Hevesi Against New DEC Self-Inspect Plan

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, D-Forest Hills, has come out strongly against a plan proposed by the Department of Environmental Conservation that would allow companies and government agencies to conduct self audits for environmental violations.

The program is similar to a plan put in place at the federal level by Environmental Protection Agency, but with allowing a longer lag time for companies to report violations. In addition, enrolling in the self-audit program would place companies on a low-priority audit list.

“I find the self-auditing proposal put forth by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to be deeply troubling in its current form,” Hevesi said. “The policy deviates significantly from what has been implemented at the federal level in terms of environmental self-policing, with no explanation for the changes at the state level."

The DEC says that because of a lack of resources and manpower at the state level, and the tendency of many companies to self-police, the proposal should be considered a time- and money-saver, but Hevesi is not convinced.

"Top officials at DEC have made public statements praising this current policy which indicates, to me at least, that there was no intention to have a discussion on how such a significant digression in oversight practice might affect the lives of millions of New Yorkers," he added.