Environmental Conservation, Department of

skip breadcrumbs

Agency Web Site: https://www.dec.ny.gov/Link to External Website

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

DEC is headed by a commissioner, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. 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 2020 Executive Budget recommends appropriations of $1.8 billion for the Department. An increase of $512 million in new appropriations is attributable primarily to additional DEC New York Works funding and the first installment of a five-year $2.5 billion clean water commitment.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce level of 3,115 FTEs for the Department.

Major budget actions include:

  • A new $500 million appropriation to support additional investments in clean water projects throughout the State. This is the first installment of a commitment providing an additional $2.5 billion in support over the next five years for drinking water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure, and water quality protection. This commitment doubles the State’s existing investment of $2.5 billion in reappropriated funds for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017.
  • Appropriations of $300 million for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which provides funding for critical environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice;
  • Investment of $55 million for the New York Works statewide capital infrastructure program. This funding will be used to improve access to State lands, rehabilitate campgrounds, and repair and rehabilitate dams, 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, 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:

Program Highlights

DEC manages a diverse array of programs and activities which 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; developing programs to empower agencies, organizations, and individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 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.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2019
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
Change From
FY 2019
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
State Operations 447,795,000 459,738,000 11,943,000 359,061,000
Aid To Localities 1,776,000 0 (1,776,000) 17,125,200
Capital Projects 796,400,000 1,298,450,000 502,050,000 6,106,709,000
Total 1,245,971,000 1,758,188,000 512,217,000 6,482,895,200

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19
FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 111 111 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 120 120 0
Air and Water Quality Management
General Fund 164 164 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 140 140 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 245 245 0
Environmental Enforcement
General Fund 314 314 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 124 124 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
General Fund 103 103 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 63 63 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 261 261 0
Capital Projects Funds - Federal 1 1 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 8 8 0
Forest and Land Resources
General Fund 276 276 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 8 8 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 97 97 0
Operations
General Fund 130 135 5
Special Revenue Funds - Other 34 34 0
Rehabilitation and Improvement
Capital Projects Funds - Other 368 368 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
General Fund 10 10 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 49 49 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 241 241 0
Capital Projects Funds - Federal 3 3 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 240 240 0
Total 3,110 3,115 5

