What's happening
This bill makes time periods for state environmental quality reviews mandatory, allowing extensions only with the applicant's consent.
Why it matters
Increases predictability for applicants and project sponsors. By making review time periods mandatory (unless the applicant agrees to an extension), developers and municipalities can better plan project timelines and investments, reducing uncertainty.
Limits bureaucratic delays. Agencies can no longer unilaterally extend environmental review deadlines, which addresses concerns about projects being stalled by prolonged review processes.
Potentially accelerates decision-making on development and infrastructure. Faster, more reliable review periods could speed up the approval or rejection of projects, impacting housing, business, and public works initiatives.
Balances efficiency with applicant control. Extensions are still possible, but only if the applicant or project sponsor consents, preserving their ability to accommodate unique project needs without risking indefinite delays.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Set Firm Review Timelines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
624
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the time period for state environmental quality review
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 8-0107 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 612 of the laws of 1975, is amended to read as follows: § 8-0107. Agency implementation.
All agencies shall review their present statutory authority, administrative regulations, and current policies and procedures for the purpose of determining whether there are any deficiencies or inconsistencies therein which prohibit full compliance with the purposes and provisions of this article, and shall recommend or effect such measures as may be necessary to bring their authority and policies into conformity with the intent, purposes, and procedures set forth in this article. They shall carry out its terms with minimum procedural and administrative delay, shall avoid unnecessary duplication of reporting and review requirements by providing, where feasible, for combined or consolidated proceedings, and shall expedite all proceedings hereunder in the interests of prompt review. Time periods set forth in this article or established pursuant to regulation shall be mandatory and are not subject to any period of extension unless the applicant or project sponsor agrees to a period of extension.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04381-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the time period for state environmental quality review
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will ensure that the State Environmental Quality Reviews are completed in a timely manner.
Summary of specific provisions
Wording is added to Section 8-0107 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 612 of the laws of 1975 to make time periods set forth or established pursuant to a regulation shall be mandatory and are not subject to extension unless the applicant or project sponsor agrees to a period of extension.
Justification
While the intent of the State Environmental Quality Review law (SEQR) is not in dispute, it is clear that the process could use some reform in an effort to reduce costly delays in the process of approving projects. Developers, municipalities and third parties expend significant finan- cial and other resources to comply with the requirements of SEQR. When a project is undertaken there is a continuing cost in financing and prop- erty taxes, along with the costs to comply with SEQR. To ensure effec- tive use of resources and from a fairness perspective to provide devel- opers with timely answers, this bill would mandate adherence to SEQR timelines unless the applicant agrees to an extension of a timeline. Certainty is important to developers seeking to invest in a project. This bill would be a positive inducement to enter into the development process with no corresponding downside to the community or third party participants.
Prior legislative history
2016: Died in Rules 2015: Died in Environmental Conservation 06/21/17 COMMITTED TO RULES 06/20/18 COMMITTED TO RULES
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.