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SEQRA Concepts
SEQRA. State Environmental Quality Review Act.
Under SEQRA, environment "means the physical conditions that will be affected by a proposed action, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, noise, resources of agricultural, archeological, historic or aesthetic significance, existing patterns of population concentration, distribution or growth, existing community or neighborhood character, and human health." 6 NY CRR §617.2(l).
"To require an EIS for a proposed action, the lead agency must determine that the action may include the potential for at least one significant adverse environmental impact." 6 NY CRR 617.7(a)(1)
"A positive declaration, or "pos dec", is a determination by the lead agency that an action may result in one or more significant environmental impacts and so will require the preparation of an EIS before agency decisions may be made regarding the action"
EIS. "An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that impartially analyzes the full range of potential significant adverse environmental impacts of a proposed action and how those impacts can be avoided or minimized. An EIS can be labeled as draft, final, supplemental or generic"
"The EIS systematically considers the full range of potential environmental impacts, along with other aspects of project planning and design. The EIS must identify and analyze significant adverse environmental impacts; evaluate alternatives to avoid one or more of those impacts; and discuss mitigation measures which could minimize identified impacts. EIS procedures also provide the means for public review and comment about a proposed action."'
GEIS. A "generic EIS may be used to address broad or multiple sites."
"Cumulative impacts occur when multiple actions affect the same resource(s). These impacts can occur when the incremental or increased impacts of an action, or actions, are added to other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Cumulative impacts can result from a single action or from a number of individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. Cumulative impacts do not have to all be associated with one sponsor or applicant. They may include indirect or secondary impacts, long term impacts and synergistic effects."
Unattributed quoted text on SEQRA is from the Dep't of Environmental Conservations' SEQRA Handbook. See it at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/47636.html.
Pine Barrens Concepts
Pine Barrens. The Central Pine Barrens is a State-designated area of 102,500+ acres within the Towns of Brookhaven, Southampton and Riverhead. It overlies a portion of Long Island's federally designated sole source drinking water aquifer.
Pine Barrens Core. 55,000 acres of the Pine Barrens is its "Core". Development is prohibited without a hardship permit from the Commission.
Compatible Growth Area. 47,500 acres on the fringe of the Core have lesser restrictions allowing for some land use compatible with the Core.
Information on the Pine Barrens is from the Commission's website at http://pb.state.ny.us/.
Town Land Use Concepts