Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Hotline

Call and speak to Environmental Justice staff toll-free at: 1-866-229-0497

Applications for the Air Pollution Mitigation Grant and Community Environmental Education Center Grant are now open.

Applications for the Air Pollution Mitigation Grant will be accepted until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Applications for the Community Environmental Education Center Grant will be accepted until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.

Environmental Justice is the fair and meaningful treatment of all people, regardless of race, income, national origin or color, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Environmental Justice allows for disproportionately impacted residents to access the tools to address environmental concerns across all of DEC's operations. Continue to watch this page for news and updates.

The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) works to address environmental issues and concerns that affect primarily low income and minority communities through grant opportunities, enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, consultation, guidance, and enhance public participation.

Environmental Justice Programs

DEC Permit Applications Data

Search DEC Permit Applications currently under review or with final disposition: Begin Permit Application Search.

Updates and News

DEC Climate Justice Working Group (CWJG) to Meet

 The CJWG, established under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), will hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. 

This meeting will include the approval of minutes from the previous meeting(s) and deliberation on the DAC criteria. Members of the public are welcome to listen to the meeting via webcast. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and can be found on DEC's Events Calendar. 

Disadvantaged Communities Criterial Finalization

On March 27, 2023, New York State's Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG), a 13-member working group tasked with establishing the criteria by which disadvantaged communities (DACs) across the state would be identified, finalized the criterial for identifying the state's disadvantaged communities. The criteria will guide the equitable implementation of New York's ambitious Climate Act through requirements that all agencies and authorities prioritize DACs in air pollution and climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions reductions and targeting clean energy and energy efficiency investments.

Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (The Climate Act)

The Climate Act requires 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefits from renewable energy and energy efficiency investments made by state entities be realized in DACs.

The Environmental Justice Report

Welcome to The Environmental Justice Report! The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) produces this newsletter to keep residents informed of initiatives within the agency that are important to the community.

Related DEC Hotlines

  • ECO Hotline
    • 24-hour, toll free hotline for reporting environmental crimes and violations: 1-844-DEC-ECOs (1-844-332-3267)
  • Spills Hotline
    • 24-hour, toll free hotline for reporting oil or chemical spills:
      1. 1-800-457-7362 (within NYS) or
      2. (518) 457-7362 (outside NYS)

Non-DEC Hotlines

Federal Environmental Justice Programs

Other Information

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