Relates to the electronic filing of wetlands regulatory maps

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to electronic filing of freshwater wetlands regulatory maps

Purpose

To improve the availability of information on the location of regulated freshwater wetlands.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends Section 24-0301 of the environmental conservation law to authorize the department to file electronic versions of freshwater wetlands regulatory maps with interested local governments and to authorize posting of the official maps on the department's website.

Section 2 establishes an effective date.

Justification

Under the Freshwater Wetland Act, the commissioner of the Department is required to file copies of draft wetlands maps with local governments where they can be made available for public inspection at a convenient location in such local governments. Subsequent to public comment, the commissioner files a final copy of the map with the local government. These maps assist the public in determining where wetlands are and aid local governments in local decision making and planning. Although, historically paper maps have been the official form, the advent of technology can permit the DEC and local governments to provide maps through the internet.

Allowing maps to be filed electronically provides a more convenient way to provide the maps to citizens and could save considerable Department and local government staff time and cost. This bill allows local governments, should they choose to do so, to post digital files of the maps on own website if they have that capability.

Legislative history

2007-08: S.3840

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.