Adjusted Executive
Appropriation Request Percent
2000-01 2001-02 Change Change
AGENCY SUMMARY
Community Projects Fund 4,776,618 0 (4,776,618) -100.00%
General Fund 108,347,400 113,853,900 5,506,500 5.08%
Special Rev.-Fed. 79,729,400 94,822,400 15,093,000 18.93%
Special Rev.-Other 212,117,800 207,107,000 (5,010,800) -2.36%
Internal Service Fund 30,000 35,000 5,000 16.67%
Capital Projects Fund 70,708,000 60,509,000 (10,199,000) -14.42%
Capital Projects Fund -
Advances 1,275,000 1,305,000 30,000 2.35%
Environmental Protection Fund 135,000,000 150,000,000 15,000,000 11.11%
Capital Projects Fund-1996
CWA (Bondable) 162,000,000 169,582,000 7,582,000 4.68%
Federal Capital Projects Fund 222,764,000 151,910,000 (70,854,000) -31.81%
Remedial Program Transfer Fund 0 105,000,000 105,000,000 --
Clean Water-Clean Air
Implementation Fund 6,027,000 2,592,000 (3,435,000) -56.99%
Clean Air Fund 3,000,000 3,000,000 0 0.00%
Total for AGENCY SUMMARY: 1,005,775,218 1,059,716,300 53,941,082 5.36%
STATE OPERATIONS
General Fund 102,681,600 109,040,600 6,359,000 6.19%
Special Rev.-Fed. 79,729,400 94,822,400 15,093,000 18.93%
Special Rev.-Other 211,317,800 207,107,000 (4,210,800) -1.99%
Internal Service Fund 30,000 35,000 5,000 16.67%
Total for STATE OPERATIONS: 393,758,800 411,005,000 17,246,200 4.38%
Administration
General Fund 7,982,400 8,552,000 569,600 7.14%
Special Rev.-Fed. 11,598,000 12,731,700 1,133,700 9.77%
Special Rev.-Other 2,189,600 2,291,900 102,300 4.67%
Internal Service Fund 30,000 35,000 5,000 16.67%
Total for Program: 21,800,000 23,610,600 1,810,600 8.31%
Operations
General Fund 28,906,100 32,620,000 3,713,900 12.85%
Special Rev.-Other 12,438,200 11,782,400 (655,800) -5.27%
Total for Program: 41,344,300 44,402,400 3,058,100 7.40%
Air and Water Quality Management
General Fund 11,097,500 12,541,200 1,443,700 13.01%
Special Rev.-Fed. 26,484,000 30,235,400 3,751,400 14.16%
Special Rev.-Other 65,637,300 68,105,500 2,468,200 3.76%
Total for Program: 103,218,800 110,882,100 7,663,300 7.42%
Forest and Land Resources
General Fund 15,656,700 15,831,100 174,400 1.11%
Special Rev.-Fed. 3,816,500 12,890,200 9,073,700 237.75%
Special Rev.-Other 18,048,200 18,924,200 876,000 4.85%
Total for Program: 37,521,400 47,645,500 10,124,100 26.98%
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
General Fund 7,857,500 8,886,500 1,029,000 13.10%
Special Rev.-Fed. 16,796,100 19,427,700 2,631,600 15.67%
Special Rev.-Other 28,317,600 28,823,700 506,100 1.79%
Total for Program: 52,971,200 57,137,900 4,166,700 7.87%
Environmental Enforcement
General Fund 20,354,300 19,740,700 (613,600) -3.01%
Special Rev.-Other 28,004,400 29,074,400 1,070,000 3.82%
Total for Program: 48,358,700 48,815,100 456,400 0.94%
Air Resources
Special Rev.-Fed. 10,279,400 9,091,000 (1,188,400) -11.56%
Total for Program: 10,279,400 9,091,000 (1,188,400) -11.56%
Construction Management
Special Rev.-Fed. 4,434,800 4,018,600 (416,200) -9.38%
Total for Program: 4,434,800 4,018,600 (416,200) -9.38%
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
General Fund 10,827,100 10,869,100 42,000 0.39%
Special Rev.-Fed. 6,320,600 6,427,800 107,200 1.70%
Special Rev.-Other 56,682,500 48,104,900 (8,577,600) -15.13%
Total for Program: 73,830,200 65,401,800 (8,428,400) -11.42%
AID TO LOCALITIES
Community Projects Fund 4,776,618 0 (4,776,618) -100.00%
General Fund 5,665,800 4,813,300 (852,500) -15.05%
Special Rev.-Other 800,000 0 (800,000) -100.00%
Total for AID TO LOCALITIES: 11,242,418 4,813,300 (6,429,118) -57.19%
Administration
General Fund 2,908,800 6,300 (2,902,500) -99.78%
Total for Program: 2,908,800 6,300 (2,902,500) -99.78%
Air and Water Quality Management
General Fund 1,157,000 1,057,000 (100,000) -8.64%
Special Rev.-Other 300,000 0 (300,000) -100.00%
Total for Program: 1,457,000 1,057,000 (400,000) -27.45%
Forest and Land Resources
General Fund 0 3,300,000 3,300,000 --
Total for Program: 0 3,300,000 3,300,000 --
Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
Special Rev.-Other 500,000 0 (500,000) -100.00%
Total for Program: 500,000 0 (500,000) -100.00%
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
General Fund 1,600,000 450,000 (1,150,000) -71.88%
Total for Program: 1,600,000 450,000 (1,150,000) -71.88%
Community Projects
Community Projects Fund 4,776,618 0 (4,776,618) -100.00%
Total for Program: 4,776,618 0 (4,776,618) -100.00%
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Capital Projects Fund 70,708,000 60,509,000 (10,199,000) -14.42%
Capital Projects Fund -
Advances 1,275,000 1,305,000 30,000 2.35%
Environmental Protection Fund 135,000,000 150,000,000 15,000,000 11.11%
Capital Projects Fund-1996
CWA (Bondable) 162,000,000 169,582,000 7,582,000 4.68%
Federal Capital Projects Fund 222,764,000 151,910,000 (70,854,000) -31.81%
Remedial Program Transfer Fund 0 105,000,000 105,000,000 --
Clean Water-Clean Air
Implementation Fund 6,027,000 2,592,000 (3,435,000) -56.99%
Clean Air Fund 3,000,000 3,000,000 0 0.00%
Total for CAPITAL PROJECTS: 600,774,000 643,898,000 43,124,000 7.18%
Marine Resources
Federal Capital Projects Fund 3,850,000 1,450,000 (2,400,000) -62.34%
Total for Program: 3,850,000 1,450,000 (2,400,000) -62.34%
Solid Waste Management
Capital Projects Fund 4,025,000 675,000 (3,350,000) -83.23%
Total for Program: 4,025,000 675,000 (3,350,000) -83.23%
Environmental Protection and Enhancements
Environmental Protection Fund 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000) -100.00%
Total for Program: 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000) -100.00%
Environment and Recreation
Environmental Protection Fund 125,000,000 150,000,000 25,000,000 20.00%
Total for Program: 125,000,000 150,000,000 25,000,000 20.00%
Fish and Wildlife
Capital Projects Fund 1,200,000 200,000 (1,000,000) -83.33%
Federal Capital Projects Fund 2,000,000 1,600,000 (400,000) -20.00%
Total for Program: 3,200,000 1,800,000 (1,400,000) -43.75%
Lands and Forests
Capital Projects Fund 1,250,000 2,782,000 1,532,000 122.56%
Total for Program: 1,250,000 2,782,000 1,532,000 122.56%
Air Resources
Capital Projects Fund 500,000 0 (500,000) -100.00%
Clean Air Fund 3,000,000 3,000,000 0 0.00%
Total for Program: 3,500,000 3,000,000 (500,000) -14.29%
Administration
Capital Projects Fund 500,000 500,000 0 0.00%
Total for Program: 500,000 500,000 0 0.00%
Recreation
Capital Projects Fund 150,000 350,000 200,000 133.33%
Total for Program: 150,000 350,000 200,000 133.33%
Operations
Capital Projects Fund 10,900,000 17,460,000 6,560,000 60.18%
Total for Program: 10,900,000 17,460,000 6,560,000 60.18%
Water Resources
Capital Projects Fund 52,183,000 38,542,000 (13,641,000) -26.14%
Capital Projects Fund -
Advances 1,275,000 1,305,000 30,000 2.35%
Federal Capital Projects Fund 216,914,000 148,860,000 (68,054,000) -31.37%
Total for Program: 270,372,000 188,707,000 (81,665,000) -30.20%
Air Quality-Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund-1996
CWA (Bondable) 26,000,000 12,000,000 (14,000,000) -53.85%
Total for Program: 26,000,000 12,000,000 (14,000,000) -53.85%
Clean Water-CLean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund-1996
CWA (Bondable) 109,500,000 87,582,000 (21,918,000) -20.02%
Total for Program: 109,500,000 87,582,000 (21,918,000) -20.02%
Solid Waste-Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund-1996
CWA (Bondable) 16,500,000 45,000,000 28,500,000 172.73%
Total for Program: 16,500,000 45,000,000 28,500,000 172.73%
Environmental Restoration-Clean Water/Clean Air 96
Capital Projects Fund-1996
CWA (Bondable) 10,000,000 25,000,000 15,000,000 150.00%
Total for Program: 10,000,000 25,000,000 15,000,000 150.00%
Clean Water/Clean Air Administration
Clean Water-Clean Air
Implementation Fund 6,027,000 2,592,000 (3,435,000) -56.99%
Total for Program: 6,027,000 2,592,000 (3,435,000) -56.99%
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Remedial Program Transfer Fund 0 105,000,000 105,000,000 --
Total for Program: 0 105,000,000 105,000,000 --
ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL
BUDGETED FILL LEVELS
Current Requested
Program 2000-01 2001-02 Change
Administration 319 317 (2)
Operations 453 452 (1)
Air and Water Quality Management753 778 25
Forest and Land Resources 400 387 (13)
Fish, Wildlife and Marine
Resources 478 472 (6)
Environmental Enforcement 480 473 (7)
Rehabilitation and Improvement 54 54 0
Solid and Hazardous Waste
Management 746 751 5
Environmental Recreation 0 19 19
Clean Water/Clean Air
Administration 95 40 (55)
Total General Fund : 1,439 1,404 (35)
Total All Other Funds : 2,339 2,339 0
TOTAL: 3,778 3,743 (35)
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
(Executive Budget: pp.117-127)
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is responsible for
conserving and improving the State's natural resources and environment,
as well as controlling water, land and air pollution to enhance the
health, safety and general welfare of the State's residents. DEC
responsibilities also include implementing the $1.75 billion
Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996, in addition to administering
previous environmental bond act funds and the State's Environmental
Protection Fund (EPF).
The Department is included in the Health, Mental Hygiene and Environmental
Conservation appropriation bill.
State Operations
The Governor proposes General Fund þ State Operations appropriations
totaling $109,040,600, reflecting a net increase of $6,359,000 from State
Fiscal Year (SFY) 2000-2001. Major changes incorporated in this
funding level include the following:
-- $2,300,000 increase reflecting a shift of 43 positions from the Clean
Water Clean Air Bond Act to the General Fund;
-- $2,981,000 decrease reflecting a shift of 43 positions from the General
Fund to the Utility Account, the Environmental Regulation Account and
the Environmental Protection fund;
-- $1,765,000 increase for contractual obligations related to personal
service;
-- $725,000 decrease related to the attrition of 30 positions;
-- $2,200,000 decrease associated with the elimination of funding for
nonrecurring costs including moving expenses;
-- $1,100,000 increase related to the shift of lease costs from the
Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund to the General Fund;
-- $6,082 increase in fixed costs related to building, vehicle, fuel
and computer licensing; and
-- $1,285 increase for increased staff for recovery of gas lease
royalties and for emergency vessels.
The Executive recommends a net increase of $15,093,000 or 18.93 percent
in Special Revenue-Federal Fund appropriations attributable primarily to
$9,000,000 in additional Federal funding for the Forest and Land Resources
Program, a $3,750,000 increase for water quality funding to support
watershed activity and $2,631,000 for fish and wildlife grants.
The Governor proposes a net decrease of $4,210,800 or 1.99 percent
decrease in State Special Revenue-Other Fund appropriations due
primarily to:
-- a $12,600,000 reduction resulting from the phase out of the
Hazardous Waste remedial fund;
-- $1,100,000 in indirect costs shifted from the General Fund;
-- $120,000 decrease from a forest product that is no longer available;
-- $3,331,000 increase from the shifting of 46 positions from the
General Fund;
-- $1,036,000 increase for enhancements in the pesticide program;
-- $3,551,000 increase for salary adjustments and other fixed costs; and
-- a $1,648,000 increase for environmental monitors at Bel and cost
associated with the new Habitat stamp.
Conservation Fund
The Executive proposes a total of $42,920,500 from the main account of
the Conservation Fund, a year-to-year increase of $3,356,000. This
overall funding level includes continued funding of $1,600,000 for
costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the Department's
new automated computer license system, and $1,000,000 for the Return a
Gift to Wildlife Program. Other Conservation Fund appropriations include:
-- $69,900 from the Guides License Account;
-- $100,000 from the new Habitat Account which is proposed in
Article VII legislation;
-- $150,000 from the Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog Account;
-- $206,000 from the Migratory Bird Account; and
-- $1,999,400 from the Marine Resources Account, which includes $80,000
for the Departmentþs lobster trap tag program.
The Governor proposes Article VII legislation which would authorize the
Commissioner of DEC to administratively increase the fees for resident,
non-resident and lifetime sport hunting and fishing licenses. The
Executive estimates that to maintain the solvency of the Conservation
Fund, an increase in hunting and fishing license fees will be needed
in SFY 2001-02. The Executive maintains that an average increase
of 25 percent will be needed, which would generate $5,300,000 in
additional revenue for the Fund in SFY 2001-02 and $8,000,000
annually thereafter.
Also, the Executive proposes Article VII legislation to:
-- create a new Habitat Account within the Conservation Fund which
would collect revenues derived from the sale of habitat stamps.
Revenues from this new Account would be used for fish and
wildlife habitat management and for the improvement of public
access for hunting, fishing and trapping activities;
-- authorize license issuing officers to retain 1.1 percent of the
gross proceeds from the sale of non-resident licenses and 5.5
percent from the sale of all other licenses, stamps, certificates
and permits rather than up to $1.00 over the license fee they are
authorized to retain currently; and
-- alter the terms and conditions of sporting licenses, including:
permitting 14 and 15 year olds licenses to hunt big game with a
firearm, establishing a new super-sportsman license, and
extending the number of days that temporary resident and non-resident
fishing licenses are valid from 3 and 5 days, to 7 days.
Aid to Localities
The Governor proposes total Local Assistance funding of $4,813,300, a
reduction of $6,429,118 or 57.19 percent over SFY 2000-01 levels. This
reduction includes the elimination of $4,776,618 in funding for Community
Projects as well as a $2,902,500 decrease in local assistance resulting
from the elimination of funding or the following:
-- $25,000 for statewide environmental summits;
-- $150,000 for intermunicipal compacts in the Hudson Valley;
-- $1,500,000 for the New York State Institute for Fuel Cell
Science and Technology;
-- $25,000 for the Adirondack Research Library-Paul Schaeffer Home;
-- $25,000 for the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks;
-- $280,000 for the Town of Babylon Recreational Fishing and
Aquaculture Center;
-- $100,000 Coast/Clean Oceans and Shore Trust;
-- $172,500 for the Town of North Elba/ORDA Promotion;
-- $350,000 for Cornell Community Integrated Pest Management; and
-- $275,000 for the Roosevelt Wildlife Station.
Capital Projects
The Governor includes Capital Projects Fund appropriations totaling
$643.898,000, a $43,124,000 or 7.18 percent increase from SFY 2000-01,
which includes standard capital support for various infrastructure improvement
projects at State Campground facilities, education centers and other
sites as well as various shore protection and flood control projects.
Specifically, the Executive provides increased funding to support the following:
-- $105,000,000 for the Remedial Program Transfer Fund;
-- $25,000,000 increase for the Environmental Protection Fund; and
-- $7,500,000 related to the Bond Act.
Offsetting these increases includes reductions in support for the following:
-- $83,800,000 related to federal monies to support the Water Pollution
Control State Revolving Fund and other federal grants;
-- $3,400,000 in a shift of staff related to the Bond Act implementation
to the General Fund; and
-- $10,000,000 in EPF interest allocated in the prior year;
State Superfund
As of March 31, 2000, $888,800,000, or 81 percent, of the $1.1 billion
made available from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act (EQBA) for
inactive hazardous waste site remediation projects had been obligated.
According to the DEC the remaining $211,200,000 is projected to be
fully obligated by March 31,
2001. This includes the obligation of approximately $180,000,000 for
the cleanup of two former New York City landfills located in Brooklyn
(Penn and Fountain Ave). In Article VII legislation the Governor
proposes to reform and refinance the State Superfund program.
The Governor proposes to merge the statutory Inactive Hazardous Waste
Disposal Site and Oil Spill Programs with the Department of Environmental
Conservation's administrative Voluntary Cleanup Program (which would
be codified) to create a single set of clean-up standards and a single
source of funding. Primarily, the legislation would:
-- include "hazardous substances" within the definition of
"hazardous waste;"
-- create various liability releases and exemptions;
-- establish new standards for level of clean-up;
-- establish a new Brownfield Redevelopment Area Program; and
-- provide funding sources and financial incentives.
The Governor proposes a $138,000,000 annual program which would consist of a new
Remedial Program Transfer Fund supported by an annual General Fund commitment
of $69,000,000 and a $69,000,000 commitment from the industry fees and
surcharges. The industry sources are estimated as follows:
-- $13,000,000 in existing Superfund fees
(Generator Fees and Special Assessments);
-- $5,100,000 in Superfund Cost Recoveries;
-- $18,100,000 from a new Hazardous Waste Generator Surcharge;
-- $25,300,000 in existing Petroleum Fees which are currently
deposited in the Oil Spill Fund;
-- $6,500,000 in Petroleum Cost Recoveries which are currently
deposited in the Oil Spill Fund; and
-- $1,300,000 from an increase in Petroleum Bulk Storage Fees.
The Governor proposes to transfer $33,000,000 from the new Remedial Transfer
Fund to support the Oil Spill Program, which is currently supported 100
percent by industry sources. The remaining $105,000,000 would be
utilized to support the Executiveþs revised Superfund Program and
Voluntary Cleanup Program.
Brownfields
The Governor proposes amendments to the Environmental Restoration program
(Brownfields) of the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act in Article VII
legislation. Specifically the bill would:
-- Eliminate the requirement that a municipality hold title to a property
to receive Bond Act grant funds to investigate said property;
-- Increase the State's share of Environmental Restoration projects
funded under the Bond Act from 75 percent to 90 percent of eligible
total costs and allow municipalities to receive a 100 percent
State assistance grant from the Bond Act for costs incurred
to remediate "off-site" contamination;
-- Allow municipalities to leverage Federal assistance or other State
assistance to fund their 10 percent share of project costs;
-- Allow municipalities to recoup their costs associated with a brownfield
project before reimbursing the State for State assistance grants and
eliminate the current requirement that municipalities must share
profits (i.e., monies received in excess of the project costs) with
the State when brownfield properties are subsequently sold;
-- Allow the State not to recover its costs from responsible parties
whose liability arises solely from ownership of the property
after hazardous waste was disposed at the property; and
-- Amend current language with respect to interim remedial measures to
allow their use in non-emergency cases without public participation
and without requiring full cleanup of contamination.
The Executive proposes a Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Credit consisting
of two components: a site preparation costs tax credit and a tangible
property tax credit. Developers of brownfields would be allowed to
claim the credits under the utility tax, corporate franchise tax, bank
tax, insurance tax and personal income tax. Site acquisition costs
would not be eligible. Additionally, the Executive proposes a real
property tax credit for developers of upstate brownfield sites
(located outside the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District)
that have already been remediated. A small qualified site
(between 10 and 100 acres) will be eligible for a benefit period of
14 years and a large qualified site (more than 100 acres) will be
eligible for a benefit period of 19 years.
Environmental Protection Fund
The Governor recommends total appropriations of $150,000,000 from the
Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), a year-to-year increase of
$15,000,000. The level of revenues to be deposited into the Fund is
increased by $25,300,000, including $5,300,000 through an increase in
revenues from oil and gas production leases on State-owned land, and
$20,000,000 in additional revenues to be transferred to the EPF from
the Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) which would raise annual RETT
deposits from $112,000,000 to $132,000,000. The Governor also
proposes numerous new project categories and amendments to the EPF
statute, including the establishment of new permanent categories.
Most of these changes are included in Article VII legislation, and
are discussed at the end of this section.
In the SFY 2001-02 Executive Budget, the Governor proposes lump-sum
appropriations for each of the Accounts within the EPF, which, if
enacted, would provide no statutory guidance on the allocation of
money to be spent on each EPF category.
In addition, the Governor includes language within the appropriations,
which would:
-- Authorize the expenditure of monies from the Solid Waste Account
of the EPF for the purpose of assessment and recovery of any natural
resource damages to the Hudson River, and for Cornell University
Breast Cancer research;
-- Authorize the expenditure of monies from the Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation Account of the EPF for the purposes of State
parks and lands infrastructure and stewardship projects, for the
Hudson River Park Trust and/or projects related to development of
the Hudson River Park consistent with the provisions of Chapter 592
of the Laws of 1998, and for the historic barns program; and
-- Authorize the expenditure of monies from the Open Space Account of
the EPF for the Hudson River Estuary Management Plan, for the Finger
Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance, for reimbursement to
soil and water conservation districts, and for projects to implement
the Onondaga Lake cleanup plan.
Although the appropriations are presented as lump-sums, the Executive
maintains that the EPF would be allocated as follows:
Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Account
-- $4,100,000 for municipal waste reduction or recycling projects;
-- $3,000,000 for secondary materials marketing assistance projects;
-- $1,300,000 for natural resource damages; and
-- $2,250,000 for the pesticides program, including the Cornell Breast
Cancer/Environmental Risks Program.
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Account
-- $6,000,000 for local waterfront revitalization projects;
-- $6,000,000 for municipal parks, recreation and historical
preservation projects;
-- $20,000,000 for the Hudson River Park;
-- $10,000,000 for State parks and lands infrastructure and
stewardship projects; and
-- $2,000,000 for a new Historic Barns Program.
Open Space Account
-- $55,000,000 for land acquisition;
-- $750,000 for biodiversity stewardship and research;
-- $12,000,000 for county agriculture and farmland
protection activities;
-- $325,000 for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission;
-- $700,000 for the Long Island Central Pine Barrens
Planning Commission;
-- $520,000 for the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve;
-- $6,000,000 for non-point source abatement and control
projects;
-- $1,300,000 for Soil and Water Conservation Districts;
-- $1,000,000 for the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed
Protection Alliance;
-- $6,000,000 for the Hudson River Estuary Management Plan;
-- $9,000,000 for the new purpose of the Onondaga Lake
cleanup plan; and
-- $2,755,000 for the new purpose of supporting 43
existing DEC staff positions.
Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996
The Executive recommends appropriations totaling $219,600,000 from the
1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, a year-to-year decrease of $2,400,000.
The Governor's proposal would bring total Bond Act appropriations to
$1,537,600,000 of the total $1.75 billion authorized under the Bond Act.
The Executive recommends an appropriation of $2,592,000 from the
Clean Water/Clean Air Implementation Fund for personnel costs associated
with the implementation of the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.
This represents a decrease of $3,435,000 related to the transfer of
43 positions to the Environmental Protection Fund and the General Fund.
The Executive proposes allocating the Bond Act appropriations according
to the following schedule:
-- $50,000,000 for Safe Drinking Water. This appropriation is
included in the Department of Health budget, for deposit in the
Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF);
-- $25,000,000 for Environmental Restoration projects;
-- $12,000,000 for Air Quality projects, to be allocated as follows:
-- $4,000,000 for Clean-fueled buses projects; and
-- $8,000,000 for Clean Air for Schools projects.
-- $87,600,000 for Clean Water projects, to be allocated as follows:
-- $2,800,000 for Hudson River water quality improvement projects;
-- $50,000,000 for Long Island Sound water quality improvement projects;
-- $1,000,000 for Lake Champlain water quality improvement projects;
-- $9,900,000 for Onondaga Lake water quality improvement projects;
-- $1,500,000 for New York Harbor water quality improvement projects;
-- $3,500,000 for Finger Lakes water quality improvement projects;
-- $2,000,000 for Peconic and South Shore Estuary water quality
improvement projects;
-- $1,400,000 for State Facility Environmental quality
improvement projects;
-- $3,500,000 for Open Space Land Conservation projects;
-- $8,000,000 for Municipal Parks projects, Historic Preservation
and Heritage Area projects; and
-- $4,000,000 for State Parks projects.
-- $45,000,000 for Solid Waste projects, to be allocated as follows:
-- $30,000,000 for Fresh Kills Landfill Closure project;
-- $2,000,000 for Municipal Landfill projects; and
-- $13,000,000 for Municipal Recycling projects.
Article VII Legislation
The Governor proposes Article VII legislation which:
-- Permanently extends DEC's authority to collect fees on bushels of surf
clams and ocean quahogs taken from the Stateþs certified waters,
which currently generates an annual revenue of approximately $45,000,
beyond the existing expiration date of January 1, 2002;
-- Amends the environmental restoration program of the
Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act (discussed above);
-- Reform and refinance the State Superfund (Discussed above);
-- Authorize the Commissioner to increase fees for sport hunting and
fishing licenses for both residents and non-residents and makes
other programmatic changes (Discussed above);
-- Increases the annual deposit of Real Estate Transfer Tax Revenues
(RETT) to the EPF by $20 million and dedicates a new permanent
revenue source to the EPF of moneys received from oil and gas production
leases on State land that are currently deposited into the General Fund,
estimated at $5,000,000 in new leases and $300,000 for existing leases;
-- Establishes a new section 480-b of the Real Property Tax Law which
authorizes the State Board of the Office of Real Property Services
to reimburse local governments which suffer a loss of greater than one
percent of their property tax revenues as a result of 480 and 480-a
property tax exemptions;
-- Creates a new permanent category entitled State Parks and Lands
Infrastructure and Stewardship within the Environmental Protection
Fund (EPF);
-- Establishes a new Hudson River Estuary Trust Account that would
support the implementation of the Hudson River Estuary Management
Plan within the EPF;
-- Provides that the EPF be used for assessment of natural resource
damages in the Hudson River, implementation of Hudson River Estuary
management plan, county soil and water conservation district
activities, the Hudson River Park Project and historic barn projects;
-- Increases the reimbursement rate for EPF landfill closure grants from
75 percent to 90 percent for municipalities with populations
less than 3,500;
-- Doubles Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) facility registration fees.
The current range of $50 - $250 for 5
years would be increased to $100 - $500 and would result in additional
revenue of $1,300,000; and
-- Increases pesticide fees estimated to generate an additional annual
revenue of $2,400,000 into the Environmental Regulatory Account,
including: increases in the commercial applicator permit fee from $50
every two years to $150; increases in the applicator certification
examination fee from $10 for six years to $50 for five years; increases
in the applicator certification from $15 to $75 for first category
certification and from $15 to $25 for each additional category; changes
the private applicator certification fee for a three year fee of $15 to
and annual fee, with $5 for additional applicators on the same farm; and,
increase the annual registration fee for pesticide businesses from $50 to
$150.