New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 6 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Chapter V - RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Subchapter D - REAL PROPERTY AND LAND ACQUISITION
Part 592 - Procedure for the modification or extinguishment of a conservation easement held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Section 592.4 - Procedures

Universal Citation: 6 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs § 592.4

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

The department must comply with the following procedures for any modification or the extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement.

(a) Written notice to grantor and entities entitled to third party enforcement rights and the Office of the Attorney General. The department must provide written notice of the proposed modification or extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement to the grantor, entities designated in the DEC conservation easement as having third party enforcement rights, and the Office of the Attorney General by certified mail, return receipt requested to the addresses on file with the department for the respective entities; and

(b) Public notice, comment period, non-adjudicatory hearing.

1. Public Notice.

i. For modification only of a DEC conservation easement. The department must publish public notice in the ENB of the department's intent to modify a DEC conservation easement including a general summary of the proposed modification(s) and the opportunity for the public to submit written public comments to the department. The public comment period shall begin on the date the notice of the public comment period appears in the ENB.

ii. For modification to the purpose(s) or extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement. The department must publish public notice of its intent to modify the purpose(s) or extinguish a DEC conservation easement in the State Register, the ENB and in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county where the property is located. The public notice shall include the facts supporting a finding that: the proposed new or modified purpose(s) enhance the original purpose(s) of the DEC conservation easement; or the DEC conservation easement can no longer substantially accomplish its original purpose(s) or any of the purposes set forth in the ECL section 49-0301.

2. Public comment period. The department must provide for a public comment period for thirty (30) calendar days to accept public comments related to the proposed modification to, or extinguishment of, a DEC conservation easement. The department may provide for the receipt of public comment through the use of meetings, exchanges of written material, or other means during the public comment period.

3. Non-adjudicatory public hearing. For proposals which include the modification of the purpose(s) or extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement, the department must conduct a non-adjudicatory public hearing to be held during the public comment period to provide the public with an opportunity to be heard on the modification of the purpose( s) or the extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement. Notice of the public hearing shall be included in the notice of the proposed modification of the purpose(s) or extinguishment of the conservation easement as set forth in subparagraph ii of paragraph 1 subdivision (b) of this section.

1. For any proposed modification to the purpose(s) or the extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement, the Commissioner must make a written determination that the proposed new or modified purpose(s) enhances the original purpose(s) of the DEC conservation easement; or the DEC conservation easement can no longer substantially accomplish its original purposes. The proposed modificaton to the purpose(s) or extinguishment of a DEC conservation easement following closure of the public comment period, shall comply with the requirements of section 592.3 of this Part and be consistent with the policies and objectives set forth in ECL section 49-0301. If a DEC conservation easement is modified or extinguished pursuant to this Part, it shall be set forth in an instrument which complies with the requirements of ECL section 49-0305.

2. The Commissioner will publish a notice of determination i n the ENB with a hyperlink to the determination document. The recording of a deed or other conveyance document in the county clerk's office where the DEC conservation easement is located must be filed no earlier than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the notice of the Commissioner's determination appears in the ENB.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New York may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

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