Bill > S05187

This bill strengthens New York State's environmental protection laws by establishing clearer mechanisms for recovering costs associated with illegal waste disposal. Specifically, the legislation creates a new section in the environmental conservation law that allows state departments, agencies, and municipalities to recover response costs and damages to natural resources when someone illegally disposes of waste or causes a substantial threat of contaminant release. The bill establishes that any expenditures made by the department in responding to such incidents will constitute a legal debt against the responsible party, and the state can file a lien on the responsible party's property to recover these costs. Furthermore, the bill increases potential financial penalties for violations, including the ability to assess treble or five-times damages in cases where a person has unreasonably or in bad faith failed to comply with environmental cleanup orders. This legislation aims to create stronger financial deterrents for illegal waste disposal and provide state agencies with more robust legal tools to address environmental contamination and ensure responsible parties bear the costs of remediation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5187