§ 310-1. Legislative intent.

A. 

This Legislature 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.

B. 

This Legislature also finds and determines that 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.

C. 

This Legislature further finds and determines that the effect that this pollution has on marine life is incalculable at the present time and that 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.

D. 

This Legislature finds that 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.

E. 

This Legislature also determines that Mylar and latex balloons which have washed ashore are a source of pollution which Suffolk County should decrease in order to eliminate the pollution, improve the County's aesthetics, and reduce the amount of flotsam endangering marine and animal life.

F. 

Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to prohibit the release of helium or lighter-than-air balloons into the atmosphere within the County of Suffolk in order to protect the air, land, and waters of Suffolk County against environmental contamination and degradation and to protect the health and life of animals, birds, and fish.