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Resolution 141-2006
, a charter law, created the Department of Environment and Energy.
Resolution 84-2006
amended the 2006 law regarding the creation of the Department of Environment and Energy.
News Home Product Checklist In an effort to Promote Healthy Homes, the Suffolk County Cancer Awareness Task Force developed a Home Product Checklist to help residents identify possible health hazards in the home and also inform the public of healthier alternatives. To use the checklist please follow the link below, print out, and then determine if you use any products of concern. A Glossary and a list of References have also been provided. (To Save Ink, Print in Black and White.) Home Product Checklist Glossary References Water Quality Meeting Water Quality Review Committee Meeting
When: June 23rd, 9:30 am Where: 12th Floor H. Lee Dennison Bldg. Hauppauge Purpose: To Review Requests for Various Water Quality and Land Stewardship Improvement Projects New Webpages Please View the Suffolk County Wetlands Stewardship Website, located here: www.scwetlands.org
If you are looking for Information on Suffolk County's Fertilizer Reduction Program Please Click Here
Suffolk County Water Authority is offering a FREE 20 oz. reusuable water bottle: Details Here The Suffolk County Department of Environment and Energy has added 3 new areas to their website:
Clean Air Initiatives  | | Suffolk County has signed to become a community partner in NYS Department of Transportation's Clean Air NY Initiative. Learn more about this program by clicking on the logo. | | Suffolk County encourages all residents to visit www.nuride.com - An innovative website that makes ridesharing hassle free. Reduce Emissions, Save Gas and Earn Rewards. |
Mission The primary mission of the Department of Environment and Energy is to safeguard the natural resources of Suffolk County and to provide a centralized office for consideration of issues and activities from the perspective of their impact on the environment. To promote the remediation and redevelopment of Brownfield sites To encourage proper solid waste management To preserve and protect farmlands, parkland, open spaces, and ecological resources (critical, stressed or endangered ecosystems, and species) To ensure the acquisition and disposition of interests in real property by Suffolk County in accordance with the highest standards of conduct To coordinate efforts to ascertain any links between the environment and incidents of cancer on Long Island To conserve energy and help achieve sources of energy for county facilities, consumers, and businesses To coordinate the activities of the CEQ (Council on Environmental Quality) with the County Department of Environment and Energy in addition to the County Executive and the County Legislature
Responsibilities Advise and assist any department, board, division, or agency of the Suffolk County government, including the County Legislature and Office of the County Executive, on matters pertaining to the environment or energy, except those matters currently handled by the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Ecology of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Make recommendations to the County Legislature and County Executive as to what county-owned properties should be dedicated to the County nature preserve, historic trust, conservation of agricultural lands, or bird sanctuary, and what properties not owned by the County should be acquired for purposes such as dedication Report to the County Legislature and County Executive on any actions or activities likely to have an impact on the quality of the environment within the County of Suffolk On request of the County Legislature or County Executive, review and evaluate any project or activity affecting the quality of the environment of Suffolk County
Achievements and Awards - Received a Leadership in Conservation Award from the Trust for Public Lands and the National Association of Counties
- Received an Environmental Quality Award from the U.S. EPA for protecting and enhancing environmental quality
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for our Environmental Legacy Fund
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for Pesticide Phase-Out Program
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for our Agricultural Stewardship Program
- Honored by the New York League of Conservation Voters as an environmental leader
- Implemented Fertilizer Nitrogen Reduction Program to reduce nitrogen loading to ground and surface waters through the overall reduction and better management of turf fertilizer applications
- Implemented the county's new Vector Control Pesticide Reduction Plan, a five point program designed to aggressively accelerate the reduction of pesticide usage in the county's vector control program, including coordinating the Vector Control Pesticide Management Committee
- Successful extension of Suffolk County Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program to 2030
- Conducted the first auction of county-owned surplus property since November, 2004 with successful bids received on 215 parcels totaling $9,290,750
- Administered over $30 million in projects (63 on-going) designed to clean up and improve ground, drinking and surface waters throughout Suffolk from a dedicated Water Quality Protection and Restoration Fund
- Worked to bring the county into compliance with EPA Stormwater Phase II regulations
- Implemented the Wetlands Stewardship Program to protect and restore the county's 17,000 acres of tidal wetlands
- Cancer Awareness Task Force held its first annual Health and Wellness Fair for county employees in the H. Lee Dennison Building, over 200 employees participated
- Administered Safe and Sustainable Procurement Policy for Suffolk County whereby the county will purchase commodities that are safe in the areas of automobile maintenance products and services, paper products, landscaping products and services, paints, coating products and services
- Continued to administer the County's Pesticide Community Advisory Council (CAC), which implements the phase-out of the use of all pesticides within county facilities and properties
- Administered Suffolk County Oil Tank Abandonment Rebate Program
- Banned use of low-efficiency incandescent bulbs in county facilities
- Hosted first regional summit on energy infrastructure
- Established an interagency Manufacture Gas Plant workgroup which meets three times a year to track progress and share information regarding the clean-up of the 5 major MGP sites and 13 non-MGP sites in the county. The workgroup consists of representatives from SC DEE, SC DHS, NYS DEC, and NYS DOH
- Instituted a paper recycling program at the Dennison building with the goal of expanding it to additional county centers next year.
