The Albany County Legislature and the Albany County Executive’s Office sent an official Memorandum in Support of New York State Assembly Bill A6192 (Kelles) and New York State Senate Bill S5759 (Harckham) to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate Andrea Stewart-Cousins today. The legislation is aimed at addressing the growing threat of PFAS contamination from biosolids.

The official support joins the county’s current moratorium on the uses of biosolids and a new local law setting notification standards if health risks are detected in local drinking water as recent efforts by officials to safeguard the health and safety of county residents.

Full text of the letter includes:

We, the undersigned, respectfully request the Legislature pass A6192/S5759 before the 2025 Legislative Session adjourns for the year.

Assembly Bill A6192 (Kelles) and Senate Bill S5759 (Harckham) aims to address the growing threat of PFAS contamination from biosolids. The legislation would establish a moratorium on the land application of biosolids and require rigorous testing and public reporting of PFAS levels in soil, groundwater, and biosolids.

Specifically, this bill would amend the Environmental Conservation Law, Agriculture and Markets Law, and State Finance Law to:

• Enact a five-year moratorium on the application of biosolids on farmland.
• Protect New York’s agricultural land and water resources from PFAS contamination linked to sewage sludge.
• Require existing permit holders to test soil and groundwater for PFAS where biosolids have been applied.
• Mandate that wastewater treatment facilities conduct PFAS testing of biosolids.
• Establish a public database of PFAS test results in soil, biosolids, and groundwater.
• Create the New York State Biosolids Task Force to evaluate safe disposal options for biosolids and recommend solutions that prioritize public and environmental health.
• Launch the PFAS Agricultural Response Program and Response Fund to address the impacts on farms and affected communities.

New York has already taken meaningful steps to limit PFAS exposure—banning the substances in food packaging, firefighting equipment, and outdoor apparel, and setting a maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per trillion in drinking water. PFAS pose a serious risk to public health, food safety, and the environment. If these chemicals are too dangerous for our water, they should not be used on the farmland that grows our food.

The passage of this bill is especially critical for Albany County, which found itself at the center of a serious environmental and public health concern earlier this year. In late 2024, the towns of New Scotland and Berne applied biosolids—commonly referred to as sludge—as fertilizer. Residents of the town noticed a discoloration in the water along with a strong odor. After county officials were informed of the situation, and out of concern for public health and safety, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy issued an executive order implementing a 90-day moratorium on the use of biosolid fertilizers in agricultural operations. This moratorium was later extended by an additional 180 days.

We believe this legislation is a critical step toward addressing the immediate risk and protecting the health of New Yorkers while ensuring the long-term safety of our agricultural systems and water supplies. We strongly support the passage of A6192/S5759 and request legislative action to prevent further harm from PFAS contamination. We respectfully ask you support the enactment of the A6192/S5759 during the 2025 Legislative Session.

Thank you for your timely consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County Executive

Joanne E. Cunningham, Chairwoman Albany County Legislature

Wanda Willingham, Deputy Chairwoman Albany County Legislature

Dennis A. Feeney, Majority Leader Albany County Legislature

Frank Mauriello, Minority Leader Albany County Legislature

Matthew Miller, Albany County Legislator

Paul Burgdorf, Albany County Legislator

Mickey Cleary, Albany County Legislator

Zach Collins, Albany County Legislator

Ryan Conway, Albany County Legislator

Todd Drake, Albany County Legislator

Beroro Efekoro, Albany County Legislator

Mark Grimm, Albany County Legislator

Jeff Kuhn, Albany County Legislator

Tim Lane, Albany County Legislator

Susan Quine-Laurilliard, Albany County Legislator

Lynne Lekakis, Albany County Legislator

Patty Lockart, Albany County Legislator

Dave Mayo, Albany County Legislator

Carolyn McLaughlin, Albany County Legislator

Jeff Perlee, Albany County Legislator

Bill Ricard, Albany County Legislator

Ellen Rosano, Albany County Legislator

Mert Simpson, Albany County Legislator

Chris Smith, Albany County Legislator