Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill on Oct. 25 sponsored by state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and state Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, to reduce emissions of air pollutants from petroleum bulk storage facilities across New York.
The often dark exterior paint colors of petroleum tanks increase the temperature of the tank’s metal, further contributing to hazardous pollution. This legislation amends the environmental conservation law to require petroleum bulk storage facilities to paint their tanks white or beige/cream in order to reduce heat in petroleum bulk storage tanks and thus the evaporation loss of harmful pollutants. The bill will take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
“Petroleum bulk storage facilities located near many low-income communities and communities of color have contributed to the decades of environmental injustice in the Bronx,” Biaggi said. “As these communities experience disproportionate consequences of the climate crisis, we must urgently address the racial inequities caused by environmental policy failures head-on. I introduced S841A to require facilities to paint their petroleum tanks in environmentally conscious light colors to ensure communities in the Bronx and across the State are no longer exposed to harmful pollutants from petroleum facilities. I want to extend my gratitude to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblymember Septimo and Governor Hochul for their partnership and commitment to addressing the climate crisis.”
