N.Y. Executive Law § 912: Declaration of policy

§ 912. Declaration of policy. It is hereby declared to be the public

policy of the state of New York within the coastal areas and inland

waterways:

1. To achieve a balance between economic development and preservation

that will permit the beneficial use of coastal and inland waterway

resources while preventing the loss of living marine resources and

wildlife, diminution of open space areas or public access to the

waterfront, shoreline erosion, impairment of scenic beauty, or permanent

adverse changes to ecological systems.

2. To encourage the development and use of existing ports and small

harbors including use and maintenance of viable existing

infrastructures, and to reinforce their role as valuable components

within the state's transportation and industrial network.

3. To conserve, protect and where appropriate promote commercial and

recreational use of fish and wildlife resources and to conserve and

protect fish and wildlife habitats identified by the department of

environmental conservation as critical to the maintenance or

re-establishment of species of fish or wildlife. Such protection shall

include mitigation of the potential impact from adjacent land use or

development.

4. To encourage and facilitate public access for recreational

purposes.

5. To minimize damage to natural resources and property from flooding

and erosion, including proper location of new land development,

protection of beaches, dunes, barrier islands, bluffs and other critical

coastal and inland waterway features and use of non-structural measures,

whenever possible.

6. To encourage the restoration and revitalization of natural and

man-made resources.

7. To encourage the location of land development in areas where

infrastructure and public services are adequate.

8. To conserve and protect agricultural lands as valued natural and

ecological resources which provide for open spaces, clean air sheds and

aesthetic value as well as for agricultural use.

9. To assure consistency of state actions and, where appropriate,

federal actions, with policies of the coastal area and inland waterways,

and with accepted waterfront revitalization programs of the area defined

or addressed by such programs.

10. To work cooperatively with the federal government, local

governments and private parties to implement programs to control and

abate sources of nonpoint source pollution that may affect coastal and

inland waterways.

11. To cooperate and coordinate with other states, the federal

government and Canada to attain a consistent policy towards coastal and

inland waterway management.

12. To encourage and assist local governments in the coastal area and

inland waterways to use all their powers that can be applied to achieve

these objectives.

13. To facilitate the redevelopment of urban waterfronts.

14. To encourage local governments to enter into intermunicipal

agreements to protect their shared environment and improve their

region's economic strength.

15. To encourage state agencies to provide technical and financial

assistance for implementation of local waterfront revitalization

programs.

16. To encourage local governments and state agencies to celebrate,

protect and enhance the special places that made waterfronts distinct

ecological systems and the preferred locations for people to live, work

and recreate.