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Environmental Conservation, Department of

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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 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. DEC’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. Working with DEC headquarters, regional offices review and issue environmental permits for activities regulated by DEC, such as the operation of landfills and sewage treatment plants and to ensure compliance with State and federal environmental statutes.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2024 Executive Budget recommends appropriations of $2.5 billion for DEC, reflecting a decrease of $8.1 billion from FY 2023. The decrease is attributable to the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act that was appropriated in FY 2023 and passed by voters in November of 2022. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce level of 3,331 FTEs for DEC, which includes Lake George Park Commission’s 9 FTEs. This increase reflects the agency's growing workload in a number of different programmatic areas including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), clean water infrastructure, implementation of the bond act, and a new extended producer responsibility program included in the Budget.

As co-chair of the Climate Action Council (CAC), DEC played a critical role in the development of the CAC’s scoping plan, which was released in December 2022. The scoping plan outlines how New York will achieve and implement its clean energy and climate goals as set forth by the CLCPA. Within the scoping plan the CAC determined that a cap-and-invest program would be the most feasible, efficient, equitable, and affordable method to meet New York’s’ emissions goals. In response to the CAC recommendation, the FY 2024 Executive Budget proposes legislation that establishes a foundation for DEC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to advance a cap-and-invest program. The program will establish a gradually declining cap on greenhouse gas emissions, limit the financial impact to New Yorkers, invest the proceeds in programs that drive emission reductions in an equitable manner, while maintaining the competitiveness of New York’s industries.

Major budget actions include:

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)

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; Solid & Hazardous Waste Management; and Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

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 (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 Adirondack Park.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2023
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2024
Change From
FY 2023
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2024
State Operations 494,080,510 560,202,000 66,121,490 399,067,000
Aid To Localities 1,160,000 1,872,200 712,200 8,517,000
Capital Projects 10,160,600,000 1,955,300,000 (8,205,300,000) 16,948,546,000
Total 10,655,840,510 2,517,374,200 (8,138,466,310) 17,356,130,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2023
Estimated FTEs
03/31/23
FY 2024
Estimated FTEs
03/31/24
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 116 116 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 100 100 0
Air and Water Quality Management
General Fund 213 265 52
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 147 147 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 223 223 0
Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
General Fund 0 131 131
Environmental Enforcement
General Fund 277 278 1
Special Revenue Funds - Other 114 114 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
General Fund 131 136 5
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 49 63 14
Special Revenue Funds - Other 273 273 0
Capital Projects Funds - Federal 1 1 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 8 8 0
Forest and Land Resources
General Fund 285 287 2
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 4 6 2
Special Revenue Funds - Other 95 95 0
Operations
General Fund 139 139 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 36 36 0
Rehabilitation and Improvement
Capital Projects Funds - Other 390 390 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
General Fund 15 36 21
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 49 52 3
Special Revenue Funds - Other 219 219 0
Capital Projects Funds - Federal 4 4 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 212 212 0
Total 3,100 3,331 231

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change
General Fund 156,461,510 219,532,000 63,070,490
Internal Service Funds 95,000 95,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 82,198,000 82,198,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 255,326,000 258,377,000 3,051,000
Total 494,080,510 560,202,000 66,121,490
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund (14,643,510)
Appropriated FY 2023 479,437,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change
Administration
General Fund 14,848,000 18,469,000 3,621,000
Internal Service Funds 95,000 95,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 17,829,000 17,779,000 (50,000)
Air and Water Quality Management
General Fund 17,965,000 32,093,000 14,128,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 41,898,000 41,898,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 54,619,000 52,082,000 (2,537,000)
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS BOND ACT PROGRAM
General Fund 0 24,000,000 24,000,000
Environmental Enforcement
General Fund 43,307,745 53,479,000 10,171,255
Special Revenue Funds - Other 31,713,000 32,382,000 669,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
General Fund 15,072,000 17,935,000 2,863,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 28,000,000 28,000,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 45,559,000 44,929,000 (630,000)
Forest and Land Resources
General Fund 39,127,765 36,023,000 (3,104,765)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,000,000 5,000,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 32,432,000 33,957,000 1,525,000
Lake George Park Commission
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,291,000 2,797,000 506,000
Operations
General Fund 20,202,000 26,450,000 6,248,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 16,674,000 15,411,000 (1,263,000)
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
General Fund 5,939,000 11,083,000 5,144,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 7,300,000 7,300,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 54,209,000 59,040,000 4,831,000
Total 494,080,510 560,202,000 66,121,490

