Recent News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC Reopens Additional Shellfishing Areas in Suffolk County East End Towns

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:08:56 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has reopened more shellfishing areas in Suffolk County that had been closed because of heavy rains last week. The areas listed below are reopened effective a...

DEC Reopens Several Shellfishing Areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:59:22 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has reopened some shellfishing areas in Nassau County and Suffolk County that had been impacted by the runoff from heavy rains last week. Several bays and ha...

Media Advisory - Environmental Board Meeting

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:18:42 -0000

The New York State Environmental Board will meet on March 22, 2010, at 2 p.m. in Room 129 at the Department of Environmental Conservation's main offices at 625 Broadway, Albany, New York.

DEC Enacts Closures and Restrictions for American Shad Fisheries

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:32:42 -0000

In an effort to help restore the American shad population in New York's waters, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced new regulations that ban commercial and recreational fishing for the species in the Hudson River and the M...

DEC Temporarily Closes Shellfishing Areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:23:20 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has designated shellfish harvesting areas in Nassau County and Suffolk County as temporarily closed to shellfishing. These temporary emergency closures are ...

Latest Carbon Auction Yields $32.7 Million for Investments in Clean Energy, Job Creation in N.Y.

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:17:38 -0000

State Environmental Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced New York's successful participation in another quarterly auction of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution allowances. This auction, the seventh conducted by the 10 states participating in the ...

DEC Invites Hunter Input on Fall 2010 Waterfowl Seasons

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:23:38 -0000

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today invited hunters to submit recommendations to regional Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces for the dates of the fall 2010 duck hunting seasons. DEC will evaluate...

DEC Takes Action to Protect Aquatic Life, Limit Water Intake by Certain Industrial Facilities

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:16:13 -0000

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released a new proposed policy that will add significant protections for New York's vital fisheries by slashing water intake at certain power plants and other industrial facilities, Co...

DEC Reports: Record-Setting Year for Peregrine Falcons

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:08:59 -0000

2009 proved to be a record-setting year for peregrine falcons in many productivity categories according to a new report released today by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). DEC surveys found that there were 73 terri...

Commissioner Grannis Reminds Small Communities of Ban On Brush Burning During High Fire Risk Period

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:54:33 -0000

State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today reminded New Yorkers who reside in smaller communities that all residential brush burning is prohibited during the state's historically high fire risk period, Mar...

DEC Reschedules Public Information Meetings on River Herring Management

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:09:57 -0000

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced new dates for public information meetings on the status of anadromous river herring (alewife and blueback herring) and the state's management p...

DEC Seeks Volunteers to Observe River Herring in Hudson Estuary Streams

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:49:31 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking volunteers for its 2010 River Herring Monitoring Program for the Hudson River estuary. Volunteers will help log the timing of river herring spawning runs in Hudson River ...

New York Expands Fluke Season for 2010

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:58:27 -0000

Saying conservation measures have proved effective, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that New York will provide a longer, more traditional fluke (also known as summer flounder) recreati...

DEC Reports: Deer Harvest Continues at High Rate

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:04:53 -0000

Hunters harvested approximately 222,800 deer in the 2009 season, virtually the same number as were harvested statewide the previous season, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. Th...

DEC Reports: Eagle Count Poised to Set New Record

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:11:17 -0000

With an annual mid-winter survey near completion, preliminary results indicate that the bald eagle population in New York State may be at an all-time high since the state began its repopulation efforts more than 30 years ago, Department of Environ...

DEC'S Environmental Education Camps Now Accepting Applications

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:48:55 -0000

Applications for youth interested in attending the 2010 summer environmental educational camps are now being accepted, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. DEC urges families looking for an out-of-the-...

DEC to Hold Albany-Area Pharmaceutical Collection Event Tomorrow

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:03:02 -0000

Staff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be at the Empire State Plaza in Albany tomorrow, March 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the bus station on the concourse level to collect unused and unwanted pharmaceutic...

DEC Warns of Avalanche Danger in the Adirondack Back Country

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:21:28 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today warned Adirondack back country visitors to be aware of the danger of avalanches. Recent snowstorms have brought a significant amount of new snow to the Adirondack Park. The new snow...

DEC Reports: Bear Harvest Totals for 2009 Were Second Highest in State's History

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:14:35 -0000

Bear harvest numbers in 2009 were the second-highest ever recorded in New York State, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. Last fall's harvest was only exceeded by 2003's record total.

DEC Reschedules Public Meetings on St. Regis, Hurricane and Jay Mt. Areas

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:15:08 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has rescheduled two public meetings that had been canceled due to poor weather.

DEC Accepting Applications for Environmental Excellence Awards

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:20:33 -0000

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 Environmental Excellence Awards program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The program recognizes businesses, governments, not-...

Public Comment Period Extended for Draft Jessup River Wild Forest UMP

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:59:54 -0000

The deadline for written public comments on the proposed updates to the Jessup River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan (UMP) has been extended to March, 29, 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.

DEC Slates Three "State of Lake Ontario" Meetings in March

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:35:18 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced three public meetings to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries. The annual "State of Lake Ontario" public meetings will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties durin...

DEC Announces Exam for Falconry Apprentice

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:06:34 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that the examination for individuals seeking a falconry apprentice license has been scheduled for Friday, April 16, 2010, from 10 a.m. to noon at DEC Regional office...

DEC Announces Wildlife Rehabilitator Examination

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:06:00 -0000

A written examination for New Yorkers interested in becoming a licensed, volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, will be given on Friday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional offices ac...

40 Facilities Cited for Falsifying 20,000+ Vehicle Emission Inspections

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:27:20 -0000

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner David J. Swarts today announced that 40 inspection facilities in the downstate region have been cited for i...

New York Submits Comments on "Phase 1" of Hudson River PCB Dredging Project

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:32:44 -0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today submitted its comments and recommendations to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the first phase of the dredging of the Upper Hudson River to remove PCB-contami...

Dozens of Abandoned, Leaking Petroleum Sites Across the State To Be Cleaned up Through Stimulus Funds

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:33:37 -0000

Dozens of petroleum spill sites across New York will soon be cleaned up and ready for redevelopment thanks to more than $9.2 million in federal stimulus funding, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announ...

Media Advisory: Stimulus Funds Environmental Cleanups

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:52:00 -0000

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Judith Enck will join other local and state officials in announcing new local projects be...

DEC Employees Raise $45,700 in Private Contributions for Haiti Assistance

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:58:38 -0000

In one week, employees of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raised more than $45,700 in private donations to help Haiti recover from the effects of the devastating earthquake that took place on Jan. 12, 2010. Throug...