Environmental Conservation, Department of
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: http://www.dec.ny.gov/
Mission
The mission of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is to conserve, improve, and protect New York's natural resources and environment; and to prevent, abate, and control water, land, and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State, and their overall economic and social well-being.
Organization and Staffing
The Department is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation. The Department’s Central Office is in Albany, with regional offices in Avon, Buffalo, Long Island City, New Paltz, Ray Brook, Schenectady, Stony Brook, Syracuse, and Watertown. Consistent with policy and management direction from the Central Office, regional offices review and issue environmental permits for activities regulated by the Department, such as the operation of landfills and sewage treatment plants, and ensure compliance with State and Federal environmental statutes.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends total appropriations of $3.38 billion for the Department, an increase of $1.954 billion from the FY 2017 budget. The increase primarily reflects additional funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act.
The Executive Budget recommends a workforce level of 2,946 FTEs for the Department, the same level as FY 2017.
Major budget actions include:
- Commitment of $2 billion in appropriations for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, to be funded at $400 million per year over five years. This program will finance drinking water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure, and source water protection to ensure clean water for all New Yorkers.
- Appropriations of $300 million for the EPF, including appropriations of $41 million for solid waste programs, $87 million for parks and recreation, $150 million for open space programs, and $22 million for climate change programs.
- Investment of $70 million for the New York Works statewide capital infrastructure program, an increase of $30M from the FY 2017 budget. This funding will be used to launch the “Adventure NY” program, which will improve access to State lands, rehabilitate campgrounds, and upgrade DEC recreational facilities. Funding will also be used for air monitoring infrastructure investments; remediating legacy environmental contamination; investing in needed information technology; and performing repairs and maintenance required to ensure the safety and viability of state infrastructure, including dams, state lands, and fish hatcheries.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
Briefing Book – Environment and Energy (PDF)
Program Highlights
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) manages a diverse array of programs and activities. DEC’s functions are divided into the following programs: Administration; Air & Water Quality Management; Environmental Enforcement; Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources; Forest & Land; Operations; and Solid & Hazardous Waste Management.
To protect and improve environmental quality, DEC regulates hazardous waste and oversees the cleanup of hazardous waste sites; assists public and private parties in cleaning up contaminated "brownfield" properties; monitors air and water quality and implements air and water pollution control programs; regulates solid waste management; regulates the use of pesticides; oversees chemical and petroleum bulk storage and responds to chemical and oil spills; regulates water withdrawals; and enforces the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL).
To conserve natural resources, DEC works to protect fish, wildlife, and marine resources; licenses and educates anglers, hunters, and trappers; promotes forestry; regulates and monitors the extraction of oil, natural gas, solution salt, and hard minerals; encourages the reduction, reuse, and recycling of solid waste; issues permits for various activities that affect the State's air, water, wetlands, mineral, and biological resources; and controls wildland fires.
In addition, DEC coordinates the State's efforts to respond to climate change by providing reliable scientific analysis to support climate policy decisions, and developing programs to empower agencies, organizations, and individuals to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to adapt to the effects of unavoidable global warming.
DEC partners with different State agencies, including the Environmental Facilities Corporation to coordinate low cost financing for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure; the Department of State for coastal management and brownfield opportunity area programs; the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on recreational activities; and the Adirondack Park Agency to develop long-range land use plans for public lands within the boundary of the Park.
