Southampton - Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced the Assembly passed a package of Earth Day bills aimed at addressing pressing environmental issues including pollution, global warming, toxic chemicals, recycling guidelines, water sources and wetlands.

"Earth Day is a reminder that protecting the environment protects the health of New Yorkers," Assemblyman Thiele said. "This legislation helps create a greener future for generations to come, including cleaner water, stronger recycling and refuse measures, less exposure to harmful chemicals and an overall minimization of the impact we have on the environment."

Creating A Greener State Government And Addressing Global Warming
Included in the package is the New York State Healthy and Green Procurement Act, which encourages the state to purchase products with the least adverse impact on public health and the environment (A.6366-A). Greener, less toxic day-to-day products, such as cleaning agents and paper products, and energy-efficient technologies, like computer software and lighting, would become preferred items for purchase.

Another measure to create a greener government and conserve energy authorizes the use of cool roofs on new or substantially renovated state buildings, reducing energy loads in a cost-effective manner and avoiding escalating long-term energy costs (A.96).

The Assembly also passed a measure that would require the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish limits on greenhouse gas emissions and create a greenhouse-gas reporting system (A.5346). This legislation would help control global-warming pollution.

"These measures would help New York in its efforts to go green and allow the state to become a leader in green government by promoting and maintaining a healthy environment," stated Assemblyman Thiele.

Recycling And Refuse Programs
The Assembly's Earth Day package includes several bills aimed at improving recycling and refuse policies, including legislation that would:

 • Specify which materials are required to be separated for recycling by waste haulers and prohibit the dumping of those materials in landfills or incinerators (A.1241).

 • Establish the Food Service Waste Reduction Act, discouraging the use of plastic foam food containers, thereby lessening their harmful impact on the environment (A.2097).

 • Prohibit the sale of loose-fill package materials, such as packing peanuts, that are not comprised of at least 60 percent recycled material by 2013 and 100 percent recycled material by 2018 (A.6145).

Protecting Our Water And Wetlands
Also included in the Assembly's package of legislation are measures to protect and preserve New York's drinking water and valuable wetlands. The bills would:

 • Require the testing of drinking water from private wells upon transfer of property, helping ensure the drinking water of thousands of New Yorkers isn't contaminated (A.667).

 • Implement a water-withdrawal permitting program to regulate the use of New York's water sources, preserving and protecting our finite water sources (A.5318-A).

 • Grant the DEC authority over freshwater wetlands one acre or larger in size and other wetlands of significant local importance, protecting these natural water filters and continuing to improve the quality of drinking water (A.3374).

 • Expand protections to freshwater wetlands by following the enforcement guidelines of tidal wetlands, further protecting and restoring water quality and wildlife (A.5638).

Helping Create A Mercury-Safe And Toxic-Free Environment
Three bills in the Assembly's Earth Day package are directed at creating an environment safe from toxic substances known to cause severe medical issues and protecting consumers from exposure to hazardous substances.

Legislation in the package would ban the use of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) - a compound linked to neurological and developmental damage, including deficits in learning, memory and hearing, changes in behavior and delays in sensory-motor development (A.5798). DecaBDE is often found in common household items like computers and televisions.

The Assembly passed another bill aimed at restricting the sale of mercury-added consumer products (A.668). This bill would protect the environment and public health by prohibiting the sale of certain products that contain mercury, and ensuring that such products are properly disposed of when they are no longer of use.

Also included in the Assembly's package is a bill that would create a free collection program for mercury-containing thermostats, decreasing the chance of this hazardous element - known to impair brain development - from entering the waste stream and polluting the environment (A.3485).

"Keeping these toxins out of the environment is essential to maintaining and improving the health of our state," Assemblyman Thiele said. "Last year, we banned the sale of products with BPA, keeping our children safe from a harmful chemical linked to heart disease, brain and immune system deterioration, diabetes, cancer and obesity. This year's legislation aims to further protect the health of New Yorkers by reducing exposure to additional toxins like decaBDE and mercury."

Reducing Environmental Impact And Fighting For Environmental Justice
Two bills in the Assembly's Earth Day package specifically work to better protect regions of the state that are most adversely affected by current environmental hazards.

One measure requires the DEC to publish a list of "high local environmental impact zones" (A.611). Geographical areas with existing environmental hazards are generally selected for new projects, creating a concentration of environmental hazards within a small geographic area, with an increased risk to residents of those areas.

Another piece of legislation passed by the Assembly would establish a Permanent Environmental Justice Advisory Group within the DEC and an Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council, and would require state agencies to adopt and abide by effective environmental justice policies (A.947).

"The Assembly's Earth Day legislative package helps create and maintain a safe environment in New York State while putting the health of citizens at the forefront," Assemblyman Thiele said. "Now is the time for making bigger strides on the green front and protecting the state's environment. This package of bills highlights the Assembly's commitment to the environment, the health of New Yorkers and future generations."