N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 53-0305: Designation of commissioner

§ 53-0305. Designation of commissioner.

For the purposes of this title, the commissioner is designated as the

appropriate state official to coordinate federal funding of urban

forestry and arboriculture programs and by regulation may provide for

the submission and approval of urban forestry and arboriculture plans.

The department will also provide technical assistance to urban areas for

urban forestry and arboriculture, and encourage the participation of

municipal foresters, private agencies, organizations, firms, and

individuals to furnish urban forestry and arboricultural services in

order to carry out the purposes of this title. The commissioner may take

steps necessary to facilitate the cooperation of private agencies and

organizations with municipalities for the purposes of this article,

including long-term contracts with private parties for the use of vacant

public lands in or around urban areas, subject to other requirements of

state law and the jurisdiction of other public agencies with respect

thereto, for purposes of urban forestry and arboriculture under this

article, and to provide trees and shrubs for planting in accordance with

an approved urban forestry or arboricultural plan. This program shall be

administered in cooperation with the Cornell cooperative extension and

the soil and water conservation districts to avoid duplication between

these agencies and the department.