Responsible stewardship of our state's natural resources is a team effort. It includes all employees throughout the state park
system as well its many visitors. The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) within the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) consists of dedicated employees that have training and experience in environmental
science, natural resource protection, and environmental impact analysis.
EMB, as part of the State Parks team, assists other agency staff and the public in responsible stewardship of natural resources.
The bureau assists in protecting outdoor resources such as water and land; plants and animals; the environmental health and safety
of patrons and employees; and in ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Program Areas
The work of the EMB is performed in three general program areas: natural resource stewardship, environmental compliance and environmental health.
Natural Resource Stewardship
EMB provides recommendations on natural resource conservation in state parks, including the protection of threatened or
endangered species, bird conservation, and invasive species control. The bureau coordinates the Bird Conservation and Natural
Heritage Areas programs within the agency and works closely with staff from the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC), and the New York Department of State (DOS). EMB also works with other resource protection organizations to
develop invasive species management protocols and natural resource management strategies. It seeks ways to advance agency
initiatives in a manner that ensures adequate protection of environmental resources. EMB provides natural history and interpretive
information to assist in the development of environmental education programs offered through state parks, historic sites, nature
centers, visitor centers and museums.
Environmental Compliance
EMB coordinates procedural and substantive compliance with various environmental law, such as the State Environmental Quality
Review Act (SEQR) and the State Agency Environmental Audit. An important component of the planning process within OPRHP is
environmental review. For all projects, the agency must make a determination of the significance of the environmental impacts of a
project. The bureau leads oversight of the preparation of any agency environmental impact statements or assessments and in
coordinating public participation within the environmental review process. As a part of the State Agency Environmental Audit, OPRHP
submits an annual report to DEC that assesses the impact of park operations.
Environmental Health
Water quality in state parks is also an important part of OPRHP's commitment to the public. State parks provide drinking water
to park patrons and offer many swimming opportunities at bathing beaches and pools. Good water quality is essential to these
services. EMB coordinates the agency's bathing beach and pool monitoring programs and serves as a liaison with the New York
State Department of Health (DOH) on safe drinking water monitoring. Results from monitoring are used to protect public health and
safety, as well as environmental quality.
Contact
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
Agency Building 1, Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12238
Phone: (518) 474-0409
Fax: (518) 474-7013