| Category | Available FY 2017 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2018 |
Change From FY 2017 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 470,192,000 | 450,136,000 | (20,056,000) | 417,775,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 1,100,000 | 0 | (1,100,000) | 17,865,200 |
| Capital Projects | 958,600,000 | 2,934,400,000 | 1,975,800,000 | 3,167,072,000 |
| Total | 1,429,892,000 | 3,384,536,000 | 1,954,644,000 | 3,602,712,200 |
| Program | FY 2017 Estimated FTEs 03/31/17 |
FY 2018 Estimated FTEs 03/31/18 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 86 | 87 | 1 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 132 | 132 | 0 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | |||
| General Fund | 179 | 178 | (1) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 162 | 156 | (6) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 217 | 235 | 18 |
| Environmental Enforcement | |||
| General Fund | 238 | 248 | 10 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 184 | 184 | 0 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | |||
| General Fund | 42 | 49 | 7 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 75 | 64 | (11) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 252 | 249 | (3) |
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Forest and Land Resources | |||
| General Fund | 247 | 249 | 2 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 80 | 97 | 17 |
| Operations | |||
| General Fund | 186 | 114 | (72) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 45 | 44 | (1) |
| Rehabilitation and Improvement | |||
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 228 | 290 | 62 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | |||
| General Fund | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 42 | 41 | (1) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 271 | 250 | (21) |
| Capital Projects Funds - Federal | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 252 | 246 | (6) |
| Total | 2,946 | 2,946 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 116,905,000 | 119,343,000 | 2,438,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 81,198,000 | 81,198,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 271,994,000 | 249,500,000 | (22,494,000) |
| Internal Service Funds | 95,000 | 95,000 | 0 |
| Total | 470,192,000 | 450,136,000 | (20,056,000) |
| Adjustments: | |||
| Transfer(s) From | |||
| Special Pay Bill | |||
| General Fund | (7,739,000) | ||
| Appropriated FY 2017 | 462,453,000 | ||
| Program | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 9,123,000 | 8,728,000 | (395,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 17,098,000 | 16,679,000 | (419,000) |
| Internal Service Funds | 95,000 | 95,000 | 0 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | |||
| General Fund | 16,635,000 | 16,352,000 | (283,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 40,898,000 | 40,898,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 71,593,000 | 50,403,000 | (21,190,000) |
| Environmental Enforcement | |||
| General Fund | 31,976,000 | 32,082,000 | 106,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 35,962,000 | 37,415,000 | 1,453,000 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | |||
| General Fund | 8,566,000 | 13,630,000 | 5,064,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 28,000,000 | 28,000,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 44,265,000 | 41,051,000 | (3,214,000) |
| Forest and Land Resources | |||
| General Fund | 24,734,000 | 25,496,000 | 762,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 29,647,000 | 29,494,000 | (153,000) |
| Operations | |||
| General Fund | 24,314,000 | 21,267,000 | (3,047,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 15,173,000 | 13,983,000 | (1,190,000) |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | |||
| General Fund | 1,557,000 | 1,788,000 | 231,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 7,300,000 | 7,300,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 58,256,000 | 60,475,000 | 2,219,000 |
| Total | 470,192,000 | 450,136,000 | (20,056,000) |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 7,299,000 | (409,000) | 7,045,000 | (410,000) |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 14,639,000 | (299,000) | 14,513,000 | (300,000) |
| Environmental Enforcement | 30,598,000 | (2,000) | 27,128,000 | (37,000) |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 4,523,000 | 49,000 | 3,856,000 | 48,000 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 22,870,000 | 726,000 | 21,185,000 | 711,000 |
| Operations | 13,332,000 | (3,141,000) | 12,170,000 | (3,143,000) |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 1,189,000 | 218,000 | 1,029,000 | 217,000 |
| Total | 94,450,000 | (2,858,000) | 86,926,000 | (2,914,000) |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 211,000 | 0 | 43,000 | 1,000 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 63,000 | 0 | 63,000 | 1,000 |
| Environmental Enforcement | 82,000 | 0 | 3,388,000 | 35,000 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 619,000 | 0 | 48,000 | 1,000 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 251,000 | 0 | 1,434,000 | 15,000 |
| Operations | 999,000 | 0 | 163,000 | 2,000 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 150,000 | 0 | 10,000 | 1,000 |
| Total | 2,375,000 | 0 | 5,149,000 | 56,000 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 1,429,000 | 14,000 | 292,000 | 3,000 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 1,713,000 | 16,000 | 466,000 | 5,000 |
| Environmental Enforcement | 1,484,000 | 108,000 | 370,000 | 3,000 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 9,107,000 | 5,015,000 | 981,000 | 34,000 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 2,626,000 | 36,000 | 529,000 | 5,000 |
| Operations | 7,935,000 | 94,000 | 3,491,000 | 41,000 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 599,000 | 13,000 | 100,000 | 1,000 |
| Total | 24,893,000 | 5,296,000 | 6,229,000 | 92,000 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 87,000 | 1,000 | 973,000 | 9,000 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 107,000 | 1,000 | 1,068,000 | 9,000 |
| Environmental Enforcement | 50,000 | 1,000 | 1,021,000 | 103,000 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 60,000 | 1,000 | 8,005,000 | 4,979,000 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 146,000 | 2,000 | 1,877,000 | 28,000 |
| Operations | 284,000 | 3,000 | 3,082,000 | 41,000 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 20,000 | 1,000 | 475,000 | 10,000 |
| Total | 754,000 | 10,000 | 16,501,000 | 5,179,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 77,000 | 1,000 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 72,000 | 1,000 |
| Environmental Enforcement | 43,000 | 1,000 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 61,000 | 1,000 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 74,000 | 1,000 |
