What's happening
This bill creates a commission to study the feasibility, costs, and impacts of building a seawall or sea gate to protect New York City from sea level rise and storm surge.
Why it matters
The commission's diverse membership—including experts in climatology, hydrology, engineering, and representatives from key city and county governments—ensures that a wide range of scientific, technical, and local perspectives will inform the study, which could influence how protective infrastructure is planned across different neighborhoods.
By specifically charging the commission to assess not only feasibility and cost, but also environmental impacts, regulatory needs, and the best locations, the bill recognizes that building a seawall or sea gate is a complex decision that could affect communities, ecosystems, and future development patterns throughout the region.
The requirement for a detailed report by the end of 2022, covering risk assessments up to the year 2100, means that any recommendations could shape long-term resilience and adaptation strategies for New York City, potentially setting precedents for how other coastal cities respond to climate change.
Public hearings and broad consultation are mandated, signaling that the process could draw attention to community concerns, environmental justice issues, and transparency, which may affect public support or opposition to large-scale coastal engineering projects.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study New York City Seawall
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A2257A
- Ordered to third reading cal.1490
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 3435a
- Amend and recommit to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Create NYC Seawall Study Panel
Vetoed · Sponsor Brian Barnwell
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3435--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to establish a commission to be known as the "New York seawall study commission"; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. New York seawall study commission. 1. There is hereby established, within the department of environmental conservation, a seawall study commission ("commission") which shall consist of 15 members who shall be appointed as follows:
(a) the commissioner of environmental conservation or his or her designee;
(b) the secretary of state or his or her designee;
(c) two members appointed by the governor;
(d) two members to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(e) two members to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(f) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(g) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
(h) two members to be appointed by the mayor of the city of New York;
(i) one member to be appointed by the county executive of the county of Nassau;
(j) one member to be appointed by the county executive of the county of Suffolk; and
(k) one member to be appointed by the county executive of the county of Westchester.
2. The at large members should include individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas: climatology; hydrology; environ-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02238-04-9
S. 3435--A 2
mental; aquaculture; oceanography or coastal ocean science; and engineering.
3. Commission members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
4. The chairperson of the commission shall be the commissioner of environmental conservation or his or her designee. The commission shall meet no less than four times and at other times at the call of the chairperson.
5. Any vacancies on the commission shall be filled in the manner provided for in the initial appointment.
6. The commission shall be authorized to hold public hearings and meetings to enable it to accomplish its duties.
7. The commission may consult with any organization, educational institution, other government entity or agency or person including, but not limited to, the army corps of engineers, in the development of its report required by subdivision 10 of this section.
8. The department of environmental conservation shall provide the commission with such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the commission to carry out its powers and duties. Additionally, all other agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof may, at the request of the chairperson, provide the commission with such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable the commission to carry out its powers and duties.
9. The purpose of the New York seawall study commission shall be to identify the feasibility, costs, impacts, and best locations for construction of a seawall or sea gate to protect the city of New York from sea level rise and storm surge along the entire coastline.
10. No later than December 31, 2022, the commission shall transmit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly a report containing the following:
(a) coastal areas at greatest risk from sea level rise based on projections established pursuant to section 3-0319 of the environmental conservation law;
(b) areas at risk from storm surge based on current sea levels;
(c) areas that are more likely to be at risk from coastal hazards including rising groundwater levels, saltwater intrusion, coastal flooding, and extreme weather events including coastal storms, with such projections extending through year 2100;
(d) the locations for construction of a seawall or sea gate;
(e) the costs of such construction of a seawall or sea gate; and
(f) recommendations on state and local regulatory and/or statutory alterations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed January 1, 2023.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to establish a commission to be known as the "New York seawall study commission"; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
To set up a commission to study the feasibility, costs, impacts, and locations of a seawall around the city of New York's coastline.
Summary of provisions
Commission:
-Commissioner of environmental conservation or his/her designee -Secretary of State or his/her designee -2 members appointed by the Governor -2 members appointed by the temporary president of the senate -2 members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly -1 member appointed by the leader of the Senate -1 member appointed by the minority leader of the Assembly -2 members to be appointed by the Mayor of NYC -1 member appointed by the County Executive of Nassau -1 member appointed by the County Executive of Suffolk
Allows recommendations on state and local regulatory and/or statutory alterations.
The commission will hold hearings comprehensive study on sea levels City coastline. The matters studied by be limited to: across the state and conduct a and a potential seawall on the New York the commission shall include, but not
-Coastal areas at greatest risk from sea level rise; the future -Areas at risk from storm surge with current sea levels; being created surge along the -Areas that are likely to be at risk from coastal hazards in through year 2100; and -The feasibility, costs, impacts, and locations of a seawall to protect the city of New York from sea level rise and storm entire coastline
Amendment: One additional member of the commission will be appointed by the county executive of Westchester.
Justification
In just the last few years, we have seen one horrific storm after anoth- er. These once in a lifetime storms are becoming more and more common. New York City must be prepared for the next Hurricane Sandy. A seawall is one idea that could possibly save lives in the next super-storm, as well as protect vital infrastructure that could cost billions to repair. This piece of legislation would create a commission to study the New York City coastline to determine the feasibility of a seawall. In 1900, a Category 4 hurricane, the "Great Storm", struck Galveston, Texas kill- ing 6,000 to 12,000 individuals. It was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S history. In 1915, a similar storm in strength struck Galveston, but the seawall proved invaluable for protection of the city and its residents. A seawall as seen in Galveston, can help save lives and protect infrastructure. A study of how such a seawall can be of vital service to the New York City coast makes perfect sense.
Legislative history
2017-2018: S. 6927A / A. 8686A - Passed both houses. Veto # 338
Fiscal impact
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.