Community Conversations and Engagement around New York State’s Sustained Efforts to Advance Environmental Justice 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced an environmental justice (EJ) listening session in Newburgh to support and enhance meaningful engagement with communities that have EJ concerns. The event supports DEC’s ongoing efforts to promote the State’s commitment to build relationships between the agency and community members, to better understand and address environmental disparities, and to ensure DEC’s programs and initiatives are reaching EJ communities. The listening session will also include presentations from DEC on Newburgh’s drinking water supply and the ongoing cleanup of Newburgh’s watershed.  

“Under Governor Hochul’s direction, New York is continuing to prioritize environmental justice and address the historic economic, environmental, and public health burdens disproportionately faced by disadvantaged communities,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “The upcoming EJ listening session in Newburgh will provide an opportunity for the public to voice environmental concerns, ask questions directly to technical experts, and learn about ongoing efforts to protect Newburgh’s environmental quality. At a time when we are facing unprecedented federal attacks on the principles of meaningful involvement, fair treatment, and self-determination, it is more critical than ever to assure environmentally vulnerable communities that DEC will continue to address their concerns and amplify their voices.”  

DEC’s listening sessions are organized by the Office of Environmental Justice and regional staff to convene senior agency leadership with residents of EJ and disadvantaged communities. DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice works to address environmental issues and concerns that affect primarily low-income and communities of color through grant opportunities, enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, consultation, guidance, and enhanced public participation. Visit DEC’s website for more information on the Office of Environmental Justice.

DEC has taken proactive and responsible actions to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impacts to water supplies in the Newburgh area since 2016. DEC conducted the initial watershed investigations and designed, funded, and constructed multiple public water treatment systems. DEC continues to provide oversight on all regional PFAS investigations while the State provides funding for the provision of potable water from the Catskill Aqueduct and for other costs associated with PFAS response activities. For more information on DEC response actions, please visit the agency’s Newburgh webpage.   

The Newburgh listening session will be held on January 21, 2026, at Kaplan Hall, SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus, 1 Washington Center, Newburgh, NY 12550. Register for the event here. Future sessions will be announced throughout 2026.

The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. There will be a formal presentation by DEC and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at 5:30 p.m. with opportunities for attendees to provide input afterwards. Participants will be able to engage with staff from both agencies to provide comments and feedback on environmental issues during the listening session.  Following the formal presentation, there will be an opportunity for attendees to participate in an informal and interactive resource fair with DEC, the New York State Department of Health, and NYC DEP technical experts. 

Spanish language interpretation services will be available for the duration of the event.