Cuomo Signs Avella and Braunstein's Brownfield Legislation

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill proposed by state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and state Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, D-Bayside, that would require the city to notify community boards of new brownfield site cleanups.

Currently, the city’s Department of Environmental Conservation requires a period of public comment for a brownfield cleanup and notifies adjacent property owners, nearby schools and local newspapers. But community boards had previously not been privy to information about new cleanups.

“Brownfield cleanups are significant environmental projects that can have a widespread impact on residents and the local community,” Avella said. “Often times, these brownfield cleanup projects, when finished, lead to large developments that also impact the quality of life for residents. Community boards play an important role in these land use decisions and, therefore, it is critical that they are also notified of any new brownfield site cleanups.”

A brownfield site is real property, the redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a contaminant, such as hazardous waste or petroleum.

Under Avella and Braunstein’s bill, the DEC would be forced to notify community boards of all new brownfield cleanups.