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New York Planning Federation

Adopted SEQR Amendments to Take Effect on June 12, 2026

Announcements|
Jun 9, 2026

On April 24, 2026, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) adopted amendments to the regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617) that implement the State Environmental Quality Review Act. The amended regulations become effective June 12, 2026. The legislation requires agencies reviewing actions under SEQR to evaluate whether an action may cause or increase a disproportionate pollution burden on a disadvantaged community as part of the SEQR process, both in the determination of significance and, where relevant, in preparation of an environmental impact statement.

The following are the major amendments to the regulations:

  1. DEC’s primary objective was to enhance consideration of environmental justice in SEQR as required by the Environmental Justice Siting Law (Laws of 2022, Chapter 840, as amended by the Laws of 2023, Chapter 49). The legislation requires agencies reviewing actions under SEQR to evaluate whether an action may cause or increase a disproportionate pollution burden on a disadvantaged community as part of the SEQR process, both in the determination of significance and, where relevant, in preparation of an environmental impact statement.
  2. Amendments have been made to further address climate impacts within the model short and full environmental assessment forms (EAFs) used by agencies to assist in significance determinations, including questions to further implement the Community Risk and Resiliency Act and more accurately reflect potential air impacts.
  3. Revisions to the Type II list of actions set out in 6 NYCRR 617.5, commonly referred to as the “Type II list of actions that do not require further review under SEQR,” include certain multi-family housing projects with not more than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area.
  4. Housekeeping changes to the regulations and EAFs include, for example, codification of the SEQR exclusion for the Office of Renewable Energy Services and the correction of grammatical errors.

The rulemaking documents are available through the link below.

State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) Regulatory Revisions - NYSDEC