DEC recognizes its responsibility to maintain the public's confidence and trust, and ensure integrity and accountability by the agency and its employees.
DEC Policy
It is DEC's policy to respond to all complaints received from the public. Complaints follow a specific complaint procedure that:
- Ensures fair and proper action is taken when an employee is accused of misconduct;
- Helps identify conduct and improve procedures that comply with policies and best practices; and
- Protects employees from unwarranted or false accusations.
To submit complaints concerning any DEC employee, please contact DEC's Office of Internal Investigations by using one of the following options:
- EMAIL - to: [email protected]
- REGULAR MAIL - to: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Office of Internal Investigations
625 Broadway
Albany NY 12233-1060 - CALL - (518) 402-9147
For submission by email or mail, please complete the complaint form (PDF). Otherwise, please provide details regarding your complaint including:
- Circumstances regarding the incident;
- Identity of people involved; and
- Time, date, and place of incident.
Anonymous complaints will be investigated, but DEC strongly encourages complainants to identify themselves to ensure a thorough investigation can be conducted.
Please note: the specific results of investigations may be used in evaluating employee performance and cannot be released to the extent that the Civil Rights Law applies.
Confidentiality
DEC has a strict policy to maintain confidentiality within the bounds of the law of any complainant who requests confidentiality. A confidential complainant's identity will not be disclosed unless the complainant consents to the disclosure or DEC is required by law or court order to disclose the complainant's identity.
Discrimination Complaints
To file a claim of discrimination under New York State Law based on race, color, national origin, creed/religion, age, disability, military status, arrest/criminal conviction record, marital/familial status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy and related conditions, domestic violence victim status, gender/sex, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or retaliation, please see the NYS Division of Human Rights.
Any person who believes they have individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, been excluded from participation in, been denied the benefits of, or otherwise been subjected to discrimination under any DEC service, program or activity and believes the discrimination is based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or limited ability to speak English, has the right to file a written complaint alleging a violation of civil rights under Federal Law. Please see DEC's Federal Civil Rights Nondiscrimination Program web page.
Language Access
New York State's policy is to provide language access to public services and programs. If you feel that DEC has not provided you with adequate interpretation services or denied you an available translated document, please see our web page to file a complaint.
