The New York State Legislative Session came to a disappointing close in June, resolving very few environmental issues and leaving many of our key environmental priorities stranded for another year. Weighed against the enormity of climate change, species extinction and irreversible contamination events, the handful of bills that did pass both houses were a disappointment, namely because of the Assembly's refusal to advance the Senate’s more ambitious environmental agenda. Despite our dissatisfaction, the bills that did manage to make it to the Governor’s desk still have value and deserve to become law. Three bills in particular stand out to us:
- S.1548/A.1502 would prohibit the use of certain toxic substances in menstrual products, including lead, mercury, formaldehyde, triclosan, toluene, talc and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Many New Yorkers are unaware of the harmful chemicals they may be exposing themselves to by using menstrual products. PFAS, one of the most egregious classes of chemicals, do not break down easily and accumulate in our bodies over time, increasing the risk of long-term health problems. New York State has already banned the use of PFAS in firefighting foam, food packaging, and apparel, but more action is needed to turn off the tap on these dangerous chemicals that find their way into our drinking water, requiring the use of expensive filtration. This bill would help limit another pathway of exposure for New Yorkers.
- A.4997/S.4289 would prohibit the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial and biomedical purposes. These “living fossils” that predate dinosaurs by more than 200 million years play a critical role in supporting the ecological function of estuaries and serve as a food source for many birds, turtles and fish. They have been over-harvested for their blood by the medical industry and as bait by the fishing industry, to the point of being vulnerable to local extinction. There are safe, effective alternatives for the medical use of horseshoe crab blood, but the market for their blood is lucrative and their capture has spiked in recent years. As nearby states ban the taking of these magnificent creatures, there will be more harvesting in New York unless we protect them and the ecosystems that depend on them.
- S.8417/A.8888 would remove the outdated “100 foot rule”, an unfair policy that allows for-profit gas corporations to charge existing customers millions of dollars each year to pay for expanding methane gas pipelines to new customers. It is estimated that New Yorkers paid $200 million dollars last year to hook up new residences to gas systems when there were price competitive, zero emissions, renewable heating and cooling alternatives available. Gas utilities can charge customers directly for the construction and maintenance of pipelines, which can cost up to $6 million per mile. Passage of this bill would end the subsidy and put greener, more affordable electric alternatives on even footing.
Please ask Governor Hochul to sign these three bills by December 31st! These important policies will help to protect our health, preserve our natural ecosystems, and make utility costs more affordable for New Yorkers!
