Relates to residential environment transparency

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kristen Gonzalez says this is needed

In 1980 Congress established the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, informally called the Superfund, that allows the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up contaminated sites. The Environmental Protection Agency or their appointee, has been conducting testing and performing remediation efforts to clear up these hazardous vapors have been found in the soil and groundwater beneath Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. As the EPA works to inspect residences around the Plume site, they have faced pushback from landlords and other building managers refusing to permit this crucial testing. For a Superfund site like the Meeker Plume, residents in the basement and lower-level apartments are most at risk for ill health effects including cancer and impacts to the immune system. This bill would remedy this issue by establishing a right to testing for eligible apartments, penalty provisions to compel testing of eligible residences, and include language that a landlord or owner shall not be liable for a violation if a tenant refused entry or if testing has been completed. As the EPA works to test and remediate the Meeker Avenue Plume site, it is important for the health of our community to ensure they are able to perform this crucial work as this bill seeks to enable.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.