Division of Legal Affairs
The Division of Legal Affairs provides legal support to all Divisions of the Department except Environmental Remediation (including Oil Spills and Chemical Bulk Storage). Generally speaking, lawyers in the Division of Legal Affairs do not negotiate Consent Orders to address violations of the Environmental Conservation Law, this is done by lawyers in the Division of Environmental Enforcement.
Lawyers in the Division of Legal Affairs serve as counsel to specific regulatory and natural resource program areas such as Air, Water, Solid Waste, Pesticides, Fish and Wildlife, land acquisition, management of state lands, State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), hazardous waste generation, and energy (including permitting and certification of power plants). In addition, the Division of Legal Affairs includes staff who advise on questions arising under ethics laws, and under the State Finance Laws for contracting. Among other things, lawyers in the Division of Legal Affairs draft legislation, review regulations, act as liaison with the Attorney General's Office in defending Article 78 challenges to agency actions and answer inquiries from program staff and the public.
The Air/Energy Bureau is made up of attorneys who provide Legal Assistance to mobile and stationary source sides of the Division of Air Resources, or who represent the Department in proceedings for the siting of power plants, or otherwise counsel Department staff in re-licensing and/or permitting energy projects.
The Corporate Bureau provides counsel to Department staff on procurement, risk management, ethical and personnel issues. Lands & Forest Bureau attorneys provide programs legal information regarding the acquisition and management of public lands.
The Natural Resources/Waste Bureau is made up of attorneys who provide legal assistance to the Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, Mineral Resources, Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources and Environmental Permits (SEQRA).
The Water/Wetlands Bureau is made up of attorneys who provide legal advice to the Division of Water, the New York City Watershed Program, Freshwater and Tidal Wetlands Programs and the Dredging Program.
For questions regarding the Division of Legal Affairs, please contact:
Lynne Coshun
625 Broadway, 14ht Floor
Albany, NY 12233-1500
518-402-9185 (phone); 518-402-9018 (fax)
