Environmental Conservation, Department of

Agency Web Site: http://www.dec.ny.gov/

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.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends total appropriations of $1.0 billion for the Department. This is an increase of $105 million from the 2013-14 budget. The increase primarily reflects minor re-estimates in state operations and the inclusion of $100 million for the continuation of the State Superfund program.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 2,917 FTEs for the Department in 2014-15, an increase of 1 FTE to support the new statewide E-licensing program.

Major budget actions include:

• Create the New York Adventure License, a driver’s license that includes optional icons for all of an individual’s lifetime Hunting and Fishing license designations. Additionally, the Budget would increase the number of promotional hunting and fishing days, create a 7-day fishing license and a 3- and 5-year hunting and fishing license.
• Extend the Brownfields program for 10 years, reform the Brownfields Cleanup tax credit program to rationalize eligibility for redevelopment credits, establish a liability relief only program and streamline the remediation process. In addition, the budget includes a new $100 million appropriation to continue the State Superfund program.
• Making the pesticide product registration fee permanent to provide continued funding for analysis of pesticides and support the maintenance of the state pesticide database.
• Appropriation of $157 million for the programs supported by the Environmental Protection Fund, an increase of $4 million resulting from the full annual enforcement provisions of the unclaimed deposit program. Appropriations include $14 million for solid waste programs, $58 million for parks and recreation and $85 million for open space programs.
• Appropriation of $40 million in capital for the Department under the New York Works statewide capital infrastructure program. The DEC funding will 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, including dams, 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:

Briefing Book – Environment and Energy (PDF)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/20/2014

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables