The original 1983 legislation that created conservation easements, Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 49, Title 3 (leaves DEC website), was a long sought effort by conservationists and environmental groups to bring this important conservation tool to use in partnership with willing private land owners across New York State.
A majority of the conservation easements held by the Department (DEC) contain clauses that allow the easement to be modified with concurrence of DEC and the private landowner. Regulation 6 NYCRR Part 592 (leaves DEC website) builds upon ECL Article 49 Title 3 by formalizing the standards and procedures DEC will follow when modifying a conservation easement.