BILL NUMBER: S9877
SPONSOR: GALLIVAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
requiring hydrofluorocarbon substance standards conform with the United
States environmental protection agency rules and regulations
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
This bill will ensure that Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are
subject to the same regulatory requirements as prescribed by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and that the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation cannot introduce addi-
tional regulations that exceed those standards as prescribed by the US
EPA.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the Environmental Conservation law by adding a new
subdivision governing the Department's "powers and duties" to require
that any rules or regulations relating to hydrofluorocarbon substances
established or implemented by the Department must conform with, and
shall not exceed, any applicable rules or regulations set forth by the
United States EPA relating to hydrofluorocarbon substances.
§ 2. Establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Climate Leadership Community Protection Act calls for an HFC phase-
down that aligns with the approach taken by the United States Environ-
mental Protection Act and the Montreal Protocol, which is an interna-
tional treaty aimed at protecting the earth's ozone layer that the
United States signed. This bill would preclude the imposition of regu-
lations that exceed these standards.
More restrictive regulations would compel homeowners to spend an addi-
tional $8,000-$12,000 on new HVAC units and/or products to run air
conditioning and refrigerator units. Grocery stores across the state
would need to completely change their refrigeration and HVAC systems.
Larger supermarkets would be forced to replace refrigeration racks at an
estimated $1 million per rack. Aligning State regulations with the
aforementioned standards is crucial to limit the likely deleterious
financial impact on homeowners and businesses alike. This bill will
secure that goal.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S9877: 19-0301 environmental conservation law