DEC Program Policy - Assessing And Mitigating Visual And Aesthetic Impacts
On November 28, 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) made available a proposed revision and update to the Division of Environmental Permits Policy DEP-00-2, Assessing and Mitigating Visual Impacts. Comments on the proposed revisions were accepted through December 28, 2018. DEC completed its review of public comments and finalized its revisions to the policy on December 13, 2019.
The focus of the policy is the evaluation of visual and aesthetic impacts by DEC staff in the application of SEQR. The Policy may also be helpful to other agencies in the application of SEQR; however, it is advisory only for agencies other than DEC.
- DEC Program Policy - DEP-00-2, Assessing and Mitigating Visual and Aesthetic Impact, December 13, 2019 (PDF) - the revised policy provides improved guidance to staff when evaluating visual and aesthetic impacts.
- Response to Public Comments - DEC Program Policy DEP-00-2 (PDF) - organized by topic, the responses note where DEC has accepted a substantive change, to clarify a provision of this policy or has disagreed with a comment.
Original Visual Policy - For Reference Only
DEC's Division of Environmental Permits issued the original version of its policy on Assessing and Mitigating Visual Impacts (Visual Policy) on July 31, 2000, which provided DEC staff with a standardized method for evaluating the significance of a visual impact within the context of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR).
- DEC Program Policy - Assessing and Mitigating Visual Impacts, July 31, 2000 (PDF) - superseded by DEP-00-2, Assessing and Mitigating Visual and Aesthetic Impacts, December 13, 2019; and available here for reference only.