A08203 Summary:

BILL NO    A08203 

SAME AS    No same as

SPONSOR    Englebright (MS)

COSPNSR    Colton

MLTSPNSR   

Add S27-0709, En Con L

Provides for the regulation of landfill methane gas control flares for the
protection of raptors.

A08203 Actions:

BILL NO    A08203 

05/07/2009 referred to environmental conservation
01/06/2010 referred to environmental conservation

A08203 Votes:

A08203 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A8203

TITLE  OF BILL:   An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in
relation to regulation of landfill gas control flares

PURPOSE OF THE BILLof : The purpose of the bill is to prevent damage and
death to birds of prey from exposure to  landfill  methane  gas  control
flares.

SUMMARY  OF  PROVISIONS:  The bill requires that all regulated landfills
install safer and taller perches for raptors and  to  attach  spikes  to
landfill  methane gas control flares. Furthermore, the bill requires DEC
to work with manufacturers of these flares to  incorporate  bird  deter-
rence into the design of such flares.

JUSTIFICATION:    Landfills are often of source of environmental hazards
for wildlife. Landfills frequently flare gas (methane) produced by depo-
sition of the- waste. One of the unwanted side  effects  of  flaring  is
their  impact on raptors, such as hawks and owls, which are attracted to
landfills because of the abundance of rodents. The height of the methane
burn stack (60 feet) makes  an  ideal  perch  for  raptors  waiting  for
rodents and other prey. The methane burners have an igniter which causes
a  sudden  flame flare that can scorch and even kill anything perched on
top, flying over or located inside the stack. These  side  effects  have
been documented in a number of states.

This  bill  seeks  to minimize and avoid these unfortunate and sometimes
fatal occurrences by denying perches  through  the  use  of  steel  bird
spikes  on stacks and encouraging the installation of alternative higher
perches to attract the raptors.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL  GOVERNMENTS:    There  will  be
nominal  costs to install taller perches or spikes on existing gas flar-
ing devices.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act would take  effect  180  days  after  it  shall
become law.