| Operations | 1,078,000 | 9,000 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 4,000 | 1,000 |
| Total | 1,409,000 | 15,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 16,774,000 | (419,000) | 9,123,000 | (449,000) |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 91,301,000 | (21,190,000) | 40,015,000 | (41,000) |
| Environmental Enforcement | 37,415,000 | 1,453,000 | 19,085,000 | 494,000 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 69,051,000 | (3,214,000) | 29,560,000 | 277,000 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 34,494,000 | (153,000) | 16,297,000 | (389,000) |
| Operations | 13,983,000 | (1,190,000) | 2,901,000 | (199,000) |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 67,775,000 | 2,219,000 | 28,001,000 | 809,000 |
| Total | 330,793,000 | (22,494,000) | 144,982,000 | 502,000 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | Maintenance Undistributed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 7,651,000 | 30,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Air and Water Quality Management | 49,186,000 | (21,149,000) | 2,100,000 | 0 |
| Environmental Enforcement | 18,330,000 | 959,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources | 39,491,000 | (3,491,000) | 0 | 0 |
| Forest and Land Resources | 18,197,000 | 236,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Operations | 11,082,000 | (991,000) | 0 | 0 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | 39,774,000 | 1,410,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 183,711,000 | (22,996,000) | 2,100,000 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 1,100,000 | 0 | (1,100,000) |
| Total | 1,100,000 | 0 | (1,100,000) |
| Program | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 1,100,000 | 0 | (1,100,000) |
| Total | 1,100,000 | 0 | (1,100,000) |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2017 |
Recommended FY 2018 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Resources | ||||
| Federal Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 16,780,000 |
| Facilities Maintenance and Operations | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 6,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 0 |
| Air Resources - EQBA | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,665,000 |
| Environmental Quality Bond Act Fund | ||||
| Environmental Quality Bond Act Fund - 1986 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55,601,000 |
| Water Resources - PWBA | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - PWBA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,040,000 |
| Solid Waste Management | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0 | 1,602,000 |
| Federal Capital Projects Fund | 30,000,000 | 0 | (30,000,000) | 48,564,000 |
| New York Environmental Protection and Spill Remediation | 0 | 21,200,000 | 21,200,000 | 0 |
| Environmental Protection and Enhancements | ||||
| Environmental Protection Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,364,000 |
| Environment and Recreation | ||||
| Environmental Protection Fund | 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 0 | 900,619,000 |
| Fish and Wildlife | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,622,000 |
| Hudson River Habitat Restor. Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 351,000 |
| Habitat Conserv & Access | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 0 | 2,241,000 |
| Lands and Forests | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 4,500,000 | 5,000,000 | 500,000 | 36,898,000 |
| Federal Capital Projects Fund | 2,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 8,621,000 |
| Forest Preserve Expansion Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 110,000 |
| Water Resources - EQBA | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,350,000 |
| Administration | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 10,766,000 |
| Environmental Quality Protection Bond Fund | ||||
| Environmental Quality Protection Bond Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23,519,000 |
| Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Fund | ||||
| Clean Water - Clean Air Bond Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122,077,000 |
| New York Works | ||||
| Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) | 40,000,000 | 70,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 154,991,000 |
| Pure Waters Bond Fund | ||||
| Pure Waters Bond Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,568,000 |
| Recreation | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 1,910,000 |
| Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,168,000 |
| Solid Waste Management - EQBA | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,233,000 |
| Operations | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 13,650,000 | 17,000,000 | 3,350,000 | 44,023,000 |
| Natural Resource Damages Fund | 26,000,000 | 0 | (26,000,000) | 38,127,000 |
| Financial Security Fund | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 0 | 5,829,000 |
| Water Resources | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 5,950,000 | 5,700,000 | (250,000) | 27,159,000 |
| Capital Projects Fund - Advances | 3,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 0 | 19,938,000 |
| Cap Proj Fund - State Revolving Fund (Auth Bonds) | 35,000,000 | 35,000,000 | 0 | 108,127,000 |
| Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) | 200,000,000 | 2,151,000,000 | 1,951,000,000 | 385,000,000 |
| Federal Capital Projects Fund | 175,000,000 | 175,000,000 | 0 | 540,633,000 |
| Federal Stimulus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,436,000 |
| Air Quality - Clean Water/Clean Air 96 | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27,417,000 |
| Water Resources - Clean Water/Clean Air | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51,267,000 |
| Solid Waste - Clean Water/Clean Air 96 | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 975,000 |
| Environmental Restoration - Clean Water/Clean Air 96 | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24,845,000 |
| Clean Water - Clean Air Implementation | ||||
| Clean Water Clean Air Implementation Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,405,000 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management - EQBA 86 | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - EQBA 86 (Bondable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47,743,000 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - Advances | 8,000,000 | 16,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 21,831,000 |
| Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10,984,000 |
| Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund - Oversight & Assessment | 8,000,000 | 6,000,000 | (2,000,000) | 92,459,000 |
| Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund - Cleanup | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 0 | 273,214,000 |
| Total | 958,600,000 | 2,934,400,000 | 1,975,800,000 | 3,167,072,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2017