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About DEC

DEC Mission

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created on July 1,1970 to combine in a single agency all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment.

Mission: "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."

DEC's goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.

See the "Related Links" at right for:

  • DEC's history
  • Current priority issues
  • DEC's major areas of responsibility established under the Environmental Conservation Law
  • Biography of Commissioner Pete Grannis

How DEC is Organized

DEC is headed by a commissioner, who is assisted by executive managers. The department has 17 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 (6NYCRR). Some programs are also governed by federal law. See DEC's organizational chart (PDF, 21 kb).

Central Office and Regional Offices

DEC's Central Office is in Albany. Each of DEC's nine regions has an office that serves the communities within that region. A total of approximately 3,500 DEC staff work in either the Central Office and the regional offices.

Locating Your Region and Regional Office

To locate your region, use this map or see the list below of counties that are in each region. Click on the region links to get more information about that regional office.

Region 1: Nassau and Suffolk counties

Region 2: Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island

Region 3: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties

Region 4: Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties

Region 5: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties

Region 6: Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties

Region 7: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties

Region 8: Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties

Region 9: Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming counties

Contacting DEC

Your DEC regional office is the first place to call with specific questions such as how to obtain and renew DEC permits and how to find the best places to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors or to report issues involving environmental problems. Contact the Central Office with general questions about DEC policies and regulations.


More about About DEC:

  • Contact Us - Directories for programs and regions; to report and environmental problems, to request documents, and to get important 800 numbers
  • Divisions - Links to the Central Office's divisions and programs within those divisions.
  • Regions - DEC regions and regional office information
  • Office Directions - Location of, public transportation to, driving directions to and parking for DEC's Central Office and links for directions to regional and sub-offices.
  • Commissioner - A statement from the commissioner, followed by DEC's mission and the commissioner's priorities; budget information; the commissioner's background and contact information;DEC's history and past commissioners
  • Boards and Commissions - Organizations to which DEC provides coordination and secretarial services; organizations in which DEC's technical staff participate on committees or as officers and links to other boards and commissions
  • Using this Website - Background and policies regarding DEC's web content and applications
  • Employment - Information about permanent and seasonal employment, internships and volunteer opportunities