Decreases the setback requirement in the Peconic and Gardiner's Bays for the Suffolk County Lease Program and Sugar Kelp production from 1,000 feet to 500 feet.
Summary
S03255 would amend the Environmental Conservation Law to reduce the shoreline setback restriction for shellfish cultivation zones in Peconic and Gardiner’s Bays. Under current law, underwater lands within 1,000 feet of the high water mark may not be included in a shellfish cultivation zone; this bill would change that distance to 500 feet for the Suffolk County Lease Program and sugar kelp production. The practical effect is to make more nearshore underwater acreage eligible for lease-based aquaculture use.
The bill is narrowly focused on aquaculture siting rules in Suffolk County and is intended to expand opportunities for shellfish cultivation and sugar kelp farming in the designated bays. It would not create a new program, but would modify an existing geographic restriction in state environmental law. The change would take effect immediately if enacted.
Impact
The bill would amend section 13-0302 of the Environmental Conservation Law by reducing the no-cultivation buffer from 1,000 feet to 500 feet in Peconic and Gardiner’s Bays. This would directly affect the Suffolk County Lease Program and sugar kelp producers by opening additional nearshore waters to shellfish cultivation zones, potentially increasing available acreage for aquaculture leases and related operations. It would also alter how state regulators apply shoreline setback standards in these bays.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or votes are available, so there is no recorded debate or formal vote history to gauge legislative sentiment. Based on the bill’s caption and text, the measure appears to be a targeted economic and aquaculture expansion proposal rather than a broad regulatory overhaul. The available context suggests a straightforward policy change with a likely pro-industry rationale, but no documented support or opposition is provided in the materials supplied.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the reduction of the shoreline setback itself: supporters would view the change as improving access for shellfish and sugar kelp cultivation, while opponents may argue that a smaller buffer could raise concerns about coastal use conflicts, environmental impacts, navigation, or shoreline protection. Because there are no transcripts or votes, it is not possible to identify specific legislators, agencies, or stakeholder groups taking positions in the record provided.
Same As
Decreases the setback requirement in the Peconic and Gardiner's Bays for the Suffolk County Lease Program and Sugar Kelp production from 1,000 feet to 500 feet.
Decreases the setback requirement in the Peconic and Gardiner's Bays for the Suffolk County Lease Program and Sugar Kelp production from 1,000 feet to 500 feet.
Requires that land formerly used as an armory which was conveyed to the town of Riverhead, county of Suffolk by the state in 2011, to be leased to the YMCA of Long Island for the provision of recreational and educational programs.
Decreases the distance from the high water mark certain lands under water of Gardiner's and Peconic bays have to be ceded to a county from one thousand feet to five hundred feet.
Directs the department of public service to promulgate rules, regulations and model policies regarding setback requirements for the siting of battery energy storage systems; requires minimum setback requirements for commercial energy storage systems, with a capacity of three megawatts or greater, of no less than seven hundred fifty feet from residential property and no less than three hundred feet from residential property located in a city with a population of one million or more inhabitants; requires public hearings prior to the approval of an application for a permit for such systems.
Requires that land formerly used as an armory which was conveyed to the town of Riverhead, county of Suffolk by the state in 2011, to be leased to the YMCA of Long Island for the provision of recreational and educational programs.
Provides for the distribution of revenue from hotel and motel taxes in Suffolk county; provides $250,000 per fiscal year be utilized by Suffolk county for program support of a not-for-profit organization that manages and owns the Montauk Lighthouse.
Permits land formerly used as an armory which was conveyed to the town of Riverhead, county of Suffolk by the state in 2011, to be sold or leased to the YMCA of Long Island.