Office of General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services and support to the Department of Environmental Conservation. Services provided by OGC include developing and reviewing legislation and regulations, providing interpretations and advice, and serving as liaison with the Department of Law in the defense of lawsuits and claims against the department.

The Office of General Counsel coordinates all requests for information under FOIL (Freedom of Information Law). It also contains the Office of Environmental Justice which works to improve the environment in minority and low-income communities.

Regional Enforcement Coordination

Regional Enforcement Coordination (REC) provides support to the Department's compliance and enforcement efforts by offering program assistance in compliance inspection reviews, providing regulatory and technical knowledge to Counsel's Office, and generally aiding Office of General Counsel staff with case development support. In addition to their efforts within OGC, the nine Regional Enforcement Coordinators also work with Environmental Quality, Natural Resource, and Law Enforcement staff to ensure the enforcement process, and any subsequent requisite corrective and/or remedial action, is handled and completed in a timely and appropriate manner.

Air Bureau

The Air Bureau provides legal advice on all facets of NYSDEC's air program, including

Regulation of air pollution sources such as motor vehicles, open burning, personal watercraft, energy plants, factories, incinerators, automobile spray paint booths, adhesives, paints and personal care products including deodorant and hairspray.
Permitting of facilities that emit regulated substances to the air
Adopting regulations and enforcing the various statutory and regulatory requirements
Preparing state implementation plans

In addition, the bureau helps to implement federally required programs and ensures compliance with federal ambient air quality standards.

Corporate Affairs Bureau

The Corporate Affairs Bureau provides legal and support services to a broad range of NYSDEC functions, such as

Contracts and fiscal matters
Operations
Public affairs
Special project management
Human resources, personnel and ethics
Real property acquisitions and land use agreements
Freedom of Information Law (F.O.I.L) services
Records management, storage and retrieval

Energy and Permits Bureau

The Energy and Permits Bureau provides legal support for NYSDEC programs that

Site and/or regulate natural gas and electric transmission and generating facilities
Promote energy efficiency and long-term energy planning
Address climate change impacts and reduce greenhouse gases
Advance sustainability, smart growth, and green buildings initiatives

The bureau also assesses the consequences of growth, development, energy efficiency and energy siting as part of reviews required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act and Uniform Procedures Act.

Materials Management Bureau

The Materials Management Bureau provides legal support to NYSDEC programs related to

solid waste and hazardous materials and the state's mineral resources
enforcing regulations related to the reuse and disposal of solid waste and the use, production, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste.

The bureau is responsible for enforcing the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Attorneys in the bureau also counsels NYSDEC staff in regulating the sale, use and transportation of pesticides.

Natural Resources/Criminal Enforcement Bureau

The Natural Resources/Criminal Enforcement Bureau provides legal services for NYSDEC programs related to

Management of lands and forests including the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves and reforestation areas
Fish, wildlife and marine resources, including threatened and endangered species; sport and commercial fishing; hunting; trapping; freshwater wetlands; and wild, scenic and recreational rivers.

The bureau also provides legal advice and assistance for NYSDEC's law enforcement and forest protection divisions and for emergency response coordination.

Natural Resource Damages Bureau

The Bureau of Natural Resource Damages (BNRD) provides legal support to NYCDEC's statewide NRD program.

BNRD attorneys screen, develop and pursue cases in conjunction with NRD staff in the Bureau of Habitat (Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources) and the Economics Unit within OGC.

In addition, the Bureau negotiates the terms of settlements and aids in the design and implementation of restoration projects.

Remediation Bureau

The Remediation Bureau provides legal advice and assistance to NYSDEC's environmental remediation programs including

Brownfield cleanup
Voluntary cleanup
Environmental restoration
Inactive hazardous waste disposal site remediation (State Superfund)
Brownfield Opportunity Area

In addition, the Bureau negotiates consent orders and Brownfield Cleanup Agreements to ensure cleanup of contaminated sites and payment of state costs incurred at those sites.

When settlements cannot be achieved, the bureau coordinates with the Attorney General's Office to enforce the Environmental Conservation Law, obtain site remediation, and recover state costs.

Spills Bureau

The Spills Bureau provides legal assistance, outreach and enforcement for NYSDEC programs that prevent and clean up petroleum and hazardous substance spills, including the

Petroleum bulk storage program
Hazardous substance bulk storage program
Spills program
Major oil storage facility program

The bureau also responds to inquires from the public concerning spills and compliance with legal requirements.

Water Bureau

The Water Bureau serves as counsel for NYSDEC programs related to water issues, including

General and individual State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permits
Dam safety
Flood protection
Water supply
Water quality standards

In addition, the bureau serves as counsel the New York City Watershed and helps protect the drinking water supply for the City of New York.