Add §§17-0709 & 17-0833, amd §§17-0701 & 17-0703, En Con L
Prohibits the department of environmental conservation from issuing or authorizing any permits to new or expanding large concentrated animal feeding operations.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6928
SPONSOR: Rosenthal TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the department of environmental conservation from issuing or
authorizing any permits to new or expanding large concentrated animal
feeding operations
PURPOSE:
This bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Conservation from
issuing permits for any new or expanded large concentrated animal feed-
ing operations.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one adds a new section 17-0709 to the environmental conservation
law.
Section two adds a new section 17-0833 to the environmental conservation
law.
Section three amends paragraph a of subdivision 5 and adds a new subdi-
vision 10 to section 170701 of the environmental conservation law.
Section four amends subdivision 2.and adds a new subdivision 3 to
section 17-0703 of the environmental conservation law.
Section five establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are large-scale factory
farms that confine hundreds of livestock animals to a densely packed
facility. In New York, CAFOs are defined as farms housing house 700 or
more dairy cows, 1,000 or more veal calves, or 2,500 or more pigs weigh-
ing at least 55 pounds. A September 2024 report by Food & Water Watch
found that New York State had a 21 percent increase in the number of
dairy cows living on factory farms housing over 500 animals from 2017 to
2021. CAFOs have numerous detrimental impacts to the environment,
resulting in billions of pounds of manure each year, creating runoff
that pollutes local waterways and causes harmful algal blooms. CAFOs
also release significant amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, and harm
the surrounding air quality through the release of ammonia and nitrogen
oxides. As factory farming continues to expand in the state, more
pollution finds its way in our air and waterways.
In addition to environmental harm, CAFOs pose an economic threat to
smaller-sized farms and the rural economies supported by them. These
large-scale factory farms are often ruin by large corporations that
squeeze out local competition to maximize profits. The Food & Water
Watch report showed that over the last five years, the increase in dairy
factory farms with over 500 animals in New York State correlates to the
closure of 43.5 percent of small-scale family dairy farms. The growing
number of CAFOs presents a unique threat to New York's small farms and
rural economies.
New York State must take action to prevent the proliferation of CAFOs
that damage our communities and our environment. This legislation would
prohibit the Department of Environmental Conservation from issuing any
new permits to establish a new or expand an existing farm to become a
CAFO.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.
