Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
Office of Environmental Affairs

Mission of the Office of Environmental Affairs
The Office of Environmental Affairs (OEA) is located within the Executive Direction department of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY or the Authority). The overall mission of the OEA, in conjunction with the Office of Counsel, is to ensure DASNY’s, and its clients’ compliance with all applicable state, federal and local environmental laws, rules and regulations prior to its decision to fund, undertake and/or approve a proposed project.  Principal among these statutes are the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and the New York State Historic Preservation Act of 1980 (SHPA), especially the implementing regulations of section 14.09 of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law (PRHPL).

State Environmental Quality Review and Historic Preservation
As stated in the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) regulations (6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617), the basic purpose of SEQR is to incorporate the consideration of environmental factors into the existing planning, review and decision-making processes of State, regional, and local governments agencies at the earliest possible time.  To accomplish this goal, SEQR requires that all agencies determine whether that actions they directly undertake, fund or approve may have a significant impact on the environment.  Similarly, the basic purpose of the SHPA, as it relates to State agencies, is to continue and advance the State’s historic preservation programs and activities and to foster consistency of State activities with historic preservation policy.  Section 14.09 of the PRHPL requires State agencies to consult with the Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) if it appears that any project which is being planned may or will cause any change, beneficial or adverse, in the quality of any historic, architectural, archaeological or cultural property that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or property listed on the State Register of Historic Places or that is determined by the commissioner to be eligible for listing of the State Register of Historic Places.

OEA’s Approach to Environmental Compliance
The Office of Environmental Affairs’ approach to environmental compliance is based on a philosophy of strategic environmental management and planning. The underlying tenet of this approach is a belief that effective environmental management requires a pragmatic balancing of understanding and respect for business interests with a strong sensitivity and commitment to the environmental standards and goals of New York State. Implementing this concept involves a comprehensive involvement in and participation by OEA in the DASNY project review process beginning with the client’s earliest consultations with the Authority. Strategic environmental planning allows OEA to identify environmental issues of concern at the earliest possible date in the financing and/or construction management processes and to develop strategies to resolve any problems.

To implement this approach, OEA has a highly-experienced group of senior environmental management professionals that work on a daily basis directly with the Authority’s public finance, construction services, legal, and executive staff, as well as OEA technical consultants, to identify the most expeditious path for DASNY environmental and historic preservation compliance on both a programmatic and project-by-project basis for any of the Authority’s financing or construction programs.  Simultaneously, OEA works directly with the client, and the client’s environmental, architectural, legal, financial, and construction consultants to identify the client’s overall compliance requirements with all relevant environmental and historic preservation review agencies, not just DASNY.  In this regard, OEA’s environmental managers also perform liaison functions with representatives of State, federal and local governments, and members of the general public.

Staff of OEA
The staff of the Office of Environmental Affairs is exceptional from both the perspective of the depth of its professionalism and the breadth of its experience in environmental management and planning affairs.  The Director of the OEA is Jack D. Homkow, an environmental management professional with 30 years of demonstrated expertise in environmental management and review and cultural resources assessment matters.  Mr. Homkow also serves as the Authority’s Agency Preservation Officer (APO). 

The other OEA staff members include: 

For additional information regarding DASNY’s SEQRA and SHPA policies and procedures, please contact the Director of the OEA, Jack D. Homkow, at (212) 273-5033.

Please click on the following links for information regarding:

DASNY SEQRA Policy

OEA Responsibilities and Functions

SEQRA and Cultural Resource Assessment Forms

            DASNY Full Environmental Assessment Form-Part I (EAF-Part I)
            SEQR Short Environmental Assessment Form-Part I (SEAF-Part I)
            NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Project Review Cover Form

Draft and Final Scoping Documents *

Notices of Public Hearing

Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

Notices of Completion for Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements

Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements *

Status of Issuance of Approvals for Projects Subject to a Final Environmental Impact Statement *

DASNY SEQR Determinations (Negative Declarations, Positive Declarations, Findings Statements, Type II Determinations) *

* Please be advised that some of these documents are quite large (100 MB+).
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