Senate Environmental Conservation Committee advances package of bills; schedules harmful-algal-bloom hearing

The New York State Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, chaired by Sen. Pete Harkin, advanced a broad package of bills on environmental policy and announced a public hearing on harmful algal blooms next Wednesday at 10 a.m. The committee moved dozens of measures to subsequent steps on the calendar or to other committees, with most votes taken by voice.

Chair Pete Harkin opened the session and urged members to submit bills for the committee’s next agenda. He announced a public hearing on harmful algal blooms for next Wednesday at 10 a.m., and said agencies, academics and environmental groups were expected to appear.

Why it matters: The committee advanced proposals that would change or clarify parts of the Environmental Conservation Law, make targeted changes in the Executive Law and Public Service Law, address PFAS in biosolids, expand electronic recycling provisions, and create targeted protections such as whale-strike prevention rules for large vessels. Several measures were procedural advances to additional committees or the floor; a few drew substantive member comments about costs, timelines and practical effects.

Key debates and staff remarks

A proposal to direct the Public Service Commission to perform a full cost-benefit analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of a major energy transition item drew the meeting’s longest recorded remarks. A participant identified in the transcript as “Mr. Ray (role not specified)” warned that “people are starting to see their rates go up” and said the proposal could be expensive, arguing “it’s not too late to study the issue a little bit more.” The committee recorded the concern but the bill was not referred at that time.

A bill to make certain veterans memorial highways toll-free prompted members to describe local circumstances and routes. A sponsor described Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway (Lake George) and a Veterans Memorial Highway near Lake Placid and asked whether a veterans decal or driver’s-license designation might be used to verify eligibility; the committee advanced the measure to the floor.

A bill to phase out leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) and to allow use of alternative fuels prompted questions about current availability. Committee discussion noted that alternatives exist and are in limited production and that a federal program (referred to in the meeting as “Eagle”) is working toward a phaseout by the end of the decade; the measure advanced on the calendar.

Other measures and procedure

The committee advanced bills touching on PFAS management and biosolids and proposed establishing a New York State Biosolids Task Force; referred a related bill to Agriculture; and advanced changes to electronic waste recycling law. The committee also advanced multiple annual fish- and wildlife-management extender bills and a proposal to establish whale-strike prevention policies for large vessels.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in committee) - Bill "6 72 a" (amend Environmental Conservation Law for environmental restoration projects): motion moved and seconded; referred to finance. - Bill "9 82" (amend Executive Law in relation to definition of Indian Waterway): motion moved and seconded; advanced on the calendar. - Bill "10 598" (amend Environmental Conservation Law re: aerial ground application): motion moved and seconded; advanced on the calendar. - Bill referenced as "$2.00 $9.09" / by Sen. Wirt (removing prohibition on possession/use of firearms on certain sites): motion moved and seconded; committee recorded opposition by one member and the item did not advance as a referral that day. - Bill "2 6 4 6" (amend Executive Law to add quality assurance provisions): motion moved; advanced to the floor. - Bill "2 7 1 2" (direct Public Service Commission to conduct full cost-benefit analysis): discussed; committee did not refer the bill at this time. - Bill "4 41" (veterans toll exemption, sponsor discussed Prospect Mountain, Lake George and Lake Placid): motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor. - Bill "5 4 4 0 8" (phase out leaded aviation gasoline): motion moved and seconded; advanced on the calendar. - Bill "5 6 1 6" (amendments related to brush-clearing/Chapter 306, Laws of 2011): motion moved and seconded; advanced. - Bill "5 7 5 9 8" (PFAS, biosolids, establishment of Biosolids Task Force; multi-committee bill): motion moved and seconded; sent to Agriculture. - Bill "6 3 6 0 8" (clarifying provisions on testing/crossroads): motion moved and seconded; advanced. - Bill "6 3 9 3" (recycling and electronic products): motion moved and seconded; advanced. - Multiple fish- and wildlife-management extender bills (7767, 7768, 7769, 7770, 7772 and related numbers): motions moved and seconded; advanced. - Bill "77 to 74" by Sen. Fenton (urban environment conservation authority): motion moved and seconded; referred to the calendar.

(Notes: The committee frequently took voice votes and recorded “aye,” “nay,” or “without recommendation” counts for some items; roll-call tallies with member names were not recorded in the transcript excerpts provided.)

What the committee directed next

Most bills were advanced to the calendar or referred to the next committee step noted in committee (finance, agriculture or the floor). Chair Harkin reminded members to submit bills for the next (longer) agenda and repeated the hearing reminder on harmful algal blooms.

Ending

The meeting concluded after moving the remaining agenda items; the chair again reminded members of the harmful-algal-bloom hearing next Wednesday at 10 a.m. and thanked staff and counsel for organizing the session.