File #: Int 0596-2014    Version: * Name: Requiring a study and mitigation of the impacts of methane gas emissions on city trees.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Parks and Recreation
On agenda: 12/17/2014
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a study and mitigation of the impacts of methane gas emissions on city trees.
Sponsors: Donovan J. Richards, Andrew Cohen, Mathieu Eugene, Peter A. Koo, Rosie Mendez, Deborah L. Rose, James G. Van Bramer, Helen K. Rosenthal, Carlos Menchaca, Costa G. Constantinides, Mark Levine
Council Member Sponsors: 11
Summary: The bill adds a new section 142 to Title 18 of the administrative code mandating that the department study and mitigate the impacts of methane gas emissions on city-owned trees. The bill calls for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection, to create or review and adopt maps showing fugitive methane gas emissions from gas mains in the city. Where maps of the canopy of trees under DPR’s jurisdiction, when overlaid upon the maps of methane gas emissions from gas mains, indicate that such trees may be impacted by fugitive methane gas emissions, DPR would have to perform a field survey to determine whether the trees have been damaged by the emissions. Where the field surveys confirm damage to such trees, DPR must document the damage, take appropriate steps to notify the responsible utility and require mitigation or seek reimbursement as may be appropriate.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 596
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2017*Donovan J. Richards City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/17/2014*Donovan J. Richards City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/17/2014*Donovan J. Richards City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 596

 

By Council Members Richards, Cohen, Eugene, Koo, Mendez, Rose, Van Bramer, Rosenthal, Menchaca, Constantinides and Levine

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a study and mitigation of the impacts of methane gas emissions on city trees.

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 18 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 18-142 to read as follows:

                     § 18-142 Study of fugitive methane gas impacts on the urban forest. a. The department, in conjunction with the department of environmental protection, shall create or review and adopt maps showing fugitive methane gas emissions from gas mains in the city.

                     b. Where maps of the canopy of trees under the jurisdiction of the commissioner, when overlaid upon the maps described in subdivision a, indicate, in the discretion of the department and the department of environmental protection, that trees under the jurisdiction of the commissioner may be impacted by fugitive methane gas emissions, the department shall confirm, by means of a field survey, whether such trees have been damaged by such emissions.

                     c. Where field surveys confirm damage to trees under the jurisdiction of the commissioner from fugitive methane gas emissions, the department shall document such damage, take appropriate steps to notify the responsible utility and mandate mitigation or seek reimbursement as may be appropriate.

§2. This local law shall take effect immediately.

 

 

LS# 2198   SS

11/7/14 3:56 p.m.