New York Environmental Leaders
The New York Environmental Leaders Program is here! The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Department) is launching its New York Environmental Leaders Program (NYEL). The Department is implementing NYEL to provide recognition and incentives for those organizations that can demonstrate the use of pollution prevention practices, beyond compliance performance, or sustainable business practices as a result of their participation in NYEL. Further, NYEL focuses on enabling those organizations that are committed to making improvements in their environmental performance. NYEL provides organizations incentives to sustain their existing high levels of performance, and to motivate and enable organizations that are committed to reaching higher levels of performance. For more details on NYEL, see the links below.
Overview of NYEL Launch
There will be an open application period from September 1 to October 31, 2008, where the Department will accept applications from any prospective members. There are several options when applying to the NYEL. A brief description of the options available is provided below. For a detailed description of which tier is appropriate for your facility, refer to CP-40 Commissioner Policy on NYEL.
Entry Tier - The entry tier is an "on-ramp" to the leadership tier and successful implementation of the NYEL agreement for the entry tier will enable members to advance to the leadership tier. A NYEL agreement for the entry tier may cover only one facility. An interactive version of the NYEL Entry Tier Application Form is available for download.
Leadership Tier - The leadership tier is for applicants that are further along in their environmental performance. For example, the leadership tier requires applicants to have a functional Environmental Management System (EMS) already in place and be able to document projects that the organization has implemented to produce measurable improvements that go beyond compliance with environmental requirements.
The leadership tier has two entry options: the State/National Option and the State Option.
State/National Option - This option is aligned with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) National Environmental Performance Track Program (NEPT) and requires acceptance by both the Department and the USEPA. Upon acceptance a facility will be a member of both NYEL and NEPT. A NYEL agreement for this option may cover only one facility.
To apply for this option complete and submit an USEPA Performance Track Application online. When completing the standard USEPA NEPT application you will be prompted to complete an interactive version of the NYEL Supplemental Application Form (pdf, 475 kb). Fill out the NYEL Supplemental Application Form and return it to the Department according to the instructions in the application. Although the NYEL program is based largely on the USEPA's NEPT, there is some additional information that NYSDEC requires for its review.
State Option - This option is available to those applicants that are not interested in participating in the NEPT and only requires Department acceptance. NYEL agreements will generally cover only one facility. However, the agreements may cover more than one facility in certain circumstances. If you are interested in having an agreement that covers more than one facility, please contact us to discuss this further. An interactive version of the NYEL Leadership Tier Application Form (pdf, 267 kb) is available online.
All applications can be sent to John M. Vana, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Permits, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-1750 or transmitted by email to jmvana@gw.dec.state.ny.us. More about New York Environmental Leaders:
More about New York Environmental Leaders:
- New York Environmental Leaders (NYEL) Guidance Document - This guidance will provide information that applicants can use when evaluating their own environmental management efforts in relation to what is required of NYEL members. Further, this guidance will provide the Department of Environmental Conservation with more specific criteria to use when evaluating potential candidates for the program.
- CP-40 Commissioner Policy on New York Environmental Leaders (NYEL) - Commissioner Policy, Environmental Leaders, pollution prevention
