New York State Assembly Passes Ambitious Earth Day Agenda

ALBANY, NY (05/06/2009)(readMedia)-- In a celebration of Earth Day, on Tuesday, May 5th the New York State Assembly passed several bills designed to address some of the state's most pressing environmental challenges, including efforts to help stop global warming. Among the legislation passed are three of the environmental community's priority Super Bills for 2009-the Global Warming Pollution Cap, Wetlands Protection Act and the Electronic Waste Recycling Act. The Environmental Access to Justice Act was passed by the Assembly in February, and the state's bottle deposit law, also among the Super Bills, was included in the state budget. The Assembly also passed legislation designed to protect drinking water and phase-out the use of toxic chemicals, among other bills.

"The New York State Assembly is steadfast in its commitment to protecting our precious natural resources by passing an ambitious green agenda every Earth Day," said Robert Moore, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York. "We applaud state lawmakers for their leadership on the environmental issues that matter most to New Yorkers and especially congratulate Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst) for moving quickly to pass the Super Bills."

As Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, Assemblyman Sweeney is the lead sponsor on several of the green bills passed by his chamber for Earth Day.

The following bills were passed as part of the Assembly's Earth Day agenda on May 5th.

• SUPER BILL: Global Warming Pollution Cap - This measure would cap and then gradually reduce New York's climate change pollution from all sources until statewide greenhouse gas emissions are 80 percent below 1990 levels.
• SUPER BILL: E-Waste - This bill would remove tons of toxic e-waste from our landfills by requiring electronics manufacturers to collect and recycle at least one-quarter of their annual equipment sales (by weight) annually, and increase that collection rate to 45 percent by 2018.
• SUPER BILL: Wetlands Protection Act - This bill would close a loophole in the state's wetlands law that prohibits the state from protecting wetlands less than 12.4 acres in size.
• Climate Change Solutions Act - This measure would keep resources generated by the state's role in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) clean and green by establishing a framework for spending on projects designed to decrease New York's climate pollution, particularly in the arenas of energy efficiency and clean energy.
• Climate Change Solutions Fund - The companion to the Climate Change Solutions Act, this measure establishes a dedicated fund for revenue generated by RGGI auctions and ensures these monies are used only for energy efficiency and clean energy programs in New York State.
• Flame Retardant Phase Out - This bill would protect the health of our families by phasing out, by July 1st, 2012, the use of a documented health hazard, deca BDE, a flame retardant in common use in covered electronic devices, upholstered furniture and mattresses.
• Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban - This bill would prohibit the sale of certain toys, products, and food and beverage containers lined with or containing BPA intended for use by children under three.
• Recyclables in Landfills - This bill would prohibit the disposal of recyclable materials in landfills and incinerators, and specifies materials to be separated for recycling, such as newsprint, glass containers, metal containers, and certain plastics.
• Urban Pesticide Board - This bill would create an urban pesticide board to make recommendations regarding pesticide use in urban areas, as well as to require that all certified pesticide applicators demonstrate knowledge of safer pest management techniques that do not use toxic pesticides.
• Private Well Testing - This bill would protect drinking water quality by requiring private wells be tested for bacteria, nitrates, iron, manganese, pH, volatile organic compounds and lead.
• Healthy Green Procurement - This measure would set minimum specifications for healthy and green procurement by state agencies.

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Environmental Advocates of New York's mission is to protect our air, land, water and wildlife and the health of all New Yorkers. Based in Albany, we monitor state government, evaluate proposed laws, and champion policies and practices that will ensure the responsible stewardship of our shared environment. We work to support and strengthen the efforts of New York's environmental community and to make our state a national leader. The tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization is also the New York affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.