N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 24-0901: Cooperative agreements

§ 24-0901. Cooperative agreements.

1. The commissioner shall confer with local government officials in

each region to establish a program for the protection of the freshwater

wetlands of the state.

2. The commissioner may enter into cooperative agreements with any

city, village, town or county, or with an owner of freshwater wetlands

or with any one or more of them, for the purpose of preserving and

maintaining, in accordance with the policies of this article, those

freshwater wetlands which are within the boundaries of such city,

village, town or county.

3. The cooperative agreement shall provide that the freshwater

wetlands be preserved and maintained in their natural state and may

provide for access thereto to be retained by such owner for purposes

compatible with the purposes of this article.

4. A cooperative agreement with any such village, town, city or county

may provide for the development by personnel and facilities of the

department or the payment out of funds appropriated therefor, for the

purpose of preserving, maintaining, or enhancing such wetlands in

accordance with the policies of this article, and for the furnishing of

such personnel, facilities or funds as may be agreed upon by the parties

to the cooperative agreement.

5. This section shall not prevent any freshwater wetland from being

designated as part of the natural and historic preserves of the state,

nor shall it prevent preservation of such lands by dedication as state

parks. The office of parks and recreation shall outline to the

commissioner its plans to preserve freshwater wetlands as parks and

reserves as soon as possible after the effective date of this article.