S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 1325 2009-2010 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 7, 2009 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, JAFFEE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAHILL, COLTON, DIAZ, LUPARDO, McENENY, ORTIZ, PHEFFER, SWEENEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conserva- tion AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to providing for a state of New York state's natural environment annual report 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 3-0121 to read as follows: 3 S 3-0121. STATE OF NEW YORK STATE'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ANNUAL REPORT. 4 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT (HEREINAFTER 5 REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS "REPORT") ON THE STATE OF NEW YORK 6 STATE'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE 7 STATE BEGINNING IN THE CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF 8 THIS SECTION. 9 2. THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: 10 A. IDENTIFICATION OF ANY SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CHANGES TO 11 THE QUALITY OF THE STATE'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMIT- 12 ED TO, EFFECTS TO AIR, WATER, SOIL, WETLANDS, AND OTHER NATURAL COMMUNI- 13 TIES AND WILDLIFE, AND THE CAUSES UNDERLYING SUCH CHANGES; AND 14 B. SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMMATIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND 15 AREAS IN WHICH SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AND PROBLEMS REMAIN UNRESOLVED OR 16 UNADDRESSED, AND PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS 17 FOR RESOLVING AND ADDRESSING SUCH ISSUES. 18 3. THE COMMISSIONER MAY USE INFORMATION AND MATERIAL CONTAINED IN 19 OTHER REPORTS REQUIRED FROM THE DEPARTMENT. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04213-01-9 A. 1325 2 1 4. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE ENTITLED 2 TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE DATA FROM ANY STATE AGENCY TO CARRY OUT THE 3 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. 4 5. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE ANNUALLY SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLA- 5 TURE AND PUBLIC ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 6 MAKE THE REPORT AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE AND 7 SUCH REPORT SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNET WEBSITE. 8 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.