New York Environmental Law
New York State Passes the Most Ambitious Climate Change Legislation in the Nation and Advances Offshore Wind Energy Development with Inaugural Procurement of Offshore Renewable Energy Credits
On July 18, 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law the New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (“CLCPA”), the most ambitious climate change legislation in the country. The CLCPA, among other things, codifies the State’s goals of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, including an 85% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by…
DEC Releases Flood Risk Management Guidance Affecting the Flood Hazard Area Applied to State Permit Applications
On June 20, 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) released two draft flood risk management guidance documents intended to advise New York state agencies on how to incorporate the consideration of future climate risks, including risks of sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding, into existing regulatory processes. The non-binding guidance is…
NYSDEC Adopts Amended State Environmental Quality Review Act Regulations
By: Nathaniel Eisen On June 27, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) adopted the first major revisions to its regulations implementing the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) in over 20 years. The amendments, which are the culmination of more than six years of outreach, drafting, and revisions, will take effect January…
Breaking: Payment of BCP, solar, low-income housing and other tax credits may be delayed
Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the details this week of a $168 billion proposed budget for FY 2019. In light of a potential budget deficit that could approach $4 billion, certain tax law changes are proposed. In recent years the proposed budget has been acted on by the Legislature and Governor before April 1st. Among the…
DEC Publishes Final Revised Solid Waste Management Regulations
After 18 months of public comment and revisions to its solid waste regulations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) has published the finalized version of the regulations, which will take effect on November 4, 2017. DEC’s solid waste management regulations – codified in 6 NYCRR Part 360 – govern the reuse, recycling, transportation, and…
NY State Legislature Passes Bill to Regulate Petroleum-Carrying Vessels on the Hudson River
By: Zachary Berliner On June 21, the New York State Senate passed by a 61-to-1 vote a bill allowing state authorities to consider environmental impacts in reviewing permit applications for the operation of petroleum-bearing vessels on the Hudson River. It now awaits Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature after being passed by a similar bipartisan margin in…