N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 57-0105: Legislative findings and intent

§ 57-0105. Legislative findings and intent.

The legislature hereby finds that eastern Long Island contains a

maritime region of statewide importance known as the Pine

Barrens-Peconic Bay system.

The legislature finds that within the Pine Barrens-Peconic Bay system

the federal, state, county and local governments own and manage

significant properties in the form of parks, preserves, historic sites

and protected open space, where there is an interdependent and

reciprocal relationship between human activities and natural processes,

and where fishing, agriculture and tourism have been the dominant

industries for more than three hundred fifty years.

The legislature also finds that within the Pine Barrens-Peconic Bay

system natural processes have created unique landforms such as Robin's

Island, Shelter Island, Gardiners' Island, Fisher's Island, Long

Island's North and South Forks, and numerous wetlands, bluffs and

beaches.

The legislature finds that the Long Island Pine Barrens, an area

encompassing over one hundred thousand acres in the county of Suffolk,

is of critical importance to the state because it overlies the largest

source of pure groundwater in New York. The Pine Barrens are

interconnected to the Peconic Bay system by the Peconic River, the

longest groundwater river in New York, and the ecologic and hydrologic

integrity of this system should be protected in a comprehensive plan

adopted by the state and individual local governments.

The legislature also finds that the Pine Barrens-Peconic Bay system

contains one of the greatest concentrations and diversities of

endangered, threatened and special concern species of plants and animals

to be found in the state, and that protection of their habitats is in

the best interest of the people of New York.

The legislature further finds that the Pine Barrens-Peconic Bay system

contains many other unique natural, agricultural, historical, cultural

and recreational resources that are mutually supportive and ultimately

dependent upon maintenance of the hydrologic and ecologic integrity of

this region.

Therefore, the legislature finds that the purpose of this title is to

allow the state and local governments to protect, preserve and properly

manage the unique natural resources of the Pine Barrens-Peconic Bay

system and to encourage coordination of existing programs and studies

affecting land and water resources in the region and to protect the

value of the existing public and private investment that has already

been made to acquire land in the region.

The legislature further finds that a portion of the system known as

the Central Pine Barrens area requires the preparation and

implementation of a state supported regional comprehensive land use plan

that will provide for the preservation of the core preservation area,

protection of the Central Pine Barrens area and for the designation of

compatible growth areas to accommodate appropriate patterns of

development and regional growth with recognition of the rights of

private land owners and the purpose of preservation of the core area.

The legislature recognizes that the provisions of this title may

restrict the beneficial use of some lands currently in private

ownership. These restrictions are deemed to be necessary and desirable

to protect and preserve the hydrologic and ecologic integrity of the

Central Pine Barrens area as well as the public's health and welfare for

future generations. The legislature intends that a comprehensive

regional land use plan be implemented whereby private landowners whose

property is located within the Central Pine Barrens area are afforded an

opportunity to receive benefits from the plan such as transferable

development rights, conservation easements, rights and values transfers,

purchase of development rights and/or fee acquisition with monetary

compensation.