[Adopted 1-6-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
A.Â
Legislative findings and intent.
(1)Â
This Village hereby finds that the release of helium
and other lighter-than-air balloons into the atmosphere has a deleterious
effect on the environment when the balloons inevitably deflate.
(2)Â
This Village also finds and determines that:
(a)Â
These balloons, many of which land in the ocean
or Long Island Sound, represent the most common form of floating garbage
and flotsam within 200 miles of the shore;
(b)Â
The effect that this pollution has on marine
life is incalculable at the present time and research has indicated
that marine life and animals ingest these balloons as they appear
near the surface because they believe they are spotting jellyfish
or other edible resources;
(c)Â
Since animals and marine life are not able to
process the balloons, they will either choke on the balloon or the
balloon will form an intestinal obstruction, either of which will
sentence these animals and marine life to a painful death; and
(d)Â
Mylar and latex balloons which have washed ashore
are a source of pollution which this Village should decrease in order
to eliminate the pollution, improve the Village's aesthetics, and
reduce the amount of flotsam endangering marine and animal life.
(3)Â
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to prohibit
the release of helium or lighter-than-air balloons into the atmosphere
within the Village of Port Jefferson in order to protect the air,
land and waters of the Village and Suffolk County against environmental
contamination and degradation and to protect the health and life of
animals, birds and fish.
B.Â
Within the Village of Port Jefferson, no person, nonprofit
organization, firm, corporation or municipality shall knowingly release,
organize the release of, condone the release of, or intentionally
cause to be released into the atmosphere, within a twenty-four-hour
period, two or more helium or lighter-than-air gas balloons.
