Provides that the commissioner of environmental conservation shall place and operate certain air quality monitoring systems in proximity to NY city airports.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5543
SPONSOR: Hooks TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
requiring the commissioner of environmental conservation to place
certain air quality monitoring systems within a one-mile radius of all
airports located within a city having a population of one million or
more
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to improve air quality monitoring in areas
surrounding New York City airports by requiring the commissioner of
environmental conservation to install and operate air quality monitoring
systems. These systems will continuously measure pollutants such as
ozone, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and particu-
late matter to assess environmental impact and improve public health
measures.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new
section (19-0322) requiring the installation and operation of ambient
air quality monitoring systems within a one-mile radius of all airports
. in cities with a population of one million or more. The monitoring
network will measure key air pollutants and meteorological data using
automated data acquisition systems. Requires the installation of photo-
chemical assessment monitoring stations and national ambient toxic trend
stations for monitoring volatile organic compounds as ozone precursors
during the summer ozone season. The commissioner or their representative
must meet periodically with site engineers, local community organiza-
tions, and elected officials to report air quality results and recommend
or establish mitigation programs if needed.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
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JUSTIFICATION:
New York City airports are significant sources of air pollution, impact-
ing surrounding communities. By mandating the installation of continuous
air quality monitoring systems, this legislation ensures that real-time
data is collected to assess the environmental impact. The bill also
provides for collaboration with local organizations and elected offi-
cials to address potential pollution concerns and implement mitigation
strategies.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.666
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
The bill will require state funding for the installation, operation, and
maintenance of air quality monitoring systems. However, the long-term
benefits, including improved public health and potential reductions in
pollution-related healthcare costs, may outweigh the initial expendi-
tures.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 days after becoming law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5543
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HOOKS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
requiring the commissioner of environmental conservation to place
certain air quality monitoring systems within a one-mile radius of all
airports located within a city having a population of one million or
more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a
2 new section 19-0322 to read as follows:
3 § 19-0322. Air quality monitoring systems required within a one-mile
4 radius of all airports within a city having a population of
5 one million or more.
6 1. The commissioner shall place and operate an ambient air quality
7 monitor network within a one-mile radius of all airports in cities
8 having a population of one million or more. The network shall contin-
9 uously measure data for ozone, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen,
10 carbon dioxide, meteorological data, PM 1.0 and PM 2.5. The network
11 shall also include an automated data acquisition system employed to poll
12 the sites to retrieve readings into a central data management system.
13 The data shall undergo verification and validation by a supervising site
14 engineer which shall follow established quality assurance and quality
15 control procedures.
16 2. The commissioner shall place and operate a photochemical assessment
17 monitoring station and a national ambient toxic trend station within a
18 one-mile radius of all airports located within a city having a popu-
19 lation of one million or more. Such stations shall monitor volatile
20 organic compounds as ozone precursors during the summer ozone season for
21 the purpose of determining the quality of ambient air and developing
22 programs to target appropriate source categories for emission reduction.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06131-01-5
A. 5543 2
1 3. The commissioner or such commissioner's representative, shall peri-
2 odically meet with site engineers, local community organizations and
3 elected officials representing the area in which an airport is located,
4 to inform them of the results of the air quality monitoring and, if
5 necessary, to recommend or establish programs to mitigate any adverse
6 ambient air quality.
7 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
8 it shall have become a law.
