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Senate environmental committee reports bill on salt-mining reclamation after members raise supply concerns
Summary
At a meeting of the New York State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, lawmakers reported Bill 20 53a by Senator Webb, which would require permits and financial security for reclamation of salt mining beneath the lake.
At a meeting of the New York State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, lawmakers reported Bill 20 53a by Senator Webb, which would amend the Environmental Conservation Law and the Public Lands Law to require permits and financial security for reclamation for salt mining beneath the lake.
The committee reported the bill after debate and recorded three negative votes; other vote counts were not specified on the record. Committee members voiced concerns about the state’s salt supply for winter road treatment and the possible economic impacts on affected mining operations and municipalities.
Chairman Pete Harcombe, New York State Senator and chair of the committee, put the bill forward for consideration. Senator Steth said members of his conference had sent a letter asking that the bill be held for further discussion, and he stated on the record that he had concerns about supply and municipal impacts: “Our municipalities are concerned, and I know I noted that the governor also expressed some concern.” Senator Steth also said he would vote “nay” if the bill moved forward that day.
Senator Bynum (joined during the meeting) and another member stressed similar concerns about statewide salt availability and the potential effect on jobs. One senator highlighted DEC monitoring depth and industry figures, saying DEC’s numbers showed salinity levels “2,300 feet below the surface,” and warned the committee not to conflate separate issues; that senator also said the industry supports roughly “400 jobs” and noted that the state’s annual salt usage is on the order of more than one million tons. The committee chair acknowledged those concerns and said he would share them with the bill sponsor.
Committee discussion did not produce amendments on the record. The chair said concerns would be relayed to the sponsor and that, if enacted and signed later in the year, the changes would not affect the current winter season.
The committee returned the measure as "reported," with the chair noting that “all concerns have been duly noted.” The transcript records three negative votes; the names of those who voted no beyond the general count were not fully recorded in the transcript excerpt.
Provisions cited on the record referenced the Environmental Conservation Law and the Public Lands Law as the statutory vehicles amended by the bill. The committee did not record a formal mover/second for the motion on the record in the provided transcript excerpt.
