Extends the authorization of residential property owners in high risk brush fire areas on Staten Island to cut and remove reeds

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Andrew J. Lanza says this is needed

Every year on Staten Island there are series of dangerous brushfires. Many areas on Staten Island are prone to brushfires because they are thick with an invasive, nonnative species of weed - phragmites communis. Phragmites are reeds and combustible plants that commonly grow seven feet tall and often turn into tinderboxes especially during the spring and fall seasons. They have been the proven source of numerous brush fires which often escalate and threaten surrounding properties. Accord- ing to information provided by the New York City Fire Department, in the past 15 plus years there have been over 7,400 reported brush fires on Staten Island with close to 200 of them being "all hands on" requiring all fire houses on the Island to send assistance. This legislation extends chapter 266 of the laws of 2022 for another year. It allows a residential property owner in a high-risk brush fire area in the borough of Staten Island to obtain a no-cost permit to cut down these invasive combustible reeds thereby reducing the life-threat- ening pharagmite fires that not only destroy property and homes but put our first responders at risk as they battle these blazes. The no-cost permits can be obtained via telephone or in person through the Staten Island borough president's office. Furthermore, information regarding the availability of the residential fire break permits can be found on the Department of Environmental Conservation website.

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.