New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

About New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, usually called DEC, is a New York State government agency. It was created in 1970 to bring the state's environmental protection programs under one department, and it is headed by a commissioner. Its work includes protecting land, water and air resources, overseeing cleanup of contaminated sites, monitoring air quality, and regulating oil and gas activity. It also manages Forest Preserve lands, state forests and wildlife management areas, and sets rules for hunting and fishing.

The agency's Central Office is in Albany, and the state is divided into nine regions, each with its own office. Region 3 covers Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties, with its headquarters in New Paltz and a sub-office in Tarrytown at 220 White Plains Road. DEC issues permits and licenses to individuals, municipalities and corporations, and it holds enforcement hearings. Roughly 3,000 staff work in the Central Office and regional offices.

Practice areas

Areas of work that New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) describes on its own website. They describe the organization as a whole, not the practice of any individual attorney listed below.

Organization profile based on its official website and public sources (reviewed October 30, 2026). Attorney list from the New York State Unified Court System registration data. Not affiliated with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

Registered attorneys

Registration status can change at any time. Confirm any attorney's current status through the official New York Attorney Search.