The Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) was signed into law in 2014 after NYLCV and other environmental advocates pushed for its passage. The CRRA requires applicants for funding or permits in certain programs to show that they have considered the future potential risks regarding sea-level, storm surge, and flooding. It also includes regulations to help prevent sea-level rise, and guidance on the use of natural resources and policies to increase our state’s resiliency.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently released two new flood management documents developed under the CRRA that address flood risk and sea-level rise, as well as approve state funding for mitigation and resiliency programs. The documents also provide guidance for agencies to implement these programs and provide permits.
Oil and natural gas wells, sewage services, natural gas and propane factories, freshwater wetlands, coastal erosion hazardous areas, and tidal wetlands will all be affected by the new documents under the CRRA.
Flooding is the most prevalent natural disaster worldwide. Not only has a changing climate brought on this increased risk, but flooding can also bring harmful effects to our environment by causing harmful chemicals from land to eventually pollute our bodies of water. This also can harm animals and insects that are vital to our ecosystems. Flooding can also pollute our beaches as debris washes up into our shorelines.
These flood risk management and funding guidelines will increase resiliency and help our state combat the effects of climate change.
The DEC is hosting information and question and answer sessions open to the public. The meetings are all later this month, in different locations throughout the state. For the dates and locations of this meeting, and for more information on the new flood risk management guidelines, click here.