Eric Goldstein of NRDC supports most bills but says 561-A needs work

Cut it out.

Good afternoon, Chair Gennaro.

I'm supposed to say your name.

Okay, okay.

Just go ahead.

I'm Eric Goldstein from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Thank you for your leadership on this and so many other environmental issues.

The citizen complaint enforcement provision of the New York City Air Code was one of the most innovative environmental laws ever passed by the city council and a good example of the council's national leadership on environmental issues.

Indeed, NRDC filed one of the earliest citizen complaint enforcement actions more than 30 years ago when we chased after

express buses spewing black smoke along Madison Avenue and successfully were able to convince DEP to enforce action against them.

NRDC supports intros 11A, 48, 562, and 869A, all of which enhance the program's operations.

But there is a need for additional reforms to the citizen enforcement program.

One challenge is that in recent years, citizen activists have filed so many complaints

that this single section of law has placed an enormous burden on DEP staff and hampered the agency from undertaking other environmental enforcement actions that may be equal to or even higher priorities for the Mandami administration.

Second problem is that, at least historically, citizen complaint filings have not sufficiently targeted environmental justice communities where air pollution levels have been their highest.

And perhaps the biggest problem of the existing scheme is that it simply is not, in too many instances, had the desired effect of changing behavior and stopping pollution.

For too many violators of this law, they continue to treat the statute and the fines simply as a cost of doing business.

That's why one concept in Intro 561A that we strongly support would provide an incentive for vehicle operators to install less polluting equipment,

although we believe this provision needs further strengthening so that it will accomplish the objectives you are seeking to achieve.

Intro 561A attempts to address some of these issues but needs additional work.

Please finish your thoughts because I gave you a hard time before.

I will just say that while we do not support Intro 561A in its current form, we look forward to working with you to digesting all of the good testimony you've heard today and to coming up with legislation that will enhance this very important program.

Thank you very much, Eric.

Yeah, I mean, we have to hear it.

We have to get it.

input if we're going to get to where we need to be.

And I appreciate your ongoing partnership on this and countless other occasions.

So thank you again for being here.

Is Mendez, right?