N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 34-0102: Declaration of policy

§ 34-0102. Declaration of policy.

It is declared to be the public policy of the state of New York that:

1. Those areas of the state's coastline most prone to erosion hazards

should be identified.

2. Any activities, development or other actions in such erosion hazard

areas should be undertaken in such manner as to minimize damage to

property, and to prevent the exacerbation of erosion hazards. Such

actions may be restricted or prohibited if necessary to protect natural

protective features or to prevent or reduce erosion impacts.

3. Local governments should be encouraged to use all authorities that

can be applied within the identified erosion hazard areas to achieve

these objectives.

4. Public actions, such as the provision of additional municipal

services, which are likely to encourage new permanent activities or

development within coastal erosion hazard areas should not occur unless

such hazard areas have been protected by erosion protection structures

or non-structural measures which are most likely to prevent damage from

effects of erosion during the anticipated life of the proposed

activities or development.

5. Publicly-financed structures to minimize erosion damage should be

utilized only where necessary to protect human life, existing investment

in development or new development which requires a location within the

erosion hazard area or adjacent coastal waters to be able to function.

Both publicly and privately financed erosion protective structures

should be designed to minimize damage to other man-made property or to

natural protective features or to other natural resources; long term

costs of such structures should be carefully weighed against public

benefits before construction is undertaken.