Last year, New York Senator Jessica Ramos introduced S. 2510-A (the Bill), which would require all major projects (i.e., projects with significant impact on the environment based on criteria established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)) located in or adjacent to a “disadvantaged community” to submit a written enhanced public participation plan to NYSDEC as part of the proposed project’s permitting process. The written enhanced public participation plan process would require multiple public hearings, quarterly reports, public notices and certifications.

During the last legislative session, the Bill died in the Assembly. Now that a new legislative session has begun, the Bill has again been working its way through the Legislature, having passed the Senate on Feb. 15 and been referred to the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation. The road to passage is still far off.