New laws were enacted in New York in 2012 concerning invasive species, protection of seagrass, watershed protection improvement districts, and tax breaks for solar energy systems. New regulations concern carbon dioxide emissions, environmental justice, water withdrawals and environmental assessment forms, and regulations are under consideration for hydraulic fracturing and for revisions to the impact assessment process.
This annual survey describes new environmental laws that were signed into law in 2012 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, plus one that he vetoed, and several significant final or proposed regulations.
