Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA)
Article 13-F NYS Public Health Law
Onondaga County has a local law which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 19 except for persons 18 years of age serving in the military.
Compliance Checks
Compliance checks are performed at every facility which sells tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, shisha or tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, liquid nicotine, electronic cigarettes, rolling papers or smoking paraphernalia):
Underage youth (16, 17 year olds) attempt to purchase tobacco at each retailer in Onondaga County at least once each year. If a sale is made enforcement action is taken as follows:
- First violations have penalties that range from $300 to $1,000.
- Subsequent violations have penalties that range from $500 to $1,500.
- All violations have a $50 surcharge and are assigned 2 points unless the seller has taken a NYS Certified Tobacco Training Course then they are assigned 1 point. Points are removed after 36 months.
- After accumulating 3 points the registration to sell tobacco and lottery is suspended for six months. If a retailer sells tobacco while the registration is suspended then a fine of $2,500 is imposed and their tobacco registration permanently revoked.
Other items that retailers must comply with
• A sign must be posted with certain wording.
• All tobacco products must be placed behind a counter or in a locked container.
• It is illegal to sell loose or single cigarettes.
Resource: A Guide for Tobacco Merchants
• New York State Clean Indoor Air Act enforcement (smoking in public buildings and work places)
• Smoking in restaurants and bars is regulated by the Food Protection program
• Toxic and hazardous substance site surveillance
• Hazardous spill response
• Environmental radiation investigations
A door-to-door outreach program in predetermined census tracts within the City of Syracuse. This program generates referrals to collaborating agencies regarding lead poisoning prevention, asthma, carbon monoxide poisoning and fire safety.
• Sampling of soils at sites associated with the Waste to Energy Facility
• Testing of soils and ash for metals and organics
• Review of stack testing reports and compliance reports
• Indoor air complaint investigations
• Mold, asbestos, odors, general indoor air quality
Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that seeps into your home from under the ground. Radon causes lung cancer. The only way to tell if you have radon is to test your home. The Onondaga County Health Department has limited number of free radon test kits available. Call 435-6613 to order your kit.
If your home does have high radon levels, the problem can be fixed easily. The Onondaga County Health Department can provide a list of State certified radon mitigation contractors.
For more information about radon, call 435-6613 or visit:
New York State Department of Health or
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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