Key bill on anchorages passes Assembly 93-2; Senate must act

The New York State Assembly passed legislation by a vote of 93-2 today to pass the “Tanker Avoidance Zone” bill. Riverkeeper strongly supports this bill and calls on the Senate to act before the end of the legislative session Wednesday:

Jeremy Cherson, Campaign Advocacy Coordinator for Riverkeeper, said:

“Today, the Assembly delivered important legislation that will protect the Hudson River and waterfront communities from new barge anchorages that could support a massive expansion of crude oil shipments through the Hudson Valley. Given the unprecedented public outcry to the proposed re-industrialization of the river, we urge Senate leadership to pass the bill.”

The legislation (S.5197b/A.6825b) would allow the state Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner to better protect areas of the river that are important habitat for wildlife, as well as areas that are near waterfront communities.

With just hours left in the 2017 legislative session, Riverkeeper calls on the Senate leadership – Majority Leader Flanagan and Deputy Majority Leader DeFrancisco – to ensure that this legislation makes it onto the powerful Rules Committee agenda and the floor of the Senate.

Links:
Assembly bill A6825A: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/a6825/amendment/a
Senate bill S5197B: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/s5197/amendment/b