Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation sponsored by New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. and State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle promoting water quality protection on Long Island. The bill previously passed both houses of the State Legislature by overwhelming margins.

The legislation, A.6314/S.4812, authorizes the enactment and enforcement of local laws requiring the monitoring of groundwater impacts resulting from mining or the reclamation of mines within counties with a population of one million or more which draws its primary source of drinking water for a majority of county residents from a designated sole source aquifer (Suffolk and Nassau County).

Assemblyman Fred Thiele stated, “We have seen time and again that mining operations on Long Island present a clear and present threat to our drinking water supply. The most recent example is Sand Land in Noyac. Suffolk County had to go to court to gain the right to test the groundwater. Ultimately, the County found pollution well in excess of drinking water standards. The State DEC has now begun the process of terminating the mining permit. It is in our best interest to require a comprehensive groundwater monitoring program on and around mining sites on Long Island. Routine groundwater sampling and monitoring can help determine what groundwater resources may be impacted from these types of operations and provide an early warning system for any current or future groundwater contamination.”

Senator Ken LaValle said, “It’s critically important that we continue to take a proactive approach to environmental protection of our land and water. Comprehensive ground-water monitoring programs on and around mining sites are crucial to determining impacts on our drinking water supply. This new law will provide the tools necessary to examine, evaluate and protect the quality of our drinking water.”