Session is in Advance of In-Person Public Hearing in Buffalo on June 23

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and PUSH Buffalo, will host an information and educational session on the State's draft disadvantaged communities (DAC) criteria on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in Buffalo.

New York's Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) consists of representatives from environmental justice groups from across the State. The CJWG voted to release the draft criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities for public review in March. The criteria are based on geographic, public health, environmental hazard, and socioeconomic factors, and once approved, will be used to help meet the directives of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) related to reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to inform regulatory impact statements and the State's clean energy and energy efficiency investments.

The Buffalo educational session is an opportunity for interested stakeholders to review the CJWG's process and methodology for selecting disadvantaged communities and to answer technical questions on the draft criteria and maps ahead of the Buffalo public hearing on Thursday, June 23, 2022. The educational session is not a public hearing to receive public comments, but information and resources will be provided for attendees to submit written comments.

Buffalo Educational Session:

Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 6 p.m. ET

Buffalo Museum of Science

1020 Humboldt Parkway

Buffalo, NY 14211

Capacity of Venue: Approx. 200 may attend this session.

Transportation:

• The Museum is serviced by the NFTA bus lines 22 and 23.
• Please see the NFTA bus route schedule.
  

Vehicle Parking:

• Free parking is available in the Museum lot.
  

Health and Safety:

• Masks are recommended. Please refer to the Museum’s protocols: https://www.sciencebuff.org/plan-a-visit/covid-19-reopening-plan/
  

Buffalo Public Hearing:

Thursday, June 23, 2022, 6 p.m. ET

PUSH Buffalo

Lorna C. Hill Theater

Former School 77, Suite 1

429 Plymouth Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14213

Capacity of Venue: Up to 75 may attend this hearing.

Attendees are encouraged to pre-register online.

Transportation:

• Please see the NFTA bus route schedule.
  

Vehicle Parking:

• There is free on-site parking and street parking is available.
  

Health and Safety:

• Masks are required when entering the building.
• Disposable face masks and hand sanitizer will be available at the event.
  

The public comment period on the draft criteria for disadvantaged communities is through July 7, 2022. A full schedule of remaining in-person and virtual public hearings on the draft criteria, including a virtual public hearing for Western New York on June 30 at 12 p.m., can be found on the Climate Act website. Public comments can also be submitted via the online public comment form, via email to DACComments@dec.ny.gov, or via U.S. mail to Attention: Draft DAC Comments, NYS DEC, Attn. Office of Environmental Justice, 625 Broadway, 14th Floor, Albany NY 12233.

All New Yorkers are encouraged to provide input on the criteria that will help advance environmental justice and guide the climate programs and projects to reduce air pollution and climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions, provide economic development opportunities, and target clean energy and energy efficiency investments.

Visit the Climate Act website for more information about the draft disadvantaged communities criteria and for information on the Climate Justice Working Group.