DEC has regulatory and enforcement authority for Environmental Conservation Law, including two law enforcement divisions, as well as administrative and civil actions. To be effective, state enforcement personnel and policies must work in concert with their local and federal counterparts, and citizens must be kept informed and involved.
Compliance and Recovery
Through compliance inspection reviews and with regulatory and technical knowledge, DEC's regional enforcement coordination efforts ensure the enforcement process is handled in a timely and appropriate manner. DEC will enter into legally binding agreements, called Orders on Consent, with parties that have violated environmental laws or regulations. These agreements typically entail a fine and/or a Schedule of Compliance, which outlines actions that parties must undertake to remedy any given violation(s).
DEC is also authorized to assess injuries to natural resources and seek damages to restore those resources from responsible parties. Recovered damages are used to restore the injured natural resources and compensate the public.
DEC executed a revised Consent Order for the Niagara Falls Water Board (PDF) for a discharge of black water from the wastewater treatment plant into the lower Niagara River.
- Guide to Enforcement Hearings - This guide was written to help you understand the enforcement hearing procedure used by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). It explains the hearing process from when the charges are made to the Decision by the Commissioner. While this guide is helpful to understanding the hearing process, it does not substitute for the legal rules governing the hearing.
- Guide to Enforcement Hearings in Spanish - This guide was written to help you understand the enforcement hearing procedure used by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). It explains the hearing process from when the charges are made to the Decision by the Commissioner. While this guide is helpful to understanding the hearing process, it does not substitute for the legal rules governing the hearing.
