Directs the commissioner to publicly publish an annual report on the environmental radiation surveillance program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by William Colton and 2 co-sponsors

DEC will publish an annual, freely accessible report on radioactive releases/disposals analyzed with DOH to show trends and cumulative impacts.

ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.490

Summary of Bill A. 11029 (2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

The bill directs the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to publicly publish an annual report on environmental radiation surveillance.

The goal is to provide transparent, publicly accessible information on radioactive releases or disposals and to analyze trends and cumulative impacts in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH).

Key provisions and changes

Amends Environmental Conservation Law, adding a new provision to subdivision 1 of section 3-0301.

New requirement (paragraph ii): DEC must freely publish on its website an annual report that covers radioactive releases or disposals as information gathered under 6 NYCRR 380 (the regulation governing certain radiation-related activities).

The annual report must be analyzed, in collaboration with DOH, to show:

Trends in radioactive releases or disposals
The cumulative impact of such releases or disposals

The bill also requires notification of other relevant agencies if contamination exceeds standards for maximum allowable levels in drinking water or food sources, as prescribed by applicable state and federal law. This ensures inter-agency communication in cases of significant contamination.

Who/what is affected

State agencies:

DEC would be responsible for compiling, analyzing, and publicly releasing the annual radiation surveillance report.
DOH would participate in the analysis with DEC.
Other relevant agencies must be notified in the event of contamination exceeding safety standards.

Public:

The general public gains access to an annual, freely available report detailing radioactive releases/disposals and their potential environmental and health impacts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: The act takes effect on the 90th day after it becomes law.

Reporting cadence: Annual publication by DEC (publicly available on the DEC website).

Processed through the standard legislative path:

Introduced and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
Reported (May 5, 2026)
Advanced to third reading (May 7, 2026)

Additional notes

The bill emphasizes transparency and public accessibility of information about environmental radiation.

It formalizes collaboration between DEC and DOH for analysis and interpretation of trends and cumulative impacts.

It creates a mechanism to alert other agencies when contamination surpasses regulatory standards, potentially triggering a broader inter-agency response.