N.Y. Executive Law § 966: Comprehensive management plan

§ 966. Comprehensive management plan. 1. The purpose of the plan is to

make recommendations to integrate and coordinate existing programs and

studies; mitigate pollution; balance preservation, recreation and

economic development; protect appropriate existing investment; and

protect the natural resources. The plan shall include but not be limited

to the following, to the extent possible, considering financial

resources and technological limitations:

(a) A statement of the public value of the reserve, including its

ecological, economic, social, hydrologic and educational values,

together with the general goals and objectives of the plan;

(b) A map and written description delineating the boundary of the

reserve;

(c) An estimate of the economic value of the commercial and

recreational industry and the tourism industry dependent upon the

reserve;

(d) An inventory of all public lands and lands available for public

use within the reserve specifying use, facilities and trails for public

use, and the management agency with jurisdiction over the property;

(e) Identification of inventories compiled by the department pursuant

to section nine hundred twenty of article forty-two of this chapter,

including significant natural areas, historic sites, agricultural lands

and water dependent areas;

(f) An identification and evaluation of existing regulatory and

management programs, as well as all agencies having any jurisdiction

within the reserve which affect land use and activities within the

reserve;

(g) An evaluation of land use and zoning within the reserve and their

actual or potential effects on water quality and productivity of the

reserve;

(h) An inventory of point sources of pollution and an assessment of

nonpoint sources of pollution, including suggested strategies for

mitigation;

(i) An identification of areas containing contaminated sediments and

sources that are contributing significantly to the decline of water

quality and that need special attention;

(j) An assessment of trends in water quality within the reserve;

(k) An assessment of dredging and navigation needs in the South Shore

Estuary taking into account environmental impact and public safety;

(l) Management recommendations for the preservation of plant, fish and

wildlife and their habitats;

(m) Management recommendations for protection and management of

dedicated public land;

(n) Management recommendations for protecting and supporting

indigenous economic activities such as aquaculture, finfishing,

shellfishing, boating and tourism;

(o) Recommendations for increased enforcement of laws and regulations

pertaining to preservation and management of resources;

(p) Identification of environmentally sensitive land suitable for

acquisition and dedication for public uses;

(q) Recommendations for institutional arrangements to coordinate and

improve management of land and water resources, to maximize efficiency

such as coordinating review pursuant to article eight of the

environmental conservation law and article forty-two of this chapter,

and to adopt uniform policies among agencies where appropriate;

(r) Recommendations for land use management as it relates to

maintenance or enhancement of surface water quality and the resources

within the reserve, including changes in zoning and restrictions on

activities where appropriate within the reserve;

(s) Recommendations for best management practices for private and

public landowners to minimize chemical pollution, sedimentation and

erosion;

(t) Recommendations for management of commercial, recreational and

tourism activities that may threaten sensitive habitats;

(u) Strategies to resolve conflicts among competing demands of the

resources and to achieve a balance among economic and recreational

activities and preservation of natural resources;

(v) An identification of policies, land use controls and management

measures that should be incorporated into the state coastal management

program and local waterfront revitalization programs adopted pursuant to

article forty-two of this chapter; and

(w) A local participation plan, which describes how local citizens,

officials and members of the tourism, fishing and marine industries will

participate in the implementation of the management plan and which

contains a statement identifying support for such program by the

participating local governments.

2. Within one hundred eighty days after the appointments to the

council have been made, the council shall adopt a statement of goals and

objectives; adopt a map and boundaries of the South Shore Estuary

Reserve for purposes of this article and develop a work plan which shall

include a timetable to guide the progress of its compliance with this

article. Within such time period, the council shall also hold two public

scoping sessions, one in Nassau county and one in Suffolk county for the

development of the plan.

The council shall hold at least two public hearings at different

locations, one in Nassau county and one in Suffolk county within the

reserve on the draft plan before adoption. The council shall adopt a

final plan within four years of the effective date of this article

unless insufficient funding is made available or obtained through

appropriations, grants or gifts. The adopted plan shall be submitted to

each town and village within the reserve, the county executive of the

county of Nassau, the county executive of the county of Suffolk, and to

the governor and the legislature.

3. The council shall continue to convene to fulfill its duties

pursuant to subdivisions eleven, twelve, thirteen and fourteen of

section nine hundred sixty-four-b of this article.