N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 430.4

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 51, December 18, 2024

Section 430.4 - Public participation

(a) Program reports. The office shall participate in and contribute to such reports as may be prepared in relation to the status of the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act Program.

(b) Public workshops. Prior to the announcement of the commissioner's annual programmatic and funding priorities pursuant to section 430.3 of this Part and the initiation of each annual grant cycle, the office may conduct one or more public workshops to identify public concerns and recommended improvements in program administration, regulations and ranking or review procedures. A summary of input received at the workshop(s) will be made available to participants and other interested parties and will be evaluated as revisions to these regulations are considered by the office.

(c) Environmental Assistance Advisory Task Force.

(1) The Environmental Assistance Task Force established by sections 435.8(f) and 439.4(b) of this Title is continued and shall also encompass the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996. The task force shall consist of eight members representing the following interests: conservation, environment, preservation, recreation, heritage areas and municipal parks. Members shall be appointed by the commissioner and serve at the commissioner's discretion.

(2) The task force shall meet at the direction of the commissioner but in no event shall it meet less than once each year.

(3) The chairperson of the task force shall be designated from among its members by the commissioner.

(4) It shall be the responsibility of the task force to review any program reports issued pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section, to attend the public workshop conducted by the office pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section and to make recommendations to the commissioner regarding the implementation of title 3 of article 56 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Such recommendations may address topics which shall include, but not be limited to, project eligibility criteria, application procedures, project rating and ranking criteria, approval guidelines, revisions to regulations, criteria for funding distribution, coordination with title 9 of article 54 of the Environmental Conservation Law and Parts 439-443 of this Title, and additional public participation in the implementation of these regulations which the commissioner may wish to seek. It is understood that the purpose of the Environmental Assistance Advisory Task Force is to make recommendations regarding the overall implementation of title 3 of article 56 of the Environmental Conservation Law and this Title; not to review or make recommendations relating to specific project applications.

(d) Changes to rules and regulations. Substantive changes to the regulations or the ranking and review procedures will be subject to review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 430.4