N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 48-0101: Declaration of policy

§ 48-0101. Declaration of policy.

1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of this state that all

people, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin or income,

have a right to fair treatment and meaningful involvement in the

development, implementation and enforcement of laws, regulations and

policies that affect the quality of the environment.

2. It shall further be the policy of the state that no group of

people, including a racial, ethnic or socioeconomic group, should be

disproportionately exposed to pollution or bear a disproportionate share

of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial,

municipal or commercial operations, or the execution of federal, state

or local programs and policies.

3. It shall further be the policy of the state that no group of

people, including a racial, ethnic or socioeconomic group, should suffer

from inequitable allocation of public resources or financial assistance

for environmental protection and stewardship, including environmental

remediation, pollution prevention, open space acquisition and/or other

protection and stewardship activities.

4. It shall further be the policy of the state that opportunities for

citizen involvement in the development of laws, regulations and policies

that affect the quality of the environment be as reflective of the

diversity of interests and perspective found within the affected

community as possible, including those of racial, ethnic and

socioeconomic groups; that such opportunities be provided as early as

possible in the decision making process; that such opportunities provide

full, timely and accessible disclosure of public records and sharing of

information by the government agency or agencies involved, including the

provision of technical data and the assumptions upon which any analyses

are based; and that such opportunities allow all people, regardless of

race, color, religion, national origin or income, the opportunity to

have their views heard and considered, including opportunities for

two-way dialogue.