New York State Insights — Page 2
34 environmental consulting and engineering articles covering New York State projects, permits and cleanups.
NYSDEC’s New SEQRA Environmental Justice Mandate: What Developers Need to Know About the DACAT Tool
When the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) adopted amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 617 on April 24, 2026, it didn’t just tweak paperwork: it fundamentally altered how development projects are evaluated across the state. Taking effect on June 12, 2026, these State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) amendments operationalize the Environmental Justice […]
NYSDEC Proposes Landmark Landfill Leachate Treatment Rules: PFAS and 1,4-Dioxane in the Crosshairs
On July 1, 2026, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) signaled a seismic shift in waste management policy. The department officially proposed landmark amendments to 6 NYCRR Parts 360 and 363, targeting the systematic treatment of emerging contaminants in landfill leachate. For active Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction and Demolition (C&D) […]
Managing PFAS in Recycled Biosolids: NYSDEC’s 2026 Regulatory Overhaul
As of August 2026, New York’s PFAS framework for biosolids is no longer limited to wastewater treatment plant residuals. NYSDEC now requires a broader data and management approach covering biosolids sources, commercial biosolids-derived products, land application, and: through separate proposed rules: landfill leachate. The practical message for municipalities, wastewater utilities, agricultural operators, product manufacturers, and […]
Navigating NYSDEC’s New Part 617 SEQR Amendments and DACAT Tool
Published August 10, 2026 New York developers, property owners, and project teams face a changed SEQR workflow. NYSDEC adopted amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 617 on April 24, 2026. The amendments became effective June 11, 2026, and add environmental justice and disadvantaged community considerations to the State Environmental Quality Review process. The practical issue is […]
NY Wastewater Treatment Plants Now Required to Report Cybersecurity Incidents Within 24 Hours
For decades, the primary concern for New York wastewater treatment operators was physical: flow rates, nitrogen levels, and structural integrity. As of March 2026, the regulatory landscape has shifted. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has officially adopted amendments to 6 NYCRR Parts 616, 650, and 750, establishing the state’s first mandatory […]
NYSDEC’s New DACAT Tool: A Developer’s Guide to Environmental Justice Screening (June 2026)
As of June 12, 2026, the regulatory landscape for New York real estate development has fundamentally shifted. If you are a developer, property investor, or attorney operating in the five boroughs or upstate, the acronym DACAT is no longer a footnote: it is now a critical milestone in your project’s lifecycle. The New York State […]
September 1, 2026 Deadline Approaching: Are You Ready for NYSDEC Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting?
The regulatory landscape in New York is shifting, and for many facility owners and fuel suppliers, the clock is officially ticking. Under the NYSDEC Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program (6 NYCRR Part 253), 2026 is the year where data collection transitions from a suggestion to a strictly enforced legal requirement. If your facility or […]
NYSDEC SEQR Part 617 Just Got a Major Overhaul: What Developers Need to Know About Environmental Justice and Climate Risk
If you are operating in the New York real estate market, the regulatory landscape just shifted beneath your feet. As of June 12, 2026, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has officially enacted sweeping amendments to 6 NYCRR Part 617, better known as the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations. This is […]
NYSDEC Wastewater Cybersecurity Compliance: New Mandatory Reporting and Emergency Planning for 2026
If you operate a wastewater system in New York, the regulatory landscape just shifted under your feet. While many firms are still catching up on post-pandemic SPDES updates, the NYSDEC has dropped a major hammer: Mandatory Cybersecurity Reporting and Emergency Planning. Starting March 26, 2026, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it’s a […]
NYSDEC Part 253 GHG Reporting: The Sept 1st Deadline for Mandatory Monitoring Plans is Looming
The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) has moved from legislative ambition to concrete, enforceable regulation. For developers, property owners, and industrial facility operators in New York, the grace period for "getting ready" is officially over. Under 6 NYCRR Part 253, the September 1, 2026 deadline is the first major hurdle […]
NYSDEC Part 494 HFC Regulations: New Compliance Deadlines Hitting in 2026
If you manage a cold-storage warehouse, a supermarket, or a large-scale commercial facility in New York, the regulatory landscape for your cooling systems has fundamentally shifted. As of July 2026, the grace period for the NYSDEC Part 494 amendments has ended. We are now in the first major "compliance year," where the difference between a […]
NYSDEC Proposes Mandatory 99.9% PFAS Removal from Landfill Leachate : What This Means for Site Remediation
On July 1, 2026, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) dropped a regulatory bombshell that will fundamentally reshape the landscape of solid waste management and environmental remediation across the state. The proposed amendments to 6 NYCRR Parts 360 and 363 are not just minor tweaks; they represent a landmark shift in how […]