N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 6 § 617.14

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 617.14 - Individual agency procedures to implement seqr

(a) Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law requires all agencies to adopt and publish, after public hearing, any additional procedures that may be necessary for them to implement SEQR. Until an agency adopts these additional procedures, its implementation of SEQR will be governed by the provisions of this Part. If an agency rescinds its additional SEQR procedures, it will continue to be governed by this Part. The agency must promptly notify the commissioner, and the commissioner shall publish a notice in the ENB, of the adoption of additional procedures or the rescission of agency SEQR procedures.

(b) To the greatest extent possible, the procedures prescribed in this Part must be incorporated into existing agency procedures. An agency may, by local law, code, ordinance, executive order, resolution or regulation vary the time periods established in this Part for the preparation and review of SEQR documents, and for the conduct of public hearings, in order to coordinate the SEQR environmental review process with other procedures relating to the review and approval of actions. Such time changes must not impose unreasonable delay. Individual agency procedures to implement SEQR must be no less protective of environmental values, public participation and agency and judicial review than the procedures contained in this Part. This Part supersedes any SEQR provisions promulgated or enacted by an agency that are less protective of the environment.

(c) Agencies may find it helpful to seek the advice and assistance of other agencies, groups and persons on SEQR matters, including the following:

(1) advice on preparation and review of EAF's;

(2) recommendations on the significance or nonsignificance of actions;

(3) preparation and review of EISs and recommendations on the scope, adequacy, and contents of EISs;

(4) preparation and filing of SEQR notices and documents;

(5) conduct of public hearings; and

(6) recommendations to decisionmakers.

(d) Agencies are strongly encouraged to enter into cooperative agreements with other agencies regularly involved in carrying out or approving the same actions for the purposes of coordinating their procedures.

(e) All agencies are subject to the lists of Type I and Type II actions contained in this Part, and must apply the criteria provided in section 617.7(c) of this Part. In addition, agencies may adopt their own lists of Type I actions, in accordance with section 617.4 of this Part and their own lists of Type II actions in accordance with section 617.5 of this Part.

(f) Every agency that adopts, has adopted or amends SEQR procedures must, after public hearing, file them with the commissioner, who will maintain them to serve as a resource for agencies and interested persons. The commissioner will provide notice in the ENB of such procedures upon filing. All agencies that have promulgated their own SEQR procedures must review and bring them into conformance with this Part. Until agencies do so, their procedures, where inconsistent or less protective, are superseded by this Part.

(g) A local agency may designate a specific geographic area within its boundaries as a critical environmental area (CEA). A state agency may also designate as a CEA a specific geographic area that is owned or managed by the state or is under its regulatory authority. Designation of a CEA must be preceded by written public notice and a public hearing. The public notice must identify the boundaries and the specific environmental characteristics of the area warranting CEA designation.

(1) To be designated as a CEA, an area must have an exceptional or unique character covering one or more of the following:

(i) a benefit or threat to human health;

(ii) a natural setting (e.g., fish and wildlife habitat, forest and vegetation, open space and areas of important aesthetic or scenic quality);

(iii) agricultural, social, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or educational values; or

(iv) an inherent ecological, geological or hydrological sensitivity to change that may be adversely affected by any change.

(2) Notification that an area has been designated as a CEA must include a map at an appropriate scale to readily locate the boundaries of the CEA, the written justification supporting the designation, and proof of public hearing and, must be filed with:

(i) the commissioner;

(ii) the appropriate regional office of the department; and

(iii) any other agency regularly involved in undertaking, funding or approving actions in the municipality in which the area has been designated.

(3) This designation shall take effect 30 days after filing with the commissioner. Each designation of a CEA must be published in the ENB by the department and the department will serve as a clearinghouse for information on CEAs.

(4) Following designation, the potential impact of any Type I or Unlisted Action on the environmental characteristics of the CEA is a relevant area of environmental concern and must be evaluated in the determination of significance prepared pursuant to section 617.7 of this Part.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 6 § 617.14

Amended New York State Register July 18, 2018/Volume XL, Issue 29, eff.1/1/2019