However, that is not the case of the proposal at all. The bill, Senate Bill S4408, would do as the sponsors memo says:
“adds a new section 9-0508 to the environmental conservation law to allow the department to enter into agreements for the sole purpose of aiding in the interconnection of renewable energy installations which are located outside of reforestation lands and the transmission and distribution of electricity from those installations. Any agreement made for this purpose would be prohibited from interfering with the operation or use of the reforestation areas.”
In other words, it would allow power lines to cross state lands to assist in the movement of solar and wind power from nearby solar facilities across the state land. While it’s not completely clear if such a policy is prohibited currently – the state does from time to time permit the construction of power lines across reforestation areas – this explicitly makes it a permitted use on the state lands.
Here is the actual text of the proposed law.
§ 9-0508. AGREEMENTS AND EASEMENTS RELATED TO RENEWABLE ENERGY INTERCON-
NECTION.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE PUBLIC LANDS
LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE DEPARTMENT MAY, IN ANY LANDS ACQUIRED AS
REFORESTATION AREAS BY THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9-0501 OF
THIS TITLE, ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LEASES,
OR EASEMENTS, FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF AIDING IN THE INTERCONNECTION OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTALLATIONS LOCATED OUTSIDE SUCH LANDS AND THE TRANS-
MISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICITY THEREFROM. SUCH INTERCONNECTION
RIGHTS SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF SUCH REFORESTATION
AREAS FOR THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY WERE ACQUIRED AND AS DEFINED IN
SECTION THREE OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION.
ANY AGREEMENT MADE AND ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE
RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES AND BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF SUCH OFFICE.
Is this proposal a good one or a bad one? That’s up to you to considered. I will note that the concept of the Hewitt Act is explicitly multiple use, with forest products and mineral products like oil and gas production having always been part of state forest management, along with hunting, fishing, camping, and watershed production.
Legally, as an employee of the legislature, I can’t advocate for or against this measure. But I can say, look at the facts as a whole, and read what the measure does and not what the politicians say it does. Indeed, this bill should not have generated much controversy, as while power lines can require a forest cut or impact scenic resources, their is a public comment and administrative review proceedings to ensure such decisions serve the public benefit.
For many people living in rural areas, the burn barrel is a standard, practical tool for managing household waste. While it gets the job done, we’ve all noticed that distinct, heavy smell when plastic gets into the mix. That scent is actually a physical sign of the science happening inside the barrel.
Why the Smell is So Strong
Because a burn barrel doesn’t get as hot as a high-tech industrial incinerator, the plastic doesn’t “disappear.” Instead, the heat breaks the plastic’s long chemical chains into hundreds of smaller, lighter pieces. Our noses are incredibly sensitive to these—we can detect some of them even when they make up only a few parts per billion in the air.
The Different “Notes” in the Air
Depending on what’s in the bag that day, you might notice a range of different scents:
Sour or Pungent: This often comes from organic acids or “aldehydes” (like formaldehyde) being released. It’s that sharp smell that can make your eyes water.
Sweet or Solvent-like: Polystyrene (like foam cups) or certain glues can produce a sickly-sweet, gasoline-style scent as they melt and turn into vapor.
Acre and Sharp: Burning PVC or materials with chlorine can create a very “stinging” scent that catches in the back of your throat.
Heavy or Tarry: This is usually the result of the smoke itself, where bits of carbon and oils haven’t fully burned away.
Staying Safe
If you’re using a burn barrel, the best way to handle the situation is to work with the environment:
Fresh Air is Key: Always keep your barrels in wide-open spaces where there is plenty of natural airflow to dilute the smoke.
Stay Upwind: Keep the wind at your back so the smoke moves away from you. The “toxic” part of the smell is mostly an issue if you’re standing directly in the plume where the concentration is highest.
Sort When Possible: Since mixed household waste creates the most unpredictable smells, keeping things like heavy foams or PVC out of the barrel can make the air around your property much clearer.
Essentially, that “terrible” smell is just a signal from your nose that the air is thick with these tiny, unburned fragments. By staying in a well-ventilated area and avoiding the direct path of the smoke, you can avoid breathing in thse sometimes noxious chemicals that are part of our industrial society.
