New York state agencies are required to consider the future likelihood of extreme weather in their decisions on public works projects, industrial and commercial permits and regulations, according to a new law signed on Sept. 22.
For New York, those calculations include rising sea levels, more flooding and more severe storms.
“The new reality of extreme weather has had painful consequences for New Yorkers in virtually every region of our state,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “This new law contains a comprehensive package of actions that help strengthen and reimagine our infrastructure with the next storm in mind.”
It requires agencies to consider the future risk of storm surges, rising seas and flooding when issuing permits and making funding or regulatory decisions. Standards would apply to siting sewage treatment plants and hazardous waste disposal, designs for chemical and petroleum storage, issuing permits for oil and gas drilling and protecting open space.
Conservation officials are required to adopt regulations by 2016 for establishing science-based projections for rising sea levels. Updates are required at least every five years after that. According to the governor’s office, scientists have confirmed a sea level rise of about 13 inches since 1900 along New York’s coast.
Topics Agencies Legislation New York
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