S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9311
I N S E N A T E
February 27, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, COONEY, WEBB -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environ-
mental Conservation
AN ACT directing the department of environmental conservation to conduct
a study on ecological restoration needs of Jamaica Bay
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. (a) The department of environmental conservation shall
conduct a beneficial use study to determine ecological restoration needs
in Jamaica Bay. Such study shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) a description of the bathymetry of target areas of Jamaica Bay and
a map of the borrow pits;
(ii) the ecological service quality of the borrow pits over multiple
weather seasons at multiple depths, including in-depth analysis of the
populations of fin fish species that utilize such areas during different
seasons;
(iii) the geotechnical conditions of all pit bottoms;
(iv) the significance of the borrow pits regarding the absorption of
heat during summer months when adjacent shallow areas experience ulva
sulfide conditions; and
(v) any other policy recommendations regarding the ecological restora-
tion of Jamaica Bay.
(b) The department of environmental conservation shall:
(i) issue a report on the findings of such study to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no
later than March 30, 2031; and
(ii) publish such report on the department of environmental conserva-
tion's website.
(c) There shall be a moratorium of any placement of any type of sedi-
ment or fill into the borrow pits in Jamaica Bay for a period of five
years commencing on the effective date of this act, or until the study
is completed and published, whichever is later.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03536-02-6