Environmental Conservation, Department of

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/08.

Mission

The Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for conserving, improving and protecting the State's natural resources and environment. The Department also works to control water, land and air pollution in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of all New Yorkers. In addition, the Department plays a major role in implementing the Environmental Protection Fund, the State's dedicated environmental fund.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $1.1 billion All Funds ($143.2 million General Fund; $64.2 million Federal funds) for the Department of Environmental Conservation. This is a decrease of $31.3 million from the 2007-08 budget. This change primarily reflects the decrease of Federal funding ($15 million) and the elimination of local and regional initiatives ($6 million). This Budget also recommends $8 million for capital projects at DEC parks and recreational facilities as part of Upstate revitalization efforts.

The Department will have a workforce of 3,752 positions in fiscal year 2008-09. This increase of 4 positions from 2007-08 levels is due to the impact of enacted legislation which increased the Department's responsibilities. Approximately 38 percent of these positions are paid by State tax dollars, 53 percent are supported by State fees, capital and other revenues and the remaining 9 percent are financed by Federal grants.

General Fund appropriations will finance 28.8 percent of the Department of Environmental Conservation's operations in 2008-09. Fees and license revenues will support 58.3 percent, including the major permitting functions, the hazardous substances bulk storage and oil spill programs and the hazardous waste remedial and enforcement programs. An increase in the Title V operating permit program fee is proposed to support ongoing regulatory efforts. Federal funds will support the remaining 12.9 percent of the Department's budget.

The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) will provide appropriations of $250 million to support environmental programs, including open space protection, farmland preservation, recycling programs, non-point source pollution control projects and municipal park and waterfront revitalization projects. Three new categories are added with this Budget for air quality enforcement, renewable solar energy and farmland protection. The EPF has been supported primarily by revenues from the real estate transfer tax as well as by the sale or lease of State property and by Fund interest earnings. To provide an ongoing revenue source for growing environmental needs, the Budget proposes expanding the "Bottle Bill" and redirecting all unclaimed deposits to the EPF.

The 1982 "Bottle Bill" is one of the most effective environmental laws in the State leading to reduced litter and increased recycling. The 2008-09 Executive Budget builds on these successes by expanding the "Bottle Bill" to non-carbonated beverages and directing $25 million in unclaimed funds to the EPF. When the changes to the "Bottle Bill" are fully effective, annual revenue to the EPF is projected to increase to $100 million.

The voter-approved Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act authorizes $1.75 billion for critical environmental programs in the following categories: Safe Drinking Water Program ($355 million); Clean Water Program ($790 million); Solid Waste Projects ($175 million); Air Quality Projects ($230 million); and Environmental Restoration Projects ($200 million).

The Clean Air Fund will continue to provide the resources needed to meet the State's obligations under the Federal Clean Air Act to control stationary and mobile sources of air pollution. The Fund is supported by vehicle emission inspection fees and fees on regulated pollutants emitted by factories, power plants and other stationary source facilities.

General Fund appropriations will support the preservation and maintenance of the State's trails, regional facilities, campgrounds and the 20 percent match required for Federal grants provided through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Since 1992-93, the cost of the State match has been reimbursed by proceeds from the sale of bonds issued by the Environmental Facilities Corporation. Principal and interest on the bonds are paid from State taxes.

The 2008-09 Executive Budget provides more than $1 billion to support the Department's critical environmental, resource management and recreation programs, including:

• $135 million to support the refinanced Superfund program to continue the clean up of inactive hazardous waste sites and to address hazardous substance sites. Recommendations also include $102.4 million in reappropriated funds from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act to continue work already underway for existing Superfund sites. Staffing for the Brownfield and voluntary cleanup programs will be increased to help reinvigorate the Brownfield program as a tool for Upstate's economic resurgence;

• $250 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Fund to provide resources to address such high priority programs as open space preservation, continued implementation of the Hudson River Estuary Management Plan, State lands access and stewardship projects. Other projects funded by the EPF in 2008 09 will include: the Pollution Prevention Institute; local solid waste reduction/recycling and marketing of recycled materials; landfill closure/gas management projects; natural resource damages; local parks and historic preservation grants; local waterfront revitalization projects; non-point source water pollution control projects; farmland protection; funding for Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria; funding for soil and water conservation districts; Land Trust Alliance; urban forestry projects; invasive species grants; solar energy; and air quality enforcement;

• The total 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act authorization of $1.75 billion has been appropriated. However, the Executive Budget includes $75 million in continued Bond Act disbursements in 2008-09 for critical Water Quality, Air, Solid Waste, Brownfield and Safe Drinking Water Projects;

• $27.5 million in appropriations to support the abatement of illegal waste tire piles and the development of new markets for waste tires under the Waste Tire Management and Recycling Act of 2003;

• $5.4 million from taxpayer moneys to implement the New York City Watershed Agreement. These funds will support State enforcement and monitoring efforts in the Watershed and the provision of technical assistance to participating Watershed communities;

• $177.6 million in new State and Federal funds for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund low interest loan program to build and rehabilitate municipal sewage treatment facilities;

• $10 million for the remediation of Onondaga Lake;

• $56.3 million to support the programs of the Conservation Fund;

• $31.6 million in new funding for basic capital infrastructure projects to ensure health, safety and compliance with State and Federal laws and environmental requirements, including $11 million for rehabilitation and improvement of State owned facilities;

• $31.7 million in non-General Fund support for the State's Clean Air programs. New programs began in 1997-98 to control pollution from automobiles and to establish new consolidated permits for major stationary sources of air pollution and in 1999 2000, to control air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles; and

• $496.4 million to support the operations of the Department, including a workforce of 3,752 positions.

2008-09 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Environmental Conservation, Department of (PDF)