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 124,578,000 129,873,000 5,295,000
Internal Service Funds 95,000 95,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 81,198,000 81,198,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 241,924,000 248,572,000 6,648,000
Total 447,795,000 459,738,000 11,943,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) To
Employee Relations, Office of
General Fund 104,000
Appropriated FY 2019 447,899,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Administration
General Fund 10,355,000 11,766,000 1,411,000
Internal Service Funds 95,000 95,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 17,728,000 17,658,000 (70,000)
Air and Water Quality Management
General Fund 17,684,000 16,914,000 (770,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 40,898,000 40,898,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 52,739,000 55,333,000 2,594,000
Environmental Enforcement
General Fund 40,544,000 40,378,000 (166,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 24,315,000 29,912,000 5,597,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
General Fund 11,483,000 12,991,000 1,508,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 28,000,000 28,000,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 42,500,000 43,233,000 733,000
Forest and Land Resources
General Fund 26,036,000 28,157,000 2,121,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,000,000 5,000,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 31,398,000 32,125,000 727,000
Operations
General Fund 16,655,000 17,798,000 1,143,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 14,321,000 14,670,000 349,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
General Fund 1,821,000 1,869,000 48,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 7,300,000 7,300,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 58,923,000 55,641,000 (3,282,000)
Total 447,795,000 459,738,000 11,943,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 10,308,000 1,411,000 10,003,000 1,404,000
Air and Water Quality Management 15,169,000 (770,000) 15,029,000 (775,000)
Environmental Enforcement 38,737,000 (166,000) 32,861,000 (338,000)
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 6,266,000 1,508,000 5,769,000 1,496,000
Forest and Land Resources 25,479,000 2,121,000 23,686,000 2,069,000
Operations 9,699,000 1,143,000 9,104,000 1,128,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 1,256,000 48,000 1,082,000 43,000
Total 106,914,000 5,295,000 97,534,000 5,027,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 249,000 5,000 56,000 2,000
Air and Water Quality Management 69,000 2,000 71,000 3,000
Environmental Enforcement 434,000 11,000 5,442,000 164,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 434,000 9,000 63,000 3,000
Forest and Land Resources 210,000 5,000 1,583,000 47,000
Operations 414,000 9,000 181,000 6,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 162,000 4,000 12,000 1,000
Total 1,972,000 45,000 7,408,000 226,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 1,458,000 0 300,000 0
Air and Water Quality Management 1,745,000 0 475,000 0
Environmental Enforcement 1,641,000 0 377,000 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 6,725,000 0 1,003,000 0
Forest and Land Resources 2,678,000 0 540,000 0
Operations 8,099,000 0 3,574,000 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 613,000 0 102,000 0
Total 22,959,000 0 6,371,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 89,000 0 990,000 0
Air and Water Quality Management 109,000 0 1,087,000 0
Environmental Enforcement 51,000 0 1,169,000 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 61,000 0 5,599,000 0
Forest and Land Resources 149,000 0 1,913,000 0
Operations 289,000 0 3,139,000 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 21,000 0 485,000 0
Total 769,000 0 14,382,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 79,000 0
Air and Water Quality Management 74,000 0
Environmental Enforcement 44,000 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 62,000 0
Forest and Land Resources 76,000 0
Operations 1,097,000 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 5,000 0
Total 1,437,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 17,753,000 (70,000) 9,565,000 (45,000)
Air and Water Quality Management 96,231,000 2,594,000 41,934,000 1,013,000
Environmental Enforcement 29,912,000 5,597,000 13,703,000 2,970,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 71,233,000 733,000 29,650,000 (398,000)
Forest and Land Resources 37,125,000 727,000 17,663,000 492,000
Operations 14,670,000 349,000 3,122,000 204,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 62,941,000 (3,282,000) 27,375,000 (1,706,000)
Total 329,865,000 6,648,000 143,012,000 2,530,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service Maintenance Undistributed
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 8,188,000 (25,000) 0 0
Air and Water Quality Management 54,297,000 3,681,000 0 (2,100,000)
Environmental Enforcement 16,209,000 2,627,000 0 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 41,583,000 1,131,000 0 0
Forest and Land Resources 19,462,000 235,000 0 0
Operations 11,548,000 145,000 0 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 35,566,000 (1,576,000) 0 0
Total 186,853,000 6,218,000 0 (2,100,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 1,776,000 0 (1,776,000)
Total 1,776,000 0 (1,776,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Administration
General Fund 1,776,000 0 (1,776,000)
Total 1,776,000 0 (1,776,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change Reappropriations
FY 2020
Administration
Capital Projects Fund 17,000,000 24,700,000 7,700,000 20,629,000
Air Quality - Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 27,417,000
Air Resources - EQBA
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 6,665,000
Clean Water - Clean Air Implementation
Clean Water Clean Air Implementation Fund 0 0 0 6,405,000
Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Fund
Clean Water - Clean Air Bond Fund 0 0 0 110,830,000
Environment and Recreation
Environmental Protection Fund 300,000,000 300,000,000 0 1,127,330,000
Environmental Protection and Enhancements
Environmental Protection Fund 0 0 0 4,216,000
Environmental Quality Bond Act Fund
Environmental Quality Bond Act Fund - 1986 0 0 0 52,518,000
Environmental Quality Protection Bond Fund
Environmental Quality Protection Bond Fund 0 0 0 23,129,000
Environmental Restoration - Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 22,561,000
Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Capital Projects Fund 6,000,000 6,000,000 0 3,549,000
Fish and Wildlife
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 5,668,000
Hudson River Habitat Restor. Fund 0 0 0 351,000
Habitat Conserv & Access 1,500,000 1,500,000 0 1,076,000
Lands and Forests
Capital Projects Fund 5,000,000 5,000,000 0 42,186,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000) 28,621,000
Forest Preserve Expansion Fund 0 0 0 110,000
Marine Resources
Federal Capital Projects Fund 0 10,000,000 10,000,000 15,331,000
New York Works
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 40,000,000 55,250,000 15,250,000 184,541,000
Operations
Capital Projects Fund 18,000,000 19,000,000 1,000,000 51,599,000
Natural Resource Damages Fund 0 0 0 34,516,000
Financial Security Fund 0 0 0 10,648,000
Pure Waters Bond Fund
Pure Waters Bond Fund 0 0 0 20,568,000
Recreation
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 2,117,000
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 0 0 0 3,168,000
Solid Waste - Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 811,000
Solid Waste Management
Capital Projects Fund 4,500,000 4,000,000 (500,000) 6,041,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 30,000,000 0 (30,000,000) 60,000,000
NY Env Protection and Spill Remediation 21,200,000 21,200,000 0 20,714,000
Solid Waste Management - EQBA
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 4,231,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Capital Projects Fund - Advances 16,000,000 20,000,000 4,000,000 49,223,000
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 0 0 0 5,921,000
Haz Waste Remedial Fund - Oversight & Assessment 6,000,000 9,100,000 3,100,000 96,706,000
Haz Waste Remedial Fund - Cleanup 100,000,000 100,000,000 0 304,041,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management - EQBA 86
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA 86 (Bondable) 0 0 0 44,493,000
Water Resources
Capital Projects Fund 7,700,000 7,200,000 (500,000) 29,965,000
Capital Projects Fund - Advances 3,500,000 5,500,000 2,000,000 26,787,000
Cap Proj Fund - State Revolving Fund (Auth Bonds) 35,000,000 35,000,000 0 119,220,000
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 0 0 0 2,878,019,000
Capital Projects Fund – Settlement Funds 0 500,000,000 500,000,000 0
Federal Capital Projects Fund 175,000,000 175,000,000 0 596,101,000
Federal Stimulus 0 0 0 2,436,000
Water Resources - EQBA
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 2,350,000
Water Resources - PWBA
Capital Projects Fund - PWBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 6,039,000
Water Resources - Clean Water/Clean Air
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 47,862,000
Total 796,400,000 1,298,450,000 502,050,000 6,106,709,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019