Bill Text: NY S08579 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs the department of environmental conservation to conduct a study to identify potential sites along all highways and thruways in the state for wildlife crossings; directs the department of transportation to create a report on the fiscal impact of such study.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-06-03 - COMMITTED TO RULES [S08579 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-S08579-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          8579

                    IN SENATE

                                     March 16, 2022
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation

        AN ACT to direct the department of environmental conservation to conduct
          a study to identify potential sites along all highways and thruways in
          the state for wildlife  crossings  and  directing  the  department  of
          transportation  to create a report on the fiscal impact of such study;
          and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
          of

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

     1    Section 1. For the purposes of this act:
     2    (a)  "Wildlife crossing" means a habitat structure that that joins two
     3  or more areas of wildlife habitat, allowing  wildlife  to  cross  human-
     4  caused  barriers  from  one  habitat area to another. Such crossings may
     5  include but not be limited to underpass tunnels and overpass bridges.
     6    (b) "Human-caused barrier" means a road, culvert, commercial or  resi-
     7  dential development or other human-made structure that has the potential
     8  to affect the natural movement of wildlife across the landscape.
     9    § 2. The department of environmental conservation is hereby authorized
    10  and  directed  to  conduct a study to identify potential sites along all
    11  highways and thruways in the state for wildlife crossings.  The  depart-
    12  ment  of  environmental  conservation  shall  submit  such  study to the
    13  department of transportation no later than one year after the  effective
    14  date of this act. Such study shall examine, at a minimum, the following:
    15    (a)  Identification of existing highway or thruway crossings that pose
    16  a risk to successful wildlife migration or that pose a risk to the trav-
    17  eling public because large animals use the crossing;
    18    (b) Identification of other  human-caused  barriers,  especially  road
    19  segments that negatively affect wildlife habitat and movement;
    20    (c)  Information about the habitat and movement needs of wildlife with
    21  particular attention to large animals or other species that pose a  risk
    22  to the traveling public;
    23    (d)  Information about the habitat quality needed to support and main-
    24  tain viable populations of wildlife;

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14991-01-2
        S. 8579                             2

     1    (e) Information about how increased movement of species could  benefit
     2  overused and highly impacted habitat areas;
     3    (f) Maps that identify locations of:
     4    (i) existing wildlife crossings; and
     5    (ii)  potential  sites  for  additional  wildlife crossings based this
     6  study;
     7    (g) Economic benefits anticipated from  preserving  wildlife  movement
     8  patterns,  including  the  potential  impact of reduced wildlife-vehicle
     9  collisions;
    10    (h) The feasibility and constructability of wildlife crossing  infras-
    11  tructure; and
    12    (i)  Any  additional  information that the department of environmental
    13  conservation deem necessary and appropriate to carry out the intent  and
    14  purposes of this act.
    15    §  3. The department of transportation shall utilize the study submit-
    16  ted by the department of environmental conservation pursuant to  section
    17  two  of  this  act  to conduct a report to identify the fiscal impact of
    18  implementing such study. Such report shall determine,  at  minimum,  the
    19  following:
    20    (a) The potential costs and economics of wildlife crossing infrastruc-
    21  ture, including benefits or other effects on local communities;
    22    (b)  The value of the project to native large animals and other native
    23  species;
    24    (c) Surrounding land-use and ownership and an evaluation of  the  need
    25  for  conservation easements or other real estate instrument necessary to
    26  maintain the viability of a proposed wildlife crossing; and
    27    (d) Any additional information that the department  of  transportation
    28  deem  necessary  and appropriate to carry out the intent and purposes of
    29  this act.
    30    § 4. The department of environmental conservation and  the  department
    31  of transportation may consult with any state or local office, agency, or
    32  department and request information from any such entity that is relevant
    33  and material to the completion of this study and report.
    34    § 5. No later than 18 months after the effective date of this act, the
    35  department of environmental conservation and the department of transpor-
    36  tation  shall  deliver the study pursuant to section two of this act and
    37  the report made pursuant to section three of this act to  the  governor,
    38  the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
    39    §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
    40  deemed repealed two years after such effective date.