NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8790A
SPONSOR: Cymbrowitz TITLE OF BILL: An act establishing a moratorium on the department of
environmental conservation's plan to declare mute swans a "prohibited
invasive species"; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Imposes restrictions on the eradication of the mute swan population
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill requires the department of environmental conserva-
tion, prior to finalizing any management plan for mute swans, to hold
not less than two public hearings and to respond to all public comments.
In addition, any report would be required to prioritize non-lethal
management techniques and include scientific evidence of projected and
current environmental damage caused by the mute swan population of only
2,200 across the state.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Wildlife experts, rehabilitators and environmentalists do not unanimous-
ly agree that exterminating the mute swan population is justified. In
addition, there is debate amongst such experts about whether the planned
eradication of the mute swan population is even minimally beneficial to
the eco-system or to our environment.
Therefore, it is incumbent on the Department of Environmental Conserva-
tion to illustrate the necessity of eradicating this non-native species
by demonstrating the actual damage to the environment or other species
caused by mute swans.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed two years after such effective date.