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 15,011,000 1,621,000 14,678,000 1,600,000
Air and Water Quality Management 25,218,000 9,128,000 25,064,000 9,119,000
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS BOND ACT PROGRAM 22,000,000 22,000,000 19,620,000 19,620,000
Environmental Enforcement 51,838,000 10,171,255 45,380,000 9,766,255
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 11,204,000 2,857,000 10,661,000 2,823,000
Forest and Land Resources 33,345,000 (3,104,765) 31,382,000 (3,221,765)
Operations 18,351,000 6,248,000 17,707,000 6,214,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 10,428,000 5,102,000 10,236,000 5,089,000
Total 187,395,000 54,022,490 174,728,000 51,009,490
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 273,000 19,000 60,000 2,000
Air and Water Quality Management 77,000 6,000 77,000 3,000
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS BOND ACT PROGRAM 400,000 400,000 1,980,000 1,980,000
Environmental Enforcement 472,000 27,000 5,986,000 378,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 475,000 32,000 68,000 2,000
Forest and Land Resources 231,000 16,000 1,732,000 101,000
Operations 454,000 31,000 190,000 3,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 178,000 12,000 14,000 1,000
Total 2,560,000 543,000 10,107,000 2,470,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 3,458,000 2,000,000 800,000 500,000
Air and Water Quality Management 6,875,000 5,000,000 1,790,000 1,250,000
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS BOND ACT PROGRAM 2,000,000 2,000,000 660,000 660,000
Environmental Enforcement 1,641,000 0 377,000 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 6,731,000 6,000 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 655,000 42,000 102,000 0
Total 32,137,000 9,048,000 8,846,000 2,410,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 589,000 500,000 1,490,000 500,000
Air and Water Quality Management 1,359,000 1,250,000 2,402,000 1,250,000
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS BOND ACT PROGRAM 70,000 70,000 1,200,000 1,200,000
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 0 526,000 41,000
Total 2,589,000 1,820,000 17,438,000 2,991,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 579,000 500,000
Air and Water Quality Management 1,324,000 1,250,000
CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND GREEN JOBS BOND ACT PROGRAM 70,000 70,000
Environmental Enforcement 44,000 0
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 68,000 6,000
Forest and Land Resources 76,000 0
Operations 1,097,000 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 6,000 1,000
Total 3,264,000 1,827,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 17,874,000 (50,000) 9,190,000 (490,000)
Air and Water Quality Management 93,980,000 (2,537,000) 38,394,000 (3,899,000)
Environmental Enforcement 32,382,000 669,000 14,934,000 512,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 72,929,000 (630,000) 30,043,000 (1,243,000)
Forest and Land Resources 38,957,000 1,525,000 19,110,000 1,281,000
Lake George Park Commission 2,797,000 506,000 1,135,000 295,000
Operations 15,411,000 (1,263,000) 3,143,000 (2,210,000)
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 66,340,000 4,831,000 28,169,000 1,741,000
Total 340,670,000 3,051,000 144,118,000 (4,013,000)
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 8,684,000 440,000
Air and Water Quality Management 55,586,000 1,362,000
Environmental Enforcement 17,448,000 157,000
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources 42,886,000 613,000
Forest and Land Resources 19,847,000 244,000
Lake George Park Commission 1,662,000 211,000
Operations 12,268,000 947,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 38,171,000 3,090,000
Total 196,552,000 7,064,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change
General Fund 1,160,000 1,872,200 712,200
Total 1,160,000 1,872,200 712,200

