On June 10, 2025, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) filed a Notice of Proposed Rule Making with the New York Department of State to amend Parts 616, 650, and 750 of Title 6 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York (6 NYCRR). The proposed rule making would add cybersecurity regulations for wastewater treatment facilities. It would amend 6 NYCRR 616.7 to allow persons submitting cybersecurity information to the Department to request that the information be excepted from disclosure under FOIL. It would amend 6 NYCRR 650.8 and 650.12 to require certified wastewater operators to obtain cybersecurity training. It would amend various provisions of 6 NYCRR Part 750 to mandate cybersecurity incident reporting for SPDES permittees and to require emergency response planning and cybersecurity controls for Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
The Notice of Proposed Rule Making is published in issue 25 of the State Register, dated June 25, 2025. Comments on the proposed rule making will be accepted from June 25, 2025 through September 3, 2025.
Rule Making Documents
For more information, please see the following rule making documents:
Summary Express Terms (PDF)
6 NYCRR Part 616 Express Terms (PDF)
6 NYCRR Part 650 Express Terms (PDF)
6 NYCRR Part 750 Express Terms (PDF)
Summary Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF)
Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF)
Rural Area Flexibility Analysis (PDF)
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Small Business and Local Governments (PDF)
Job Impact Statement (PDF)
Submit Written Comments
The comment period will close on September 3, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
Comments should be submitted to the DEC using:
- The Smart Comment application; or
- By mail to:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-3500
ATTN: Gwendolyn Wynkoop
Public Comment Hearings
Two public comment hearings for the proposed rule were held on August 26, 2025: one at 1:00 p.m. (virtual) and one at 6:00 p.m. (virtual). Recordings for the virtual public hearings are provided below:
Environmental and Regulatory Impact Review
Pursuant to SEQR, DEC has determined that the proposed rulemaking will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. In accordance with the State Administrative Procedures Act, DEC has also prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for small businesses and local governments, a Rural Area Flexibility Analysis, and a Job Impact Statement.
Questions and Additional Information
Further information, including copies of rule making documents, are available upon request by contacting:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-3500
ATTN: Gwendolyn Wynkoop
Phone: (518) 402-8194
Email: [email protected]
