PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Goldstein, Representative from Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on Citizens Air Complaint Program and Related Legislation
1:37:48
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140 sec
Eric Goldstein from NRDC testified on the importance of the Citizens Air Complaint Program and related legislation. He emphasized the need to enhance rather than end citizen enforcement provisions, expressing opposition to Intro 941 and support for other bills with some amendments.
- Opposed Intro 941, particularly provisions allowing extended idling near schools and reduced penalties for anti-idling technology
- Supported Intro 291 to increase civil penalties, but suggested capping bounty awards
- Agreed with the motivation behind Intro 747 for a code of conduct, but recommended amendments
- Supported Intro 5 for translating the citizen air complaint portal into other languages
Eric Goldstein
1:37:48
Good afternoon, Mister chairman, members of the committee, Eric Goldstein from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
1:37:53
The citizen complaint and citizen enforcement provisions of the city code are among the most creative and empowering actions in ever taken by the council to ensure implementation of city laws designed to safeguard public health and the quality of life for city residents.
1:38:07
They were headed in the early 19 seventies based upon the Federal Clean Air Act provision citizen supervision and they were designed to adjust serious air quality and noise quality problems, problems that continued to this day.
1:38:20
NRDC was among the first groups to use the air code provision in the 19 eighties when we went after diesel bus idling and diesel bus visible emissions.
1:38:29
To be sure, in recent years, the operation of these citizen enforcement programs has not been perfect, and we detail those issues in our written testimony But the need for the council is to mend these provisions to enhance them, not to end them.
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For despite the best efforts of DEP and its staff and despite the progress that's been made in reducing overall pollution, the need for citizen enforcement of our air and noise codes remains both necessary and desirable.
1:38:55
We oppose intro 941 in its current form and believe it would significantly weaken the citizen enforcement program.
1:39:02
Specifically, object we object to the provision that would allow idling adjacent to schools for 15 minutes, and we also object to the proposal that would allow for reduced penalty provisions of 50% if anti idling technology has been installed.
1:39:18
And while we are supportive of conversion to electric buses, electric vehicles, We set forth our details again in our written testimony.
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Interest 741 would require DEP to create a code of conduct.
1:39:32
We agree with the motivation behind this bill, but we believe it should be amended before passage.
1:39:39
We set that out in our written testimony.
1:39:42
Intro 291 introduced by council member amendment would increase civil penalties.
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NRDC supports this legislation.
1:39:50
We also encourage the council to consider adding some mechanism for capping the bounty awards that could result from these increased penalties.
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And finally, h o 5
James F. Gennaro
1:39:59
Thank you very much.
1:39:59
Thank you very much.
1:40:00
Time and success would
Eric Goldstein
1:40:02
require DEP to translate citizen air complaint portal into other languages.
1:40:06
We support that bill as well.
