Bill Text: NY A02590 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to the filling of borrow pits in Gravesend Bay.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to environmental conservation [A02590 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A02590-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          2590

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 26, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of A. COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK,
          GLICK -- read once and referred  to  the  Committee  on  Environmental
          Conservation

        AN  ACT  to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the
          filling of borrow pits in Gravesend Bay; and providing for the  repeal
          of such provisions upon expiration thereof

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Legislative intent. Due to the increase in vessel  size  in
     2  recent  years, New York State waterways such as channels, berthing areas
     3  and harbors are being excavated in a process known as dredging to  main-
     4  tain sufficient depth for safe and efficient vessel operation.
     5    Dredged  material  is  naturally  accumulated  sediment,  much  of the
     6  dredged material does  contain  some  contaminants  at  varying  concen-
     7  trations.
     8    Gravesend  Bay was dredged to supply soil for a number of construction
     9  projects. This process created borrow pits in the  bay.    These  borrow
    10  pits have been identified as an attractive alternative for the disposing
    11  of dredge material.
    12    §  2. Section 15-0505 of the environmental conservation law is amended
    13  by adding a new subdivision 3-b to read as follows:
    14    3-b. In filling the Gravesend Bay borrow pits the department may  only
    15  grant  a  permit  if  the proposed sediments and fill materials meet the
    16  following criteria:
    17    (1) comply with federal unrestricted ocean dumping criteria;
    18    (2) have been tested and test results indicate no unacceptable toxici-
    19  ty or bioaccumulation in biological test systems;
    20    (3) has no potential short-term, or acute, impacts  or  long-term,  or
    21  chronic, impacts; and
    22    (4)  requires  no  special  precautionary measures are required during
    23  disposal.
    24    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
    25  deemed repealed June 30, 2028.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00892-01-3