Bill > A04692

This bill amends the New York State Environmental Conservation Law to exempt certain inland lakes from wetlands designations. Specifically, the bill creates a new provision that exempts inland lakes that are navigable waterways and have an area of 150 acres or more from being designated as freshwater wetlands when the commissioner is delineating wetland boundaries. The bill explicitly excludes the Great Lakes from this exemption. This means that larger inland lakes meeting these specific criteria will not be subject to wetland protection regulations, potentially making it easier for development or other land use activities to occur around these water bodies. The exemption applies specifically to the process of delineating freshwater wetland boundaries, and the bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4692