SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Tuesday, September 18, 2007
10:00 am
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Albany, New York

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is responsible for conserving and improving New York's natural resources, managing the State's fish, wildlife and marine resources, and controlling water, land and air pollution to enhance the health, safety and general welfare of the State's residents. The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2007-08 Enacted State Budget provides almost $1.2 billion for the environment. The budget provides a record $250 million in funding for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and goes a long way toward revitalizing the State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with the authorization of 109 new staff positions.

The SFY 2007-08 budget authorizes the creation of a new Climate Change Office within DEC which will implement State policy to mitigate the negative impacts of global warming on the State's natural environment and economy, and will help to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The budget also establishes statutorily a pollution prevention institute accompanied by $2 million in funding through the EPF, and provides funding for a study to assess New York's wastewater infrastructure needs.

While the $250 million in funding for the EPF provided in the budget was not backed by a permanent dedication of revenue, legislation was enacted following passage of the budget (A.8339, Sweeney; Chapter 258 Laws of 2007) which will increase the Fund to $300 million. In addition, Chapter 613 of the Laws of 2007 establishes a Sea Level Rise Task Force which will assess the anticipated impacts related to sea level rise and make recommendations regarding issues such as coastal development standards, shoreline armoring, and ways to protect and restore plant and animal habitats. The work of the Task Force will commence during the current fiscal year and be completed during SFY 2009-10.

The purpose of this hearing is to review the DEC's implementation of programs funded through the SFY 2007-08 State Budget, as well as the overall impacts of the budget on the State's environmental programs.

Oral testimony will be accepted by invitation only and limited to 5 minutes duration. 10 copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. Written testimony will also be accepted and may be sent to the contact person listed on the reply form. In order to further publicize the hearing, please inform interested parties of the Committees' interest in receiving written testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on the Impacts of the 2007-08 State Budget on the Programs of the Department of Environmental Conservation to be held on September 18, 2007, or who wish to submit written testimony, are requested to complete and return this reply form by September 12, 2007 by mail or fax to:

Alex Roth
Principal Legislative Analyst
New York State Assembly
Program & Counsel Staff
Capitol/ Room 520
Albany, NY 12248
E-mail: rotha@assembly.state.ny.us
(518) 455-4363
fax (518) 455-5182

(It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.)

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