Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) announced the Assembly passed multiple measures to help clean up the environment and further protect public health. The legislative package comes in recognition of Earth Day and addresses several major issues, including climate change, clean drinking water, recycling and sustainability.

“We have only one Earth, and so we must preserve it to preserve our health,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “That means living efficiently and sustainably. The legislation passed by the Assembly moves New York to the forefront in protecting and improving our environment.”

Reducing negative environmental impacts and fighting for environmental justice

The Assembly passed a bill that would require the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to publish a list of “high local environmental impact zones” (A.3729). Areas with existing environmental hazards are frequently chosen for new development projects in an effort to keep other areas pristine, but this unfairly leads to a higher concentration of environmental hazards within that area and a higher risk of endangering the health of its residents, Assemblyman Thiele noted.

Moreover, legislation was passed to establish a Permanent Environmental Justice Advisory Group within the DEC and an Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council and would require state agencies to adopt and abide by environmental justice policies (A.3569).

Confronting climate change

The Assembly Earth Day legislative package includes a measure that would require the DEC to establish limits on greenhouse-gas emissions and create a greenhouse-gas reporting system (A.6327-A).

The “Community Risk and Resiliency Act” would ensure that state funds and permits for projects such as water and sewage treatment plants include consideration of the effects that climate change and extreme weather – including rising sea levels – could have on these facilities (A.6558-A).

“The effects of climate change are becoming more and more evident – and more and more dangerous,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “The devastating hurricanes and tropical storms that have hit New York over the past several years should serve as a warning that we need to be better prepared.”

Making New York more sustainable

The New York State Healthy and Green Procurement Act would require the state to make purchasing decisions that would minimize adverse impacts on public health and the environment (A.6046). By purchasing and adopting more environmentally friendly commodities, services and technologies, such as greener cleaning agents and recycled paper products and more sustainable lighting and building practices, the state would be taking a major step in safeguarding our public health, as well as New York’s natural resources.

“It’s important that our state government leads by example,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “Each step we take to become greener can have a very real and positive impact on the future of our environment.”

Legislation was also passed that would specify which materials are required to be separated for recycling by waste haulers and prohibit the dumping of those materials in landfills or incinerators (A.3754). Further, the legislative package includes a bill that would discourage the use of disposable, difficult-to-recycle polystyrene foam containers (commonly known as Styrofoam) and study the feasibility of an outright ban on Styrofoam in New York state (A.4973-A).

“It’s time we do away with products that harm the environment,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “We need to encourage more recycling and the use of biodegradable materials to keep our environment as clean as possible.”

Ensuring clean drinking water and protecting New Yorkers from harmful chemicals

In an effort to protect and preserve New York’s drinking water, the Assembly passed the “Private Well Testing Act.” The legislation would require the testing of drinking water from private wells upon transfer of property, helping ensure that homebuyers are aware of contaminants that may be present (A.1040).

In addition, the Earth Day package includes the “Microbead-free Waters Act,” which would prohibit the sale of personal cosmetics products that contain microbeads (A.8744-A). Microbeads are tiny rounds of plastic that appear in many shampoos, soaps and toothpastes. Most wastewater treatment plants are unable to filter out the microbeads, causing them to pollute the drinking water supply.

Also included in this year’s Earth Day package are bills that help protect New York families from harmful chemicals. One of the pieces of legislation would prohibit the use of chemical flame retardants in residential upholstered furniture (A.6557). Studies have shown that these chemical flame retardants can have negative health effects, especially for young children, and the retardants have proven to be ineffective during a fire. Another measure would prevent exposure to dangerous chemicals and ensure the use of safer chemical alternatives in children’s products (A.6328). Lastly, legislation was passed earlier this year to create strict standards for mercury-added lamps (A.2048-A).

“Families should be safe in their own homes and not have to worry about the effects of chemicals in everyday household goods,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “This legislation creates comprehensive policies that protect families’ health.”