Adopted Amendments to 6 NYCRR Parts 601 and 621
6 NYCRR Parts 601 and 621
These water withdrawal regulations repeal the existing 6 NYCRR Part 601 entirely and adopt a new Part 601. These regulations harmonize elements of the existing Part 601 with the water withdrawal bill (A.5318-A/ S.3798) signed into law by Governor Cuomo on August 15, 2011.
The August 2011 statutory amendments have a broad array of legislative objectives, all of which are carried out in the Revised 6 NYCRR Part 601. ECL article 15 title 15 originally required permits solely for public water supplies with five or more service connections, regardless of the volume of water withdrawn. The amendments expand the permit program to include withdrawals for purposes beyond public water supply, such as those for commercial, manufacturing, industrial, and other purposes. However, the amendments also limit the permit program to only include withdrawals that meet or exceed a threshold volume of 100,000 gallons per day. The effect is to regulate more of the higher-volume withdrawals across the state while no longer issuing water withdrawal permits for lower-volume public water supplies. Withdrawals below the size threshold must still comply with water pollution control laws (ECL article 17), Department of Health regulations and state environmental quality review (SEQR) requirements, as applicable.
The purpose of Part 601 is to regulate the use of NY's water resources pursuant to ECL article 15 title 15 by implementing a permitting, registration and reporting program for water withdrawals equaling or exceeding a threshold volume of 100,000 gallons per day. This Part also implements New York's commitment under the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to create a regulatory program for water withdrawals in the Great Lakes Basin.
There are several statutory exemptions to the permit requirement. For example, agricultural withdrawals that were registered and reported to DEC under ECL article 15 titles 16 or 33 on or before February 15, 2012 are exempt altogether from the water withdrawal permit requirement, and the registration requirement for agricultural withdrawals is subject to a more generous size threshold. The adopted regulations add more exemptions.
For existing water withdrawal systems that are not exempt and that were above the size threshold as of February 15, 2012, an 'initial permit' process is provided, which is somewhat less costly and time-consuming than the standard permit process and provides additional time to comply depending on the capacity of the water withdrawal system. To take advantage of the initial permit process, existing withdrawals must have been properly reported by February 15, 2012.
Modifications to 6 NYCRR Part 621.4, Uniform Procedures, are also included in this rule making for consistent use of terms and to include water withdrawal "initial permits" in the 'minor' project category.
This adoption was filed with the NYS Department of State on November 13, 2012 and is scheduled to be published in the November 28, 2012 NYS Register.
Assessment of Public Comments
The Assessment of Public Comments can be downloaded as one large file or in its smaller, constituent parts.
Summary, Assessment of Public Comments (PDF) (26KB)
Entire Assessment of Comments Document (PDF) (1MB) - Summary, full assessment, lists of comments and commentors.
Table of Comments and Responses by Name/Organization (PDF) (434KB)
List of Commentors by Name/Organization (PDF) (27KB)
More about Adopted Amendments to 6 NYCRR Parts 601 and 621:
- Part 601 Express Terms - proposed changes to 6 NYCRR Part 601
- Part 621 Express Terms - proposed changes to 6 NYCRR Part 621
- Regulatory Impact Statement for Parts 601 & 621 - information regarding the statutory authority; legislative objectives; needs and benefits; costs; and more.
- Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Small Businesses and Local Governments 6 NYCRR Part 601 and Subpart 621.4 - information about the effects of the rule; compliance requirements; professional services; compliance costs; economic and technological feasibility; minimizing adverse impact; and small business and local government participation.
