The Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) requires the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to establish official sea-level rise projections that must be considered in permitting and funding decisions. The NYSDEC has released sea-level rise projections for three regions of New York through 2100, with ranges from low to high increases. Beginning in 2017, applicants for certain permits and funding will need to demonstrate that future climate risks from sea-level rise, storm surge and flooding have been considered in accordance with the new regulations. This will affect permitting and siting decisions for industries like oil and gas extraction, landfills, sewer systems, hazardous waste facilities and more.

1. Implications & Effects of the New
6 NYCRR Part 490 Regulations
Amanda Post
Biologist
Sterling Environmental Engineering

2. Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA)
• September 22, 2014
• Governor Cuomo signed into law the Community Risk & Resiliency Act, Chapter
355 of the Laws of 2014 (CRRA)
• January 1, 2016
• The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is
required by law to adopt regulations establishing science based State sea-level
rise projections. NYSDEC is required to update this law every 5 years.
• January 1, 2017
• Guidance on how to incorporate sea-level rise projections into permitting and
other programs deadline for the NYSDEC. After this date, applicants for certain
permits will be required to consider Part 490’s sea-level rise projections in
individual project plans.
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3. Sea-Level Rise Projections
Office of Climate Change
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
518-402-8448
“Created to lead the development, in
concert with other DEC programs and
NYS agencies, of programs and policies
that mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions and help NY communities and
individuals adapt when changes in our
climate cannot be avoided.”
• Focuses efforts on:
• Mitigation
• Emissions Inventory
• Partnerships
• Information
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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4. Community Risk & Resiliency Act (CRRA) Provisions
1. Official Sea-Level Rise Projections
2. Consideration of Sea-Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Flooding in Facility Siting,
Permitting & Funding
3. Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act Criteria (SGPIPA)
4. Model Local Laws Concerning Climate Risk
5. Guidance on Natural Resiliency Measures
The State agencies responsible for implementing CRRA are currently identifying
information needs and organizing staff teams to develop guidance required by
CRRA. These agencies anticipate providing regular updates on progress through
2016.
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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5. Sea-Level Rise Projections
January 1, 2016
• Information derived from ClimAID: the Integrated Assessment
for Effective Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in NYS
• Published 2011, updated in 2014, by NYS Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA)
• http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/climaid
• NYSERDA information is consistent with, and builds upon, the
Third National Climate Assessment
• http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/northeast
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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6. Sea-Level Rise Projections
• ‘Mid-Hudson’- The main stem of
the Hudson River, from the
Federal dam at Troy to the mouth
of the Rondout Creek at Kingston,
NY
• ‘NYC/Lower Hudson’- The main
stem of the Hudson River, south
from the mouth of Rondout
Creek at Kingston, NY
• ‘Long Island Region’- The marine
coast of Nassau and Suffolk
Counties
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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7. Time Interval
Low
Projection
Low-Medium
Projection
Medium
Projection
High-Medium
Projection
High
Projection
2020s 2 inches 4 inches 6 inches 8 inches 10 inches
2050s 8 inches 11 inches 16 inches 21 inches 30 inches
2080s 13 inches 18 inches 29 inches 39 inches 58 inches
2100 15 inches 22 inches 36 inches 50 inches 75 inches
Time Interval
Low
Projection
Low-Medium
Projection
Medium
Projection
High-Medium
Projection
High
Projection
2020s 1 inch 3 inches 5 inches 7 inches 9 inches
2050s 5 inches 9 inches 14 inches 19 inches 27 inches
2080s 10 inches 14 inches 25 inches 36 inches 54 inches
2100 11 inches 18 inches 32 inches 46 inches 71 inches
Time Interval
Low
Projection
Low-Medium
Projection
Medium
Projection
High-Medium
Projection
High
Projection
2020s 2 inches 4 inches 6 inches 8 inches 10 inches
2050s 8 inches 11 inches 16 inches 21 inches 30 inches
2080s 13 inches 18 inches 29 inches 39 inches 58 inches
2100 15 inches 21 inches 34 inches 47 inches 72 inches
a) Mid-
Hudson
Region
b) NYC
Lower
Hudson
Region
c) Long
Island
Region
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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8. Community Risk & Resiliency Act (CRRA) Provisions
1. Official Sea-Level Rise Projections
2. Consideration of Sea-Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Flooding in Facility Siting,
Permitting & Funding
3. Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act Criteria (SGPIPA)
4. Model Local Laws Concerning Climate Risk
5. Guidance on Natural Resiliency Measures
The State agencies responsible for implementing CRRA are currently identifying
information needs and organizing staff teams to develop guidance required by
CRRA. These agencies anticipate providing regular updates on progress through
2016.
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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9. Sea-Level Rise Projections Incorporation into Permits
January 1, 2017
• CRRA amends the
Environmental Conservation
Law (ECL), Agriculture and
Markets Law & Public Health
Law
 Requires applicants for
permits and/or funding
demonstrate that future
climate risks have been
considered and
incorporated into
certain facility-siting
regulations
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C 9

10. Case-Study: Gilboa Dam & Tropical Storm Irene
Schoharie, NY
• Impounds Schoharie Creek, creating
Schoharie Reservoir
Northernmost of NYC’s water supplies
• Constructed: 1919-1927
• Fully Operational: 1927
• Experienced interim improvements in
2005-2006
The Journal of Dam Safety, Volume 9, Issue 3,
2011: “The largest known flood occurred in
October 1903, prior to construction of the
dam, when 10 inches of rain fell in 24 hours”
Capable of storing 19.5 billion gallons of water
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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11. Case-Study: Gilboa Dam & Tropical Storm Irene
Hurricane Irene in Schoharie County
August 28, 2011
• 18 inches of rain in the Catskills in
less than 24 hours
• 31 Counties declared disaster areas
• 9 Bridges destroyed
• 40 Roads closed
• Lost Estimates:
• 1/3rd of homes & businesses in the
Village of Schoharie
• $297 Million for the States
transportation system infrastructure
alone
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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12. Sea-Level Rise Projections Incorporation into
Permits
• Permitting Programs Identified
in CRRA:
• CRRA Section 14a: Oil and Natural
Gas Wells
• CRRA Section 15: Major Projects
• Protection of Waters
• Sewerage Service
• Liquefied natural gas and liquefied
propane facilities
• Mined land reclamation
• Freshwater wetlands
• Tidal wetlands
• Coastal erosion hazard areas
• Facