| The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will hold 11 public hearings across the state to receive public input on draft disadvantaged communities criteria that will help guide the implementation of the State’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
New York’s Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG), which consists of representatives from environmental justice groups from across the State and representatives of several State agencies, voted in December on submitting the draft criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities for public review. The Draft Disadvantaged Communities Criteria Public Comment Period commenced in March with a 120-day public comment period that ends July 7, 2022.
The criteria are based on geographic, public health, environmental hazard, and socioeconomic factors, and once approved, will be used to help meet the directives of the Climate Act related to reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to inform regulatory impact statements and the State’s clean energy and energy efficiency investments.
Public Hearing Schedule
| Event |
Location |
Date |
| Long Island |
WebEx |
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| NYC #1 |
WebEx |
Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 12 p.m. |
| Mid-Hudson Valley |
Beulah Baptist Church
92 Catharine St.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 |
Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| Finger Lakes/Southern Tier |
WebEx |
Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| Lower Hudson Valley |
Grace Baptist Church
52 S. 6th Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 |
Friday, June 10, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| NYC #2 |
DEC Region 2 Office
47-40 21st St., 8th Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101 |
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| Central NY/Mohawk Valley |
WebEx |
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| North Country/Capital Region |
WebEx |
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 12 p.m. |
| Western NY #1 |
PUSH Buffalo, School 77
29 Plymouth Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14213
|
Thursday, June 23, 2022, at 6 p.m. |
| Hudson Valley Virtual |
WebEx |
Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at 12 p.m. |
| Western NY #2 |
WebEx |
Thursday, June 30, 2022, at 12 p.m. |
All persons, organizations, corporations, and government entities are encouraged to attend the public hearings and submit oral or written comments. Each participant will be given two minutes to provide public comment. Lengthy statements should be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. PowerPoint presentations are not allowed, but individuals may provide written supporting documents or visuals.
If in-person hearings cannot be held due to changing COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, hearings will shift to virtual at the same date and time. Pre-registration for virtual hearings is strongly encouraged but not required.
Priority in speaking will be given to those who pre-register based on their place of residence for the regional hearings. Individuals can pre-register using the WebEx link for the meeting. All hearings will be professionally recorded and transcribed as part of the official record and posted on the Climate Act website.
Members of the public who want to provide oral comments must attend either in-person or join a virtual hearing. Equal weight will be given to oral and written statements.
The virtual public hearings will include live closed captioning. American sign language and language interpretive services shall be made available upon written request at no charge. Requests for interpretation must be received at least 10 days before the hearing date. Requests for interpretation should be directed by mail to NYSDEC, Office of Communication Services, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4500), by telephone (518-402-8044), or by email (language@languagedec.ny.gov).
Written comments can be submitted through July 7, 2022, via the online public comment form, DACComments, or via U.S. Mail to Attention: Draft DAC Comments, NYS DEC, Attn. Office of Environmental Justice, 625 Broadway, 14th Floor, Albany NY 12233.
For more information about the Climate Justice Working Group, visit the Climate Act website. |
