Prohibits publicly owned treatment works from accepting wastewater associated with the exploration, delineation, development, or production of natural gas

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Prohibits publicly owned treatment works from accepting wastewater associated with the exploration, delineation, development, or production of natural gas from high-volume hydraulic fracturing; provides exceptions.

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A880, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Committee

Energy And Telecommunications · New York State Senate

Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly, Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section 1: Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law, no publicly owned treatment works shall accept wastewater associated with the explo- ration, delineation, development or production of natural gas where high volume hydraulic fracturing is utilized. Section 2: A publicly owned treatment works may appeal to the department of environmental conservation division of water for an exemption from section one of this act if it can meet a standard of performance that shall permit no discharge of pollutants Section 3: Defines "High volume hydraulic fracturing" or (HVHF) Section 4: This act shall take effect immediately.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Energy And Telecommunications
Senate Energy And TelecommunicationsFeb 25, 2025Result: passed
(7) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Dana Levenberg, Demond Meeks and 1 more on Agora

Democratic3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Kevin S. Parker says this is needed

Production brine, or produced water, contains high concentrations of salts that make it a useful agent for de-icing and dust control. Production brine, however, also has properties that raise public health concerns. The Department notes in the draft Supplemental Generic Envi- ronmental Impact Statement that production brine may contain elevated concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), such as radium and its decay products. The Department further states that activities with the potential to concentrate NORM need to come under regulatory oversight to ensure adequate protection of workers, the public and the environment. Moreover, independent testing has identi- fied increased levels of hydrocarbons such as benzene in production brine from drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale. In recognition of the potential health impacts from releasing production brine into the environment, this legislation will prohibit its use for road and land spreading. This legislation further prohibits the use of flowback water, which contains high concentrations of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, for these purposes as well.

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.

Full history

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly
Feb 25, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 17, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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