New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York's state-level environmental regulator
Follow New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Notably News to receive short updates to your email — rarely!
| 2024 | The department established an annual budget of approximately $2,588 million for the fiscal year, highlighting its substantial financial resources for environmental conservation and management. |
| November 1 2024 | DEC euthanized Peanut the squirrel to test for rabies, a decision that sparked widespread public criticism and controversy. |
| October 31 2024 | DEC raided a Pine City house and seized a squirrel named Peanut and a raccoon, citing a law against keeping young wildlife as pets. |
| April 2024 | Basil Seggos, the longest-serving commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, stepped down. Sean Mahar began serving as interim commissioner. |
| 2017 | Under the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act, DEC began assisting municipal efforts to upgrade drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and mitigate water contamination. |
| 2016 | DEC facilitated the state's acquisition of over 65,000 acres of forested lands in the Adirondacks, including the 20,758-acre Boreas Ponds Tract, which was opened to the public for the first time. |
| 2016 | DEC mobilized a massive response to address PFOA contamination in Hoosick Falls, installing hundreds of water filtration systems in homes and a filter system at the town's water treatment facility. |
| 2016 | DEC and State Department of Health created the Water Quality Rapid Response Team to evaluate drinking water supply threats, assist with water testing, and ensure clean drinking water access across the state. |
| 2015 | Following comprehensive reviews, DEC issued a findings statement prohibiting high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in New York. |
| 2014 | DEC's Division of Law Enforcement conducted a joint investigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Manhattan District Attorney's office, seizing elephant ivory worth over $8.5 million from New York City jewelers, enforcing a state law banning ivory and rhinoceros horn sales. |
| 2010 | Completed a comprehensive review and update of environmental conservation strategies, reinforcing the department's commitment to long-term environmental sustainability. |
| 2010 | The department maintained its commitment to environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and sustainable resource management in New York State. |
This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia article New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.