Assemblyman Bill Magee (D-Nelson) announced that he helped pass a package of legislation designed to protect our children and communities from dangerous pollutants. Magee’s support of these measures builds on his commitment to protection our region’s quality of life.
“Protecting our region’s air, soil and water is a priority we all share,” said Magee. “The state budget invests millions to protect the environment and these bills we passed today will help keep toxic materials out of the hands of children and our community.”
To ensure that children’s products are safe for our kids, Magee supported a bill to restrict the use of dangerous chemicals in products meant for children (A.5612-A). He also supported a bill to create stricter standards for lamps containing mercury (A.5844-A). Medical research has shown that exposure to high levels of mercury can have severe health effects that include neurological damage, particularly for children and infants. Mercury released into the environment can impact fisheries, leading to restrictions on consumption of fish.
Another proposal would keep rural communities and small cities from becoming targeted by polluting industries, by requiring the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to publish a list of “high local environmental impact zones” and consider various factors that contribute to an area’s environmental health (A.3382). A related measure would establish a permanent Environmental Justice Advisory Group and an Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council within the DEC to create environmental justice policies that state agencies would then be required to adopt and abide by (A.3063).
Earlier this year, Magee helped pass a state budget that contains a record $300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The EPF helps implement important environmental protections, including local landfill closures, recycling efforts and farmland protection. To protect water quality, the budget includes $200 million to assist local governments in fixing aging sewer and water mains. The budget also includes $31 million to fund agricultural programs, which help farmers protect soil and water quality.
“Living in upstate, we cherish a clean and healthy environment,” said Magee. “These proposed laws will keep toxic products out of people’s homes and help ensure our region doesn’t become a dumping ground for polluting industries. It builds on our region’s commitment to a healthy environment for generations to come.”