LEG A L DIVISIONS
Defending the City’s
Environmental Review
The Division works closely with other City
agencies to review potential environmental
impacts of proposed City actions and defend
the City’s environmental reviews in court. In
2011, Division lawyers provided advice in
connection with the environmental reviews of
the City’s proposal to issue new yellow taxicab
medallions, the redevelopment of Governors
Island, and the Police Department’s proposed
security plan for the World Trade Center
campus. The Division also defended legal
challenges to the environmental reviews of
the City’s Sunset Park rezoning; the proposed
redevelopment of Willets Point, Queens;
and the proposed expansion of Manhattan’s
Hospital for Special Surgery.
PHOTO: DIGESTERS, NEWTOWN CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Protecting the City’s Drinking Water
In 2011, the Division worked closely with
the Mayor’s Of?ce and the Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) to help
ensure that natural gas production involving
hydraulic fracturing is not allowed in the
watershed of the City’s upstate reservoirs
or near City water supply infrastructure.
While natural gas is an important energy
source that can promote economic growth,
the City believes that “hydrofracking” poses
a threat to water quality and the integrity
of City aqueducts and other water supply
infrastructure. Attorneys are also helping to
explore means of enhancing ?ood hazard
mitigation in the watershed, which was
devastated by 2011’s Hurricane Irene.
ENVIRONMENTAL L AW
CHIEF Susan Amron
DEPUTY Hilary Meltzer
The Environmental Law Division represents and advises the
City on environmental and land-use matters involving drinking
water, wastewater, and stormwater management; solid waste
management; energy resources; hazardous waste remediation;
environmental review of City initiatives and private development
projects; climate change planning; and implementat [???S?P?
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