The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), as lead agency, has accepted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed NYS DEC Artificial Reef Program. 

A public hearing on the Draft SEIS will be held on February 6, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library, 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport, NY 11520.

Public comments on the Draft SEIS will be accepted through February 21, 2020 by either direct mailing to the contact listed below or by e-mail at: artificialreefs@dec.ny.gov (enter "Draft Reef SEIS" in the subject line). The Draft EIS is available from the contact listed below and on line at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7896.html.

The action involves an update to the existing NYS DEC Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) and Reef Plan through the completion of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to address proposed programmatic questions in the GEIS. This action is required for future reef permit acquisitions to renew existing reef sites, increase existing reef site dimensions and create new sites located in the Coastal Marine District of New York.

The proposed action involves the continuation and expansion of twelve existing NYS DEC Artificial Reef Program sites, located in the Atlantic Ocean, Great South Bay and Long Island Sound. Additionally, the action proposes the creation of four new artificial reef sites, including three in the Long Island Sound and one in the Atlantic Ocean. This action has the potential to affect the local associated environments and wildlife through introduction of reef building materials used to enhance the local habitat for marine life.

The project is located in the New York State Coastal Marine District and adjacent Federal Waters.

Contact: Christopher LaPorta, NYS DEC Marine Resources Office, 205 North Belle Mead Road, East Setauket, NY 11733, Phone: (631) 444-0438, Fax: (631) 444-0484, E-mail: artificialreefs@dec.ny.gov