Establishes that the commissioner of environmental conservation convene a task force to examine the potential causes of flooding in downstream areas of reservoirs.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
768
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 7, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, CAHILL, LUPARDO, JOHN, MOLINARO, SPANO,
CROUCH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BOYLAND, COOK, ESPAILLAT,
GREENE, MAYERSOHN, REILLY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the
levels of certain reservoirs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 15-0805 of the environmental conservation law is
2 amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3 3. The commissioner shall convene a task force to examine the poten-
4 tial causes of flooding in downstream areas of reservoirs regulated
5 pursuant to this title. The task force shall consist of the commissioner
6 or his or her designee, the commissioner of the New York city department
7 of environmental protection or his or her designee, a New York member of
8 the Delaware River Basin Commission, and four local government represen-
9 tatives from counties in which such reservoirs are located, two of whom
10 shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the temporary president of
11 the senate and two of whom shall be appointed upon the recommendation of
12 the speaker of the assembly. In addition, the federal government may be
13 represented on the task force by a regional representative of the United
14 States Army Corps of Engineers and/or a representative from the Delaware
15 Rivermaster's Office. The commissioner shall serve as the chair of the
16 task force. The members of the task force shall serve without compen-
17 sation but shall be paid their actual and necessary expenses incurred in
18 and incident to the performance of their duties. The task force shall
19 examine potential causes of such flooding including but not limited to
20 reservoir overflow, precipitation patterns and topography. The task
21 force shall make recommendations concerning measures to mitigate the
22 potential for future flooding including, but not limited to the monitor-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02184-01-9
A. 768 2
1 ing and maintenance of reservoir levels during high flow events taking
2 into account the seasonal effects of snow and ice melt and the impact of
3 overflow on downstream communities. The task force shall meet monthly
4 and shall prepare a report of its recommendations and submit such report
5 to the governor and the legislature within a year after it is convened.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
