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About the New York State Department of Environmental ConservationThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is the administrative agency of the State of New York responsible for the protection of New York’s natural resources. The legislation creating DEC was signed on April 22, 1970—the first Earth Day. The legislation created a single agency to oversee all environmental concerns in the state. It melded the old Conservation Department with programs from the Department of Health and several state commission into one new agency and created several new areas of regulation. The formation of DEC represented the outgrowth of almost a century of increasing awareness of environmental issues in the state. In 1880, the state appointed the first officers to enforce its game laws. These "game protectors," who would later be called "conservation officers," were New York's first statewide law enforcement professionals, preceding the formation of the Division of State Police by 27 years. Then, in 1885, the State Legislature established the Forest Preserve of New York State, setting aside land in the Adirondacks and Catskills to be protected as "forever wild" and establishing regulations and guidelines governing the use of these lands. The year 1885 also marked the beginning of the forest ranger service in New York State. In 1895, the Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission was formed to take on functions related to fish and game regulations, hunting seasons, and poaching. This commission became the Conservation Department in 1911. The mission of the 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." The DEC is headed by a Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor. The department has 24 divisions and offices and is further organized into bureaus to fulfill the functions and regulations established by Title 6 of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (6 NYCRR). Some of the Department's programs are also governed by federal law. DEC's offices and divisions include: Division of Air Resources For administrative purposes, the DEC divides New York State into nine regions: Region 1: (Long Island) Nassau and Suffolk counties Region 2: (New York City) Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island Region 3: (Lower Hudson Valley) Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties Region 4: (Capital Region/Northern Catskills) Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties Region 5: (Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain) Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties Region 6: (Western Adirondacks/Eastern Lake Ontario) Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties Region 7: (Central New York) Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties Region 8: (Western Finger Lakes) Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties Region 9: (Western New York) Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming counties Additional Information
Posted by Rachel Treichler. Most recent update 01/14/12
Copyright 2021, Rachel Treichler
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