For Release: Friday, September 21, 2007
DEC Receives New York State "Best Of The Web" Award
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) recently redesigned Website has won the "Best of the Web" award from the New York State Forum, a consortium of state and local government agencies and public officials, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The NYS Forum, housed at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, based the award on the website's "innovative use of technology" and "value to its clients." DEC unveiled its retooled website last May.
"With millions of visitors each year, the DEC website is an exceptional resource for raising awareness of the environment and environmental issues in the minds of New Yorkers," said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. "It serves as an outlet for the public to find answers to their questions and learn more about the many aspects of DEC, ranging from wildlife management to climate change to waste management to land conservation, just to name a few."
"The redesigned website is the product of several years of collaborative efforts and research on the part of the DEC web team and staff throughout the Department. I congratulate the web team for this award and for their success in the design of the new site."
The New York State Forum annually recognizes the innovative use of web technology by state and local government in two categories: Web Applications developed by: 1) state agencies, and 2) local government groups. A panel of judges reviews each site, tests each site for compliance with state policy and standards for accessibility, and then selects one state and one local government site for the award.
Last year, more than 9.2 million new and returning visitors consulted DEC's website for answers to their environmental questions. In the site's more than 33,000 files, there is information that is as varied as where to get a sporting license, to when a local hazardous waste site will be cleaned up, to what kind of animals live in New York, to how to help reduce global warming.
The improved website went live on May 4, 2007, complete with a new address, www.dec.ny.gov . The new site provides features that make it easier for visitors to find the information they are looking for, and uses automated content management to handle the Department's large and growing site with speed and reliability.
