N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 1-0101: Declaration of policy

§ 1-0101. Declaration of policy.

1. The quality of our environment is fundamental to our concern for

the quality of life. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State

of New York to conserve, improve and protect its natural resources and

environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air

pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the

people of the state and their overall economic and social well being.

2. It shall further be the policy of the state to improve and

coordinate the environmental plans, functions, powers and programs of

the state, in cooperation with the federal government, regions, local

governments, other public and private organizations and the concerned

individual, and to develop and manage the basic resources of water,

land, and air to the end that the state may fulfill its responsibility

as trustee of the environment for the present and future generations.

3. It shall further be the policy of the state to foster, promote,

create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can thrive in

harmony with each other, and achieve social, economic and technological

progress for present and future generations by:

a. Assuring surroundings which are healthful and aesthetically

pleasing;

b. Guaranteeing that the widest range of beneficial uses of the

environment is attained without risk to health or safety, unnecessary

degradation or other undesirable or unintended consequences;

c. Promoting patterns of development and technology which minimize

adverse impact on the environment;

d. Preserving the unique qualities of special resources such as the

Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves;

e. Providing that care is taken for the air, water and other resources

that are shared with the other states of the United States and with

Canada in the manner of a good neighbor.