NY State Senate Bill S4759

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (2)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 04, 2012	referred to environmental conservation
Apr 20, 2011	referred to environmental conservation

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Environmental Conservation
Law Section:: Environmental Conservation Law
Laws Affected:: Add §9-0511, En Con L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S3617
2013-2014: S3638
2015-2016: S1564

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the commissioner of environmental conservation to grant utility easements within a reforestation area upon certain findings.

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER:S4759

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the granting
of utility easements within reforestation areas

PURPOSE:
To authorize the issuance of a permit to allow for a utility easement
along a public roadway on state owned reforestation land.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill adds a new Section 9-0511 of the Environmental Conservation
Law to provide that DEC may issue a permit for the placement of
utility lines along a public roadway right of way in instances where
the municipal entity holding the right of way includes the placement
of utilities.
In order to issue the permit, DEC must review the proposed easement
for environmental compatibility and determine that there will be no
significant impact on the environment when considered in light
of likely alternative energy sources. (i.e., a propane tank and/or a
generator.)

EXISTING LAW:
Existing law does not provide authority for DEC to issue easements
along public right of ways in state owned reforestation lands to

private landowners.

JUSTIFICATION:
Article 9 of the Environmental Conservation law has been interpreted
by DEC to prohibit DEC from issuing a right of way for utility
purposes through an existing public roadway in order to provide
utility service to private individuals who own cabins within the
reforestation land.
Section 9-0501 of the ECL provides that reforestation lands consist of
lands of at least 500 contiguous acres which are forever devoted to
the planting, growing, and harvesting of trees. Many of these
reforestation areas were acquired with existing residential cabins,
and public roadways. In instances where a cabin owner wishes to
provide utility service to his residence, he is often forced to opt
for the use of a generator as an alternative power source. This
alternative
power source actually may result in greater environmental stress than
electric service. There are an increasing number of individuals who
are turning former seasonal cabins into year round homes for
retirement usage which could utilize utility service.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2009 - S.3617, A.7140

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal cost based on review process and permit issuance.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  4759

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             April 20, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  O'MARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation

AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation  to  the
  granting of utility easements within reforestation areas

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by  adding  a
new section 9-0511 to read as follows:
S 9-0511. UTILITY EASEMENTS.
  THE  COMMISSIONER  IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO GRANT UTILITY EASEMENTS FOR
FAIR MARKET VALUE WITHIN A REFORESTATION AREA FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVID-
ING ELECTRICAL POWER TO PERSONS RESIDING WITHIN SUCH  AREA.  SUCH  EASE-
MENTS  SHALL  BE  LIMITED  TO PLACEMENT WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF A PUBLIC
ROADWAY. ANY SUCH EASEMENT MAY BE GRANTED UPON APPLICATION BY ANY PERSON
RESIDING WITHIN A REFORESTATION AREA, WHERE GRANTING  OF  SUCH  EASEMENT
WOULD ALLOW SUCH APPLICANT TO RECEIVE ELECTRICAL POWER. IN MAKING HIS OR
HER  DETERMINATION  WITH  RESPECT TO WHETHER OR NOT AN APPLICATION FOR A
UTILITY EASEMENT SHALL BE GRANTED, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSIDER:
  1. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPATIBILITY OF UTILITY POLES AND UTILITY  LINES
WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS, INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF SUCH POLES AND LINES ON
THE  NATURAL  ENVIRONMENT,  WILDLIFE  AND  BIRDS,  THE AESTHETICS OF THE
REGION AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES; AND
  2. WHETHER OR NOT THE PUBLIC GOOD SHALL BE  SERVED  BY  GRANTING  SUCH
EASEMENT.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.



 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09728-01-1

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S4759

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

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S4759 (ACTIVE) - Details

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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senate Bill S4759

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Sponsored By

Thomas F. O'Mara

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

Your Voice

Actions

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Details

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S4759 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments