Relates to permits for public supply wells accessing a sole source aquifer in Long Island counties with two million or more residents; requires a new permit application rather than an application for a permit renewal; requires the department to conduct a tracking analysis and a develop a screening tool for contaminants prior to issuing a permit; requires completion of phase one of the comprehensive Long Island groundwater study before issuing any permits; authorizes temporary emergency permits if human health or safety is threatened.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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7909
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 18, 2017
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Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
permits for public supply wells accessing a sole source aquifer in
counties with two million or more residents
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 15-1527 of the environmental conservation law is
2 amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. a. In any county with two million or more residents the department
4 shall require a new permit application, rather than an application for a
5 permit renewal for a public supply well that accesses a sole source
6 aquifer. Before any permit for a public supply well that accesses a sole
7 source aquifer in a county with two million or more residents is issued
8 the department shall conduct a tracking analysis and develop a suscepti-
9 bility screening tool for all known contaminants and emerging contam-
10 inants. The department shall not issue any permit for public supply
11 wells in a county with two million or more residents accessing a sole
12 source aquifer until completion of phase one of the comprehensive Long
13 Island groundwater study.
14 b. In the event of an emergency that threatens human health and safety
15 the department may issue a temporary emergency permit for a public
16 supply well accessing a sole source aquifer in a county with two million
17 or more residents. The department shall act on the emergency permit
18 request within seventy-two hours. Temporary emergency permits shall be
19 valid for six months and only two such permits may be issued before a
20 state environmental quality review must be completed pursuant to article
21 eight of this chapter and its implementing regulations.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
23 effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
24 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
25 tive date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or
26 before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11311-03-7