ESFPA E-News

Legislative Wrap-Up

With only one week to go after passing a Budget, the State Legislature adjourned last Friday leaving a little carnage behind, but the damage was much less than we could have anticipated. Our biggest win this Session came in the Budget with adoption of amendments to the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA). We covered that in our last e-news and will have more in our ENVOY, but nonetheless the changes relative to biogenic emissions and carbon accounting were huge for our sector.

In the final week of legislating, we were able to stave off legislation on Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure (EPR), Biogenic Solids and Short-Term Disability. All big wins. There are a couple of bills we will work for a Veto or Chapter Amendment on, and there are some bills we will have to watch out as they will return next year. Overall, this Legislative Session can be chalked up as a win!

Click the link below to see our Legislative Summary:

Species Selection Tool

The New York Natural Heritage Program, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation and SUNY ESF have developed an online tool for species selection for plantings.

By entering the coordinates of a project site, users can generate a list of recommended species for forests, forested wetlands, grasslands, wetlands, dunes, and barriers. The tool will suggest species based on natural communities most likely to occur at that location and provide additional information. 

Click the link below to check it out:

Another Study Confirms Mortality Leading Cause of Tree Loss

We reported a few months ago a Hardwood Review article suggesting that more trees were being lost to disease and pests than to timber harvests, and another study by the University of Vermont has reached the same conclusion.  

Our guess is in NY (where invasive pests and disease is yet even more pervasive) this imbalance is even worse. How this affects forest management decisions is still a question. Silviculturalists of New York - is anybody out there, does anybody care?

Click the link below to read the article:

Click the link below to see the study:

Upcoming Webinar on Freshwater Wetland Regulations and Reassessment Procedures

We are pleased to announce that the NYS DEC will host a virtual information webinar titled “Changes to Freshwater Wetland Regulations” on Tuesday, June 23rd at 11:00 AM. This session will cover recent changes to freshwater wetland regulations and is a great opportunity to enhance your understanding of these updates.

What to Expect:
- An overview of the jurisdictional determination process
- Practical examples of when to request jurisdictional determination
- Information on available freshwater wetland general permits

We encourage attendees to submit questions during registration to ensure your interests get addressed effectively. After the webinar, a recording will be posted on the Freshwater Wetland Jurisdictional Determination web page for those who cannot attend.

Click the link below to register for the webinar:

In addition, environmental consultants and wetland practitioners seeking a reassessment of Consultant Option – Parcel Jurisdictional Determination packages reviewed by DEC prior to April 8, 2026, may obtain reassessments by following the procedures outlined below. These procedures may also apply to packages submitted prior to the annulment for which DEC review has not been initiated or completed:

1. Reassessment Requests: If a consultant determines that the jurisdictional status and/or classification of any wetlands previously confirmed under the Consultant Option– Parcel Jurisdictional Determination Process has changed, they may request a reassessment from DEC BOH staff by sending an email to the DEC staff member or region that confirmed the original jurisdictional determination (JD). In doing so, consultants need to provide an updated table indicating which wetlands and/or adjacent areas are no longer jurisdictional.

2. Alternative Option for Reevaluation: As an alternative, consultants and their clients may choose to reevaluate the jurisdictional status and/or wetland classification based on the revised 11 May 2026 version of the SOP. They can then submit their revised Consultant Option JD package to DEC for reassessment through the online Consultant Option – Parcel Jurisdictional Determination Submission Form, which may help expedite the review and validation process.