Senate Bill S8579

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8579
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 16, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
 
 AN ACT to direct the department of environmental conservation to conduct
   a study to identify potential sites along all highways and thruways in
   the state for wildlife  crossings  and  directing  the  department  of
   transportation  to create a report on the fiscal impact of such study;
   and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
   of
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. For the purposes of this act:
   (a)  "Wildlife crossing" means a habitat structure that that joins two
 or more areas of wildlife habitat, allowing  wildlife  to  cross  human-
 caused  barriers  from  one  habitat area to another. Such crossings may
 include but not be limited to underpass tunnels and overpass bridges.
   (b) "Human-caused barrier" means a road, culvert, commercial or  resi-
 dential development or other human-made structure that has the potential
 to affect the natural movement of wildlife across the landscape.
   § 2. The department of environmental conservation is hereby authorized
 and  directed  to  conduct a study to identify potential sites along all
 highways and thruways in the state for wildlife crossings.  The  depart-
 ment  of  environmental  conservation  shall  submit  such  study to the
 department of transportation no later than one year after the  effective
 date of this act. Such study shall examine, at a minimum, the following:
   (a)  Identification of existing highway or thruway crossings that pose
 a risk to successful wildlife migration or that pose a risk to the trav-
 eling public because large animals use the crossing;
   (b) Identification of other  human-caused  barriers,  especially  road
 segments that negatively affect wildlife habitat and movement;
   (c)  Information about the habitat and movement needs of wildlife with
 particular attention to large animals or other species that pose a  risk
 to the traveling public;
   (d)  Information about the habitat quality needed to support and main-
 tain viable populations of wildlife;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14991-01-2
 S. 8579                             2
 
   (e) Information about how increased movement of species could  benefit
 overused and highly impacted habitat areas;
   (f) Maps that identify locations of:
   (i) existing wildlife crossings; and
   (ii)  potential  sites  for  additional  wildlife crossings based this
 study;
   (g) Economic benefits anticipated from  preserving  wildlife  movement
 patterns,  including  the  potential  impact of reduced wildlife-vehicle
 collisions;
   (h) The feasibility and constructability of wildlife crossing  infras-
 tructure; and
   (i)  Any  additional  information that the department of environmental
 conservation deem necessary and appropriate to carry out the intent  and
 purposes of this act.
   §  3. The department of transportation shall utilize the study submit-
 ted by the department of environmental conservation pursuant to  section
 two  of  this  act  to conduct a report to identify the fiscal impact of
 implementing such study. Such report shall determine,  at  minimum,  the
 following:
   (a) The potential costs and economics of wildlife crossing infrastruc-
 ture, including benefits or other effects on local communities;
   (b)  The value of the project to native large animals and other native
 species;
   (c) Surrounding land-use and ownership and an evaluation of  the  need
 for  conservation easements or other real estate instrument necessary to
 maintain the viability of a proposed wildlife crossing; and
   (d) Any additional information that the department  of  transportation
 deem  necessary  and appropriate to carry out the intent and purposes of
 this act.
   § 4. The department of environmental conservation and  the  department
 of transportation may consult with any state or local office, agency, or
 department and request information from any such entity that is relevant
 and material to the completion of this study and report.
   § 5. No later than 18 months after the effective date of this act, the
 department of environmental conservation and the department of transpor-
 tation  shall  deliver the study pursuant to section two of this act and
 the report made pursuant to section three of this act to  the  governor,
 the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed two years after such effective date.