Contact Information
Regional Permit Administrator - Kate Malcolm
NYSDEC Region 4 - 1130 North Westcott Rd
Schenectady, NY 12306-2014
Phone: (518) 357-2069
Fax: (518) 357-2460
Email: [email protected]
The Schenectady Permits office serves the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Schoharie and Schenectady.
Sub-Office Deputy Regional Permit Administrator - Angelika Stewart
NYSDEC Region 4 Sub-Office
65561 State Highway 10
Stamford, NY 12167
Phone: (607) 652-7741
Fax: (607) 652-2342
Email: [email protected]
The Stamford Permits sub-office serves the following counties: Delaware and Otsego.
Wetland Screening
As of January 1, 2025, DEC’s regulatory protections of freshwater wetlands are no longer limited to wetlands depicted on the NYS Freshwater Wetlands Maps. Those maps are now referred to as Previously Mapped Freshwater Wetlands Maps.
The DEC Informational Freshwater Wetland Maps are available for download through the New York State GIS Clearinghouse and for viewing through the Environmental Resource Mapper (ERM). The Freshwater Wetland Maps are meant to aid in project planning and are for informational purposes only. They cannot be relied upon to determine the presence or absence of freshwater wetlands regulated by DEC.
Freshwater Wetland jurisdictional determinations (JDs) are the starting point in determining if an area meets the criteria for classification as a regulated freshwater wetland under the Freshwater Wetlands Act (Article 24). The freshwater wetland JD process is described further on the Freshwater Wetland Jurisdictional Determination webpage.
Regional General Permit
The Region 4 General Permit’s (PDF) purpose is to reduce the time needed to review and approve applications for routine activities that meet regulatory standards. The Region 4 General Permit covers Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 15 Protection of Waters Program and ECL Article 24 Freshwater Wetlands Program. The Region 4 General Permit expedites the review process of specific low-impact activities proposed within regulated streams, regulated freshwater wetlands, and their 100-foot wetland adjacent areas. Work must be done according to the approved project plans/sketches and permit conditions that ensure the protection of natural resources and water quality.
The Joint Application Form (JAF) (PDF) and JAF Instructions (PDF) should be used for all Region 4 General Permit applications. Application packages should be submitted by email (if available) to the Region 4 Division of Environmental Permits (DEP) Schenectady Office or Stamford Office based on the county where the project is located. Office email addresses and mailing addresses are provided above.
Timber Harvesting/Stream Crossing General Permit
This permit allows the Department to authorize stream crossings (Article 15) for the purpose of hauling timber from logging operations while protecting the stream bed and banks, water quality and fishery resources. A short application form, which includes a project description and location map, is submitted to the Region 4 Division of Environmental Permits office. A DEC representative will then meet with the applicant on-site and issue the permit if the project meets regulatory standards.
- Selective cutting, but not eliminating vegetation (adjacent area - less than 1/4th acre, two or fewer times per year; freshwater wetland - less than 1/4th acre, once per year),
- Clear cutting vegetation, other than trees (adjacent area - less than 1/4th acre, at least 25 feet from wetland edge), or
- Clear cutting trees (adjacent area - less than 1/4th acre, not for future development).
DEC issues other statewide general permits to allow similar types of work not unique to a particular location. This may be due to natural disasters or extraordinary weather, or other activities that have been determined to not have a significant impact on the environment.
