The courts decided 46 cases under the State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQRA) in 2018. However, the most important
action under SEQRA was in the Legislature, followed by the state
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Legislative Action
O n July 18, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, L. 2019 ch. 106.
Tucked in the back as Section 7(2), apparently not to be codified
in the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) or elsewhere, is this
provision:
In considering and issuing permits, licenses, and other
administrative approvals and decisions, including but not limited
to the execution of grants, loans, and contracts, all state
agencies, offices, authorities and divisions shall consider whether
such decisions are inconsistent with or will interfere with the
attainment of the statewide greenhouse gas limits established in
article 75 of the [ECL]. Where such decisions are deemed to
