Requires applicants to the department of environmental conservation for permits to disclose information concerning other permits held and/or revoked, enforcement actions, criminal convictions, fees or fines owed, and other information relating to compliance by the applicant or any corporation of which he or she is an officer, director, or large stockholder with state, federal, or foreign environmental laws or regulations and certain other laws.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A3914
SPONSOR: Colton (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
review of permit applicants on record of compliance
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
This bill would authorize DEC to conduct an inquiry into an applicant's
background as part of a permit application or review. DEC would be
authorized to revoke or deny permits to unsuitable persons based upon
statutory criteria that includes past violations of the applicant or
permit holder. This bill would ensure that persons who are unsuitable to
carry out responsibilities under DEC permits are not authorized to do
SO.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::.
Adds a new section 3-0313 to the Environmental Conservation Law to
require DEC to review a permit applicant's record of•compliance with the
Environmental Conservation Law (ECL).
 
JUSTIFICATION::
Persistent or significant violators of the ECL should not have a permit
renewed or be allowed to obtain new permits after committing breaches of
the law directly relating to their ability to carry out the authorized
activities in a lawful and environmentally responsible manner. If a
permit is issued to a prior violator, it may be appropriate to impose
strict reporting or monitoring conditions on such permits, or to require
an environmental monitor on-site. Compliance with the ECL and enforce-
ment against those who violate the ECL can be advanced by ensuring that
the permit review procedures incorporate such consideration at the
earliest possible date in the review process.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2013-14: A.1690/EnCon/Codes/Rules; S.4900/EnCon
2011-12: A.2675/Encon
2009-10: A.4110/passed;
S.4950-A/EnCon/Rules This bill has been introduced since the 1995-96
legislative session.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3914
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 8, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. COLTON, L. ROSENTHAL, TAYLOR, SIMON, COOK, GLICK,
RIVERA, LAVINE, SEAWRIGHT, FAHY, OTIS, WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by --
M. of A. McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
review of permit applicants on record of compliance
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 3-0323 to read as follows:
3 § 3-0323. Record of compliance.
4 Every application for a permit under this chapter shall include an
5 inquiry on the following information regarding the applicant's record of
6 compliance:
7 1. Does the applicant hold any permit under this chapter?
8 2. Has the applicant been denied a permit or has the applicant had a
9 permit revoked or suspended under this chapter?
10 3. Is the applicant currently the subject of an enforcement action
11 under this chapter?
12 4. Has the applicant, and if the applicant is a corporation, has any
13 officer, director or large stockholder (owner of 25% or more stock) of
14 the corporation, ever been:
15 a. found in an administrative, civil or criminal proceeding to have
16 violated any provision of any related order or determination of the
17 commissioner, any regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter, the
18 condition of any permit issued thereunder, or any similar statute, regu-
19 lation, order or permit condition of any other government agency,
20 foreign or domestic?
21 b. an officer, director or large stockholder (owner of 25% or more
22 stock) of a corporation which, during the time such person was an offi-
23 cer, director or large stockholder, was determined in an administrative,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05114-01-3
A. 3914 2
1 civil or criminal proceeding to have violated any provision of this
2 chapter, any related order or determination of the commissioner, any
3 regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter, the condition of any
4 permit issued thereunder, or any similar statute, regulation, order or
5 permit condition of any other government agency, foreign or domestic?
6 c. convicted of a criminal offense under the laws of any state or of
7 the United States or of any other government, foreign or domestic, which
8 involves environmental statutes or regulations or fraud, bribery, perju-
9 ry, theft or an offense against public administration as that term is
10 used in article one hundred ninety-five of the penal law?
11 d. an officer, director or large stockholder (owner of 25% or more
12 stock) of a corporation which, during the time such person was an offi-
13 cer, director, or large stockholder, was convicted of a criminal offense
14 under the laws of any state or the United States or of any other govern-
15 ment, foreign or domestic, which involves environmental statutes or
16 regulations or fraud, bribery, perjury, theft or an offense against
17 public administration as that term is used in article one hundred nine-
18 ty-five of the penal law?
19 5. Does the applicant currently owe any regulatory fees to the depart-
20 ment?
21 The aforementioned information may, consistent with articles twenty-
22 three and twenty-three-A of the correction law, be considered a basis
23 for exercising the department's discretion in denying, suspending, modi-
24 fying or revoking a permit in order to protect the environment and
25 preserve the natural resources of the state.
26 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
27 have become a law.