Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts meeting
April 6, 2026, 1:00 PM
The Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts held hearings on three bills: Int 0730 on water quality testing, Int 0795 requiring outdoor drinking fountains in city parks, and Int 0804 on light pollution from fixtures in residential districts. The committee also heard Res 0351, a resolution recognizing the contributions of the federal Endangered Species Act. No votes were taken.
What was discussed
- Chair Gennaro and Council Member Wong open the hearing on three environmental bills Chair James Gennaro opened the hearing on Int 730-A (water-quality testing, which he sponsors), Int 795 (outdoor drinking fountains in parks), and Int 804 (light pollution). Council Member Phil Wong introduced his bill, Int 804, which would make outdoor residential lighting brighter than 3,000
- DEP and Parks present the administration's view on the three bills DEP Deputy Commissioner Beth DeFalco said the agency shares the goals of the water-quality and light-pollution bills but flagged implementation concerns — undefined terms such as 'other lighting,' a three-day test turnaround that isn't feasible for some tests, and resource constraints. Parks Acting
- How is the city doing on its nitrogen-removal mandate for wastewater plants? Chair Gennaro asked about the decades-old nitrogen-reduction program. DEP Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Hoffman said the East River and Jamaica Bay projects — eight treatment plants in all — are complete and running biological nutrient removal, governed by state DEC consent orders and the EPA's
- Which agency would enforce limits on excessively bright residential lighting? Council Member Phil Wong pressed the panel on enforcement of Int 804. DOB Assistant Commissioner Renaldo Hylton said the Department of Buildings does not currently accept complaints about bright residential lights, lacks light-measuring equipment, and could not estimate the cost or time to enforce.
- Who is responsible for fixing broken and 'orphan' drinking fountains? Council Member Harvey Epstein described long-broken fountains in his district, including one at Astor Place that Parks, DOT, and the local BID each disclaim. Parks' Mark Focht said Parks maintains only the 3,400-plus fountains on parkland and replaces them through a capital process, not
- Riverkeeper and the SWIM Coalition urge changes to the water-quality bill (Int 730-A) Em Ruby of Riverkeeper and Michelle Luebke of the SWIM Coalition testified jointly on Int 730-A, recommending a user study to prioritize near-shore testing locations, a focus on combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls, and better public reporting. Ruby argued DEP does not adequately report CSO
- Advocates back the light-pollution bill (Int 804) to protect birds and wildlife Kathy Nizzari and Margaret Lee of the Lights Out Coalition, artist Tina Pina ('Mother Pigeon'), and District 6 resident Juliet Hanlon testified in support of Int 804, describing the toll of nighttime light and window collisions on the city's birds and migratory species and urging that unnecessary
Agenda
4 items
- Int 0730-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring water quality testing and the posting of water quality testing results online Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0795-2026 A Local Law in relation to requiring the installation of outdoor drinking fountains in parks under the jurisdiction of the department of parks and recreation and in other public places Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0804-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the maximum allowable illuminance of residential outdoor lighting fixtures Hearing Held by Committee
- Res 0351-2026 Resolution to recognize the contributions of the federal Endangered Species Act to the natural environment of New York City Hearing Held by Committee