipalities and legislative representatives but also to every Long Island Power Authority customer within 500 feet of a proposed project, increasing direct community involvement and transparency.
Emphasizes comparison of alternatives. by mandating that notices include descriptions and comparative analysis of alternative sites considered for a project, encouraging more robust public scrutiny of the decision-making process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Notice for Power Lines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S2040
- Advanced to third reading cal.65
- Reported
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Require Public Notice for Power Lines
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4311
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to public notice before approval of utility transmission facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1020-ii of the public authorities law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2018 amending the public authorities law relating to requiring the Long Island Power Authority to provide public notice for the construction of utility transmission facilities, as proposed in legislative bill numbers S.6861-A and A.8609-A, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1020-ii. Public notice before approval of utility transmission facilities. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "municipality" means a county, city, town or village in the service area;
(b) "utility transmission facility" means any electric transmission line operating at sixty-five kilovolts or higher in the service area, including associated equipment. It shall not include any transmission line which is an in-kind replacement or which is located wholly underground. This section also shall not apply to any major utility transmission facility subject to the jurisdiction of article seven of the public service law; and
(c) "[utility] authority customer" means the customer of record located within five hundred feet of a proposed utility transmission facility.
2. The authority shall not construct any utility transmission facility without first providing public notice as provided by this subdivision. Such public notice shall be provided by the authority before the environmental significance of such action is determined by the authority,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07036-01-9
A. 4311 2
pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law. The public notice shall provide the following information:
(a) the location of the site or right-of-way;
(b) a description of the transmission facility to be built thereon;
(c) [the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement prepared for the action, pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law;
(d)] a summary of any studies including an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law which have been made of the environmental impact of the project, and a description of such studies;
[(e)] (d) a statement explaining the need for the facility;
[(f)] (e) a description of any reasonable alternate location or locations assessed for the proposed facility;
[(g)] (f) a description of the comparative merits and detriments of each location submitted; and
[(h)] (g) a statement of the reasons why the primary proposed location is best suited for the facility.
[Copies] When completed, copies of the environmental assessment form, environmental impact statement and studies referred to in the notice shall be filed with the authority and shall be available for public inspection.
3. Notice shall be provided by first class mail to:
(a) each municipality in which any portion of such facility is to be located, both as primarily proposed and in the alternative locations listed. Notice to a municipality shall be addressed to the chief executive officer thereof;
(b) each member of the legislature through whose district the utility transmission facility or any alternate proposed [in the application] would pass; and
(c) each [utility] authority customer.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2018 amending the public authorities law relating to requiring the Long Island Power Authority to provide public notice for the construction of utility transmission facilities, as proposed in legislative bill numbers S.6861-A and A.8609-A, takes effect.
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.