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change
Administration
General Fund 1,160,000 1,872,200 712,200
Total 1,160,000 1,872,200 712,200

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change Reappropriations
FY 2024
Administration
Capital Projects Fund 20,000,000 20,000,000 0 50,228,000
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 18,000,000 0 (18,000,000) 17,591,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 50,000,000 75,000,000 25,000,000 50,000,000
EnCon Capital Misc Gifts 0 0 0 1,000,000
Air Quality - Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 27,691,000
Air Resources
Clean Air Fund 0 0 0 97,000
Air Resources - EQBA
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 8,726,000
Clean Water - Clean Air Implementation
Clean Water Clean Air Implementation Fund 0 0 0 6,405,000
Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act
Cap Proj Fund -Clean Water, Air, Green Jobs (Bondable) 4,200,000,000 0 (4,200,000,000) 4,200,000,000
CWCA & Green Jobs Bond Fund 4,200,000,000 0 (4,200,000,000) 4,200,000,000
Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Fund
Clean Water - Clean Air Bond Fund 0 0 0 105,531,000
Environment and Recreation
Environmental Protection Fund 400,000,000 400,000,000 0 1,512,117,000
Environmental Protection and Enhancements
Environmental Protection Fund 0 0 0 14,844,000
Environmental Quality Bond Act Fund
Environmental Quality Bond Act Fund - 1986 0 0 0 39,005,000
Environmental Quality Protection Bond Fund
Environmental Quality Protection Bond Fund 0 0 0 18,979,000
Environmental Restoration - Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 21,309,000
Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Capital Projects Fund 6,000,000 6,000,000 0 13,603,000
Fish and Wildlife
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 3,545,000
Habitat Conserv & Access 1,500,000 6,500,000 5,000,000 1,043,000
Lands and Forests
Capital Projects Fund 5,000,000 5,000,000 0 48,383,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 0 15,000,000 15,000,000 29,018,000
Forest Preserve Expansion Fund 0 0 0 110,000
Marine Resources
Federal Capital Projects Fund 0 20,000,000 20,000,000 29,234,000
New York Works
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 90,000,000 90,000,000 0 294,115,000
Operations
Capital Projects Fund 26,500,000 70,700,000 44,200,000 81,361,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 0 3,000,000 3,000,000 0
Natural Resource Damages Fund 0 0 0 76,664,000
Financial Security Fund 0 0 0 10,017,000
Pure Waters Bond Fund
Pure Waters Bond Fund 0 0 0 20,568,000
Recreation
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 844,000
Solid Waste Management
Capital Projects Fund 4,000,000 4,000,000 0 17,330,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 0 4,000,000 4,000,000 56,818,000
NY Env Protection and Spill Remediation 21,200,000 21,200,000 0 31,942,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Capital Projects Fund - Advances 20,000,000 20,000,000 0 75,704,000
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 0 0 0 360,000
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund 10,000,000 10,000,000 0 100,342,000
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund - Authority Bonds 100,000,000 100,000,000 0 332,695,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management - EQBA 86
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA 86 (Bondable) 0 0 0 40,229,000
Water Resources
Capital Projects Fund 44,400,000 12,400,000 (32,000,000) 78,414,000
Capital Projects Fund - Advances 5,500,000 5,500,000 0 47,976,000
Cap Proj Fund - State Revolving Fund (Auth Bonds) 55,000,000 60,000,000 5,000,000 162,572,000
Cap Proj Fund - DEC Regular (Auth Bonds) 500,000,000 574,000,000 74,000,000 4,030,864,000
Federal Capital Projects Fund 383,500,000 433,000,000 49,500,000 921,355,000
Water Resources - Clean Water/Clean Air
Capital Projects Fund - 1996 CWA (Bondable) 0 0 0 40,958,000
Water Resources - EQBA
Capital Projects Fund - EQBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 2,375,000
Water Resources - PWBA
Capital Projects Fund - PWBA (Bondable) 0 0 0 126,584,000
Total 10,160,600,000 1,955,300,000 (8,205,300,000) 16,948,546,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 02/01/2023