Bill > A03167

This bill establishes a new legal framework to hold oil, gas, and other well producers liable for actions during exploration, drilling, or development that cause a public water system to lose its filtration avoidance criteria waiver. Specifically, if a producer's activities directly result in a water system failing to meet existing federal (40 C.F.R. § 141.71) or state filtration avoidance criteria, they can be held responsible. The bill provides that violators will be subject to civil penalties, sanctions, and additional civil damages as outlined in section 71-1307 of the environmental conservation law. Furthermore, the commissioner of environmental conservation is empowered to immediately suspend exploration, drilling, or development operations found to be in violation. Aggrieved parties can challenge such suspension orders through a legal process involving the state supreme court, with the review governed by article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules. The bill amends both the environmental conservation law and the public health law to implement these provisions, and it will take effect immediately upon passage.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3167