The bill adds a new section 156 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.
- Filed (End of Session)
History
Int. No. 281
By the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) (by request of the Queens Borough President)
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 18-156 to read as follows:
§ 18-156 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.
SS/JJ
LS #2198/Int. 0596-2014
LS #184 01/05/2018 3:00PM