- Implemented a $75 million Save Open Space (SOS) Bond Act
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for the SOS Bond Act
- Administered a $50 million Environmental Legacy Fund in the County’s capital budget for acquisitions that will be matched by funds from other municipalities or private interests
- Preserved over 5,500 acres of land in Suffolk County (six and one-half times the size of NYC’s Central Park)
- Preserved nearly 1,500 acres of active, working farmland
- Oversees over $20 million in projects designed to clean up and improve waterways through the Water Quality Protection and Conservation Fund
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for Environmental Patrols to Clean Up Open Spaces and Waterways
- Partnered with Nature Conservancy and Bluepoints Bottomlands Council to help stock one million adult hard clams in the Great South Bay
- Partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Southampton College to spearhead the largest scallop reseeding program in the United States
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for Restoring Scallops to East End Bays
- Received an award from the National Association of Counties for Underground Oil Tank Abandonment Incentive program
- Received Solar Achievement Award from Renewable Energy Long Island in recognition of efforts to foster solar development and energy conservation
- Received Environmental Leadership Award from the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition for adopting the region’s first “Clean Energy Action Plan”
Jurisdiction The Department of Environment and Energy has jurisdiction over the following organizations and programs: Any Suffolk County Electrical Agency application for low cost power to FERC and the implementation thereof Any and all energy conservation programs for County offices, buildings, and/or facilities All environmental protection laws enforced by the County of Suffolk Activities designed to encourage, enhance, promote, and/or implement the deregulation of energy sources to and within the County of Suffolk The Suffolk County Brownfields Program The Open Space acquisitions The Farmland Preservation Rights Conservation Easements All electric and gas utility matters Brookhaven National Laboratories energy and environmental activities (not including economic development activities) within the County Composting facilities within the County
DEE's Environmental Newsletter Here is the latest installment of the Department of Environment and Energy's Environmental Newsletter. This is a brief overview of what Suffolk County has accomplished throughout 2008. November 2009 NEWSLETTER COMING SOON - ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS Divisions The Department of Environment & Energy has five divisions with the following responsibilities: Division of Cancer Awareness and Environmental Assessment– is the County agency that is primarily responsible for conducting environmental health risk assessments. These assessments involve evaluating toxicity of chemicals found in the environment and determining the potential for exposure. These health risk evaluations are key in linking the potential role of the environment to the development of cancer in Suffolk County. Because the term environment is defined broadly, evaluations include contaminants found in groundwater, air and soil, but also food, cosmetics and household products. Division of Energy– Promotes conservation of energy and identifies alternative sources of energy for County facilities, vehicles, consumers, and businesses. Division of Real Property Acquisition and Management– Ensures the acquisition and disposition of interests in real property by Suffolk County in accordance with the highest standards of conduct. The division also preserves and protects farmlands, parkland, open spaces and ecological resources (critical, stressed or endangered ecosystems or species. Division of Recycling and Solid Waste Management– Encourages proper recycling and solid waste management. The division also seeks ways to reduce the volume of solid waste currently produced. Division of Water Quality Improvement– Implements storm water remediation and water restoration projects. The division also seeks to reduce pollutants from surface and groundwater supplies and facilitates non-point source pollution abatement and control projects.
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