New York Environmental Law
Governor Hochul Approves Changes to Environmental Justice Amendments
On March 3, 2023, Governor Hochul approved the New York State Legislature’s “chapter amendment” (S01317/A01286) to the environmental justice law that was enacted in December 2022 (S8830/A2103-D). The original legislation amended the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) permit approval process to expressly incorporate…
Governor Hochul Approves Environmental Justice Amendments to SEQRA
On December 30, 2022, Governor Hochul approved a bill passed by the New York State Legislature (S8830/A2103-D), which incorporates environmental justice concerns into the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) review process and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) state permit approval process. Governor Hochul’s approval of the law is subject to…
Gov. Hochul Announces M-Corps Program to Bring Climate Technology to New York State
On November 9, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $3.7 million would be allocated to bring innovative climate technology, manufacturing and products to New York State. According to the Governor’s press release, this initiative, known as the M-Corps Program, “will connect startups scaling goods that lower greenhouse gases or reduce energy consumption with…
Developments in Regulation of PFAS
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to emerge, so to speak, as a focus of regulatory attention on many levels: health, environmental remediation, and manufacturing. Below, we discuss some of the more recent developments affecting this ubiquitous class of chemicals. Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” PFAS are a family of chemical compounds with a wide range…
New York Seeks to Procure Minimum of 2,000 MW in Third Offshore Wind Solicitation
On July 27, 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA’s) third competitive offshore wind solicitation seeking to procure ORECs (offshore wind renewable energy credits) for at least 2,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy—enough to power at least 1.5 million New York homes. New York currently has…
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Issues Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria
On March 9, 2022, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC or the Department) issued draft criteria developed by the Department’s Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG or Working Group) for identifying disadvantaged communities in New York State. The CJWG was established under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 (CLCPA) and…