March 17, 2004
BE SAFE NY Coalition

Environmentalists to Announce Precautionary Principle Agenda

(Albany, NY) – A coalition of state environmental groups known as BE SAFE NY joined with Assemblymember Alexander “Pete” Grannis and Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN) Executive Director Carolyn Raffensperger today to discuss the Precautionary Principle and what this important public concept can do to protect New York’s families and the environment.

According to Raffensperger, “The precautionary principle is a simple yet revolutionary idea that turns our culture’s practice of science on its head. It says that, when you have scientific uncertainty and the likelihood of harm, you take preventive or precautionary action. Many environmental consequences, intended or not, are immediate. Change is happening faster than ever, and we can’t always wait for the scientific proof. The precautionary principle not only drives more science, it asks that science protect public health and the environment, rather than serve financial goals. Instead of asking, ‘Is this level of harm acceptable?’ scientists should ask, ‘Are there alternatives that are less harmful?’” SEHN was founded in 1994 by a consortium of North American environmental organizations concerned with the wise application of science to the protection of the environment and public health. Raffensperger, the organization’s founding executive director, is co-editor of Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle, published by Island Press in 1999.

Assemblymember Grannis called the precautionary principle an important next step for New York building on the successful State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). “The precautionary principle is basic common sense,” Grannis said. “It is better to be safe than sorry.” Grannis announced that he has just introduced new legislation that follows the precautionary principle. The bill, A.6695, applies the precautionary principle to state funded research by establishing a procedure for identifying and evaluating the potential risk of new technologies, processes and materials. Specifically, the bill provides that the director of the NY Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) establish a procedure for persons to petition for a precautionary scientific evaluation of state funded research that may present an unreasonable threat of serious harm to humans or the environment. If, after reviewing the petition, the Technology and Academic Research Advisory Council recommends a precautionary evaluation should be undertaken, the director shall cause the evaluation to be made by an independent laboratory. State funding shall be terminated upon a negative finding by the laboratory. And the advisory council is expanded by 2 in order to have appointees who are experienced in the fields of environment and public health.

In addition to the new legislation, Kathy Curtis, executive director of Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, highlighted four bills backed by the BE SAFE NY coalition that meet the test of the precautionary principle. All four bills are active in the state legislature, with majority sponsors in each both the Senate and Assembly.

Be Safe NY Coalition Platform

S. 3340 (Maziarz) / A. 5884 (Koon)
Bans open burning of solid waste, due to the environmental and health hazards associated with this practice. Backyard burning is a major source of dioxin, a potent carcinogen and endocrine disruptor that persists in the environment and builds up in the food chain.

S. 6288 (Marcellino) / A. 10050 (DiNapoli)
Provides for the restriction of certain brominated flame retardant chemicals in the manufacture, process and sale of electronic devices, furniture and textiles. Brominated flame retardants persist in the environment and build up in our bodies, and safer alternatives are available.

S. 6457 (Alesi) / A. 6416 (Englebright) Prohibits the use, storage and purchase of elemental mercury in schools whenever a
reasonably acceptable, mercury free alternative exists. The hazards of exposure to mercury are well-documented and every effort should be made to prevent children’s exposure to it.

S. 1797 (LaValle) / A. 4105 (DiNapoli) Prohibits the use of certain toxic pesticides for ornamental purposes. Using highly
toxic or otherwise hazardous pesticides for the purely aesthetic purpose of lawn care has no public health or environmental benefit and can cause great harm to human health and the environment.