FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Thursday, July 12, 2001 |
Release #244-01 |
Contact: | Sunny Mindel / Sid Dinsay | (212) 788-2958 |
The first bill before
me is Introductory Number 692, sponsored by Council Member Michels at my request.
The bill will strengthen the City's ability to punish individuals and businesses
that violate regulations governing the cleanup and disposal of hazardous materials.
Under current law, individuals and businesses that violate hazardous substance
storage and disposal regulations are liable for civil penalties of up to $5,000
per day for each day that the violation exists. This legislation will significantly
enhance our enforcement capabilities by increasing the civil fine to $10,000
per day for each day the violation exists. The bill will also increase the
civil penalty for failure to notify the City of the release of a hazardous
substance from a civil fine of up to $10,000 to a civil fine of up to $25,000.
Introductory Number 692 creates new criminal sanctions as well. With this bill, any person or business that violates hazardous substance regulations will be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by up to one year in prison and/or a fine of at least $25,000.
I submitted this legislation to the City Council in response to the tragic death of Michael Hanly, a City Sanitation worker who was killed when he was doused with illegally disposed of hydrofluoric acid in 1996. Had the person or business that illegally disposed of the acid followed proper procedures, Michael would likely be alive today. It is my hope that the stiffer fines and the new criminal penalties in this legislation will help the City to better enforce the hazardous substance regulations so that we can prevent tragedies like the one that befell Michael Hanly.
For the reasons previously stated, I will now sign the bill.
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