New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

About New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC, also called NYSDEC) is a New York State government department. It was established on July 1, 1970 to bring the state's environmental protection programs together in one agency. A commissioner leads the department, which has 24 divisions and offices and operates under Title 6 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Its work includes protecting natural resources, controlling water, land and air pollution, managing Forest Preserve and state forest lands, and regulating fishing, hunting and trapping.

DEC issues permits and licenses to individuals, municipalities and corporations, oversees environmental cleanup, monitors air quality, regulates waste management and oil and gas activity, and holds enforcement hearings. Environmental Conservation Officers and Forest Rangers assist with certain public safety matters. The Central Office is in Albany, and the state is divided into nine regions, each with a regional headquarters and many sub-offices, including locations in New Paltz, Schenectady, Watertown, Syracuse, Avon, Buffalo and Long Island City.

Practice areas

Areas of work that New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 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 29, 2026). Attorney list from the New York State Unified Court System registration data. Not affiliated with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Registered attorneys

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