Both the New York State Senate and Assembly recently passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (8th Senate District), that would make it easier for residents to protect their families from potential environmental hazards by increasing public access to information about local environmental conditions.

"People have a right to know what is happening in their neighborhoods. If there are conditions that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land our homes are on, that information should be easily accessible," said Fuschillo. "This legislation would give local homeowners the ability to conduct a specific search to see what's happening in their town."

Fuschillo's legislation would make it easier for residents to find out about environmental conditions in their community using the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB). The ENB is a valuable tool for increasing public awareness of conditions or activities in their community which might affect the environment. Residents would be able to search the ENB on the Internet using a Zip code, street address or GPS coordinates to find out whether there are activities or sites affecting the air, water or soil in their communities.

Although the ENB is currently available online, it is not searchable by location, making it harder for local residents to find the information that is related to their hometown.

The legislation will soon be sent to Governor George Pataki.