Clean air to breathe. Clean water to drink. Lakes and streams, parks and playgrounds for everyone to enjoy. A cleaner and greener New York is everyone's job.
DEC encourages you to get involved especially when environmental decisions are being made that will impact you, your family and community. Your opinion matters and you can be part of the process. In fact, in some cases, it's actually the law that you be notified about environmental projects that directly impact you.
Public Meetings and Hearings
The DEC holds many public meetings and hearings throughout the year that allow for public input on various environmental topics. Below is a list of DEC meeting formats that explain the differences for each and how you may participate.
- Public Meetings - Public meetings are typically scheduled when DEC programs have information to describe a plan of action in a location such as a wildlife management plan, proposed updates to unit management plans, brownfields or other site remediation projects, or other Department initiative. These meetings can serve to update the public on the current status of a local project or program and to get public input on proposals so that the Department can choose an appropriate remedy or action that meets local needs. A presentation will often be followed by a question-and-answer session. These meetings are held virtually or in person. For meetings and hearings at DEC's Central Office on 625 Broadway in Albany, NY, please review security and parking information (PDF).
- Availability Sessions - Availability sessions are held when DEC programs plan to discuss several topic areas of interest related to a project at one time. These sessions are often held in partnership with other NYS agencies or local governments. Multiple stations are set up in an auditorium or large meeting room with DEC program staff available at each station representing specific areas of interest. The advantage of this type of public session is that it allows for a one-on-one interaction, with staff discussing a particular topic relating to the project, such as water or air quality, with individual members of the public. These sessions are held in person. Learn more about availability sessions by watching our YouTube video.
- Legislative (Public Comment) and Rule Making Hearings - Legislative (public comment) and rulemaking hearings are designed to take unsworn oral statements from the public regarding projects or proposals before the DEC. These include, for example, rulemakings proposing amendments to the DEC's regulations, permit applications under DEC review, and various actions under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), such as scoping sessions and public comment on draft environmental impact statements. Legislative hearings may also be scheduled to address policy issues relating to energy, environmental justice, and climate change. These hearings, which are held virtually or in person, are often facilitated by an administrative law judge.
- Adjudicatory Hearings - Adjudicatory hearings are formal, trial-like proceedings that are presided over by an administrative law judge. The two main types are administrative enforcement hearings and permit hearings. Participants in adjudicatory hearings include Department staff and witnesses, respondents (in enforcement hearings) or permit applicants, and their attorneys, consultants, and witnesses. The hearings may be held virtually or in person.
For Legislative (Public Comment), Rule Making Hearings, and Adjudicatory (Permit) Hearings, notices of the hearings are published in the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB), DEC public calendar and in local newspapers. Sometimes the notice will also be published in a foreign language. The notice contains relevant information on the project or subject, directions on the date, time and how to participate in the hearing, as well as deadline dates for written comments and contact information for submitting written comments.
For a list of public meetings and hearings across New York State, please see our meetings and hearings calendar.
How to Participate in a Virtual Public Meeting
DEC has been hosting virtual meetings on Cisco Webex, a virtual meeting platform, which is similar to Zoom. Some meetings may require you to register beforehand, after which you will receive the log in information by email. If no registration is required, the information on how to join the meeting should be provided within the meeting announcement.
For detailed instructions, please view the 'How to Join a Webex' instructions (PDF) or check out our video on YouTube.
Foreign Language and Sign Language Interpretation
Foreign language and sign language interpretation can be provided at no charge with 14 days advance notice to the meeting host or via email. If you need help in a foreign language to register, please see our language assistance web page.
Get Involved in DEC's Spring Outreach Initiatives
Want more ways to get involved? DEC offers a wide array of different programs for the public to participate in - check out the list of current initiatives below. This list is updated regularly.
- The annual Burn Ban is now in effect until May 14th. Open burning is the single greatest cause of wildfires in NYS. To report a wildfire, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) or contact a forest ranger in your area. When you plan a fire, always check for fire danger in your area on DEC's online map (updated every week). Also, local governments may have stricter rules than NYS; your fire department will have information about local burning laws.
- Looking for a fun summer job? Working at a DEC environmental education camp is a great opportunity to gain practical outdoor, naturalist, teaching, leadership, and many other transferrable skills while living in a beautiful setting. Learn more about camp and employment, including available position details and required qualifications, on DEC’s website. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcript to [email protected].
- Spring has sprung which means it’s the opening of spring trout fishing on April 1! You’ll find excellent angling opportunities thanks to DEC's annual stocking program and wild trout fisheries. DEC's extensive spring stocking includes nearly 1.9 million trout in waters statewide, enhancing the diversity of fishing opportunities available to anglers across New York State.
- Help celebrate Earth Day by participating in the annual Canal Clean Sweep April 18-20. The New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) partner together every year to execute Canal Clean Sweep, a statewide cleanup event that occurs along major greenways throughout NY. In 2024, nearly 4,000 volunteers came out to participate in 193 Clean Sweep events held along the Canal and Canalway Trail. Volunteer registration is now open and can be found on the Parks & Trails New York webpage.
- Bird is the word! March 1 marked the start of the 2025 I BIRD NY Challenge for birders of all ages and abilities. The challenge provides opportunities to identify and learn about birds, and awards program finishers with a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and a chance to win birding-related prizes. Learn more on our Birding webpage.
- Help us reach our goal of planting 25 million trees! DEC encourages all New Yorkers to record trees they plant via our Tree Tracker, which updates the dashboard below in real-time. Every tree counts!
- DEC is monitoring highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds and we need your help to report suspect cases! Fill out the Reporting Form. Typical symptoms of HPAI include diarrhea, discharge from the nose, coughing and sneezing, and incoordination, but many birds may show no symptoms before death. There may be multiple sick or dead animals in a single location.
- Ready…set…HIKE! DEC is pleased to announce the 2025 Catskill Fire Tower Challenge. To participate in the challenge, hikers must hike to all six DEC-owned fire towers in the Catskills between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025. Once completed, participants submit a log of their completed hikes along with a favorite photo to [email protected], or via mail. Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 5, 2026. Full details can be found at the 2025 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge page.
- DEC lands and facilities offer many recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities including camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, and nature viewing. Explore the new DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations Map to locate wheelchair accessible features at education centers, campgrounds and day use areas, waterway access sites, and land areas.
- Planning a home improvement project? NYS has a program where you can drop off unused paint for reuse and recycling. View a list of drop-off locations near you.
Contact Information
Looking for information on who to contact at DEC? Check out DEC's Contact Us page to find points of contact for our various programs, such as sporting license sales, camping reservations, etc.
