Contact Us
Phone numbers and email addresses for many common topics are listed below. For general information, or if you aren't sure which program or office you need to contact, you can email us at contact@dec.ny.gov.
Note: All media inquiries from reporters should be sent to the DEC press office at PressOffice@dec.ny.gov.
In Case of Emergency
For most emergencies (other than those listed below), call 911.
If you are lost in the woods or see a forest fire, contact the Forest Rangers:
- 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264)
Report an Environmental Problem
To report non-emergency violations of environmental law or natural occurrences, contact an Environmental Conservation Officer.
Popular Hotlines and Points of Contact
Outdoors & Recreation
| Name | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Sporting License Sales - Purchase a hunting or fishing license by phone, online or in-person at a license issuing agent. | 1-866-933-2257 | n/a |
| Sporting License Office - M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (for issues with hunting and fishing licenses) |
518-402-8843 | fw.information@dec.ny.gov |
| Hunter Education (for class and certificate information; 24-hour voice mail) |
1-888-HuntEd2 (1-888-486-8332) | Hunter@dec.ny.gov |
| Camping Reservations (or visit Reserve America for online reservations) |
1-800-456-CAMP (1-800-456-2267) Teletype (TTY): 1-800-304-1265 |
CampInfo@dec.ny.gov |
| Conservationist Magazine (Subscriptions, M-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) |
1-800-678-6399 | magazine@dec.ny.gov |
| Bureau of Wildlife (for wildlife questions; or check the statewide office directory for your local wildlife office) | 518-402-8883 | wildlife@dec.ny.gov |
| Giant Hogweed | 845-256-3111 | ghogweed@dec.ny.gov |
| Special Licenses | 518-402-8985 | SpecialLicenses@dec.ny.gov |
| Injured wildlife - Use this link to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator near you. | n/a | n/a |
| Nuisance wildlife - Use this link to find a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator near you. Note that these are businesses who would charge a fee for the service. |
n/a | n/a |
Public Information
| Name | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (request copies of many of the Department's files & records) |
518-402-9522 | access.records@dec.ny.gov |
| Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) | 518-402-9165 | enb@dec.ny.gov |
| Access for Persons with Disabilities | 518-402-9295 | accessibility@dec.ny.gov |
Enforcement
| Name | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| ECO Hotline (24-hour, toll-free hotline for reporting environmental violations) |
1-844-DEC-ECOs (1-844-332-3267) |
central.dispatch@dec.ny.gov (for non-urgent violations) |
| Spill Hotline (24-hour, toll-free hotline for reporting oil or chemical spills) |
1-800-457-7362 (within NY State) (518) 457-7362 (outside NY State) |
n/a |
| Inspector General Hotline (leaves DEC website) (24-hour, toll-free hotline for filing complaints) |
1-800-DO RIGHT (1-800-367-4448) |
n/a |
| National Response Center (leaves DEC website) (for federal reporting of chemical or oil spills) |
1-800-424-8802 | n/a |
| Office of Internal Investigations (for complaints regarding DEC employees) |
518-402-9147 | internal.investigations@dec.ny.gov |
Permits & Regulations
| Name | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Pesticide Applicator License | 518-402-8748 | pestmgt@dec.ny.gov |
| NYS Water Well Driller program | 1-877-472-2619 | dow.nyswaterwells@dec.ny.gov |
| DEC Regulations (contacts listed by division) | n/a | n/a |
| Permits (listing of DEC program contacts) | n/a | n/a |
Environmental Quality
| Name | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality Hotline (24-hour service for air pollution warnings, especially during ozone season - April to September) |
1-800-535-1345 | dar.web@dec.ny.gov |
| Radon Testing (through NYS Department of Health; M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.) |
1-800-458-1158 | radon@health.ny.gov |
When to Call an ECO and When to Call a Forest Ranger
Both Environmental Conservation Officers and Forest Rangers protect New York's natural resources and people. Environmental Conservation Officers enforce New York's Environmental Conservation Laws, including those relating to environmental quality, hunting, fishing and trapping and protection of natural resources. Forest Rangers organize and conduct wildland search and rescue missions, prevent and suppress forest fires and act as stewards of public lands.
DEC Program and Regional Contact Directories
Note that individual employee phone numbers and email addresses are not published on this website.
- DEC Program Directory: Contact Information by Topic - For contacts and descriptions of DEC programs
- DEC Statewide Offices: Contact Information by Location - For DEC's local offices throughout the state, who can answer questions about local businesses, recreation areas, rules affecting your property, and can investigate reports of local environmental damage
If you are having trouble finding a person to help you, you can contact DEC's Bureau of Public Outreach at public@dec.ny.gov or 518-402-8044.
Get in touch with us by mail at:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233-0001
More about Contact Us:
- DEC Statewide Offices: Contact Information by Location - Contact information for DEC's regional offices, who can answer questions for local businesses, recreation areas, rules affecting your property, and can investigate reports of environmental damage
- DEC Program Directory: Contact Information by Topic - Contacts and descriptions for DEC programs, sorted by topic. Includes Executive staff at DEC.
- Map of all DEC Offices - A map showing DEC's regional offices, suboffices, and central office
- Complaints Regarding DEC Employees - Use this complaint form to report alleged misconducts by DEC employees
- DEC's Federal Civil Rights Nondiscrimination Program - DEC complies with Federal civil rights laws and is committed to providing its programs and services without discrimination according to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as related federal nondiscrimination statutes and regulations.
- Forest Ranger Rosters - List of Forest Ranger managers and staff at Albany and regional offices
- Environmental Conservation Officer Rosters - List of Environmental Conservation Officer managers and staff at Albany and regional offices
- Permit Administrators - Listing of Division of Environmental Permits Chief Permit Administrator, Regional Permit Administrators and Regional Deputy Permit Administrators.
- Division of Environmental Remediation Contacts and Phone Numbers - Contact information for New York's brownfield programs, Superfund program, Bulk Storage programs, and Petroleum & Chemical Spill Response programs.
