N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 48-0103: Definitions

§ 48-0103. Definitions.

As used in this article:

1. "Advisory group" means the permanent environmental justice advisory

group established by section 48-0105 of this article.

2. "Agency" means any state department, agency, board, bureau,

commission, division, office, council, or any public authority or public

benefit corporation.

3. "Environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful

involvement of all people regardless of race, color, religion, national

origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and

enforcement of laws, regulations and policies affecting the quality of

the environment.

4. "Fair treatment" means 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 execution of federal, state and local

programs and policies, and further means that no such group of people

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 other protection and stewardship activities.

5. "Meaningful involvement" means the provision of opportunities for

citizen participation in decision making that are 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 are provided as early as possible in the

decision making process; that 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 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.