Prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution of foam flotation docks, buoys and floating structures in the state where such foam flotation is not fully encapsulated to prevent degradation into the environment.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1129--B
Cal. No. 257
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
-- recommitted to the Committee on Environmental Conservation in
accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and
second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered
reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
banning the use of unencapsulated foam flotation in docks, buoys and
floating structures
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Article 27 of the environmental conservation law is amended
2 by adding a new title 34 to read as follows:
3 TITLE 34
4 UNENCAPSULATED FOAM FLOTATION BAN
5 Section 27-3401. Definitions.
6 27-3403. Prohibition on unencapsulated foam flotation in docks,
7 buoys, and floating structures.
8 § 27-3401. Definitions.
9 For the purposes of this title, the following terms shall have the
10 following meanings:
11 1. "Buoy" means any float or marker that is attached to a mooring
12 anchor and either is suitable for attachment to a boat through the use
13 of a pennant or other device or facilitates the attachment of the boat
14 to the mooring anchor.
15 2. "Dock" means an unenclosed structure secured to land, land under
16 waters, a mooring, or a floating structure that is used for mooring
17 boats or for recreational activities, such as a swimming, fishing, or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03415-06-6
S. 1129--B 2
1 sunbathing platform. A dock includes a structure that is partially
2 enclosed or has two or more levels.
3 3. "Foam flotation" means any material, substance, or combination of
4 materials or substances used to provide buoyancy for a dock, buoy,
5 floating structure, or overwater structure that consists in whole or in
6 part of a foamed, expanded, blown, injected, sprayed, molded, or other-
7 wise gas-filled polymeric or plastic material, whether rigid, semi-rig-
8 id, or flexible, including but not limited to:
9 (a) expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene;
10 (b) expanded or foamed polyethylene or polypropylene;
11 (c) polyurethane foam, including spray-applied, poured-in-place, or
12 injected foam; and
13 (d) any other plastic, polymeric, or synthetic foam material designed
14 or used to provide flotation or buoyancy by entrapping air or gas within
15 a cellular structure.
16 4. "Floating structure" means a structure constructed on or in waters
17 of the state that is supported by flotation and is secured in place by a
18 piling or mooring anchor, including boathouses, fueling structures,
19 navigation markers, floating homes, marinas, walkways, or boarding plat-
20 forms.
21 § 27-3403. Prohibition on unencapsulated foam flotation docks, buoys,
22 and floating structures.
23 No person shall sell, offer to sell, or distribute docks, buoys, or
24 floating structures utilizing foam flotation that is not fully encapsu-
25 lated in a durable shell or barrier that prevents exposure and degrada-
26 tion into the environment of such foam flotation.
27 § 2. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a
28 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
29 rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
30 effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
31 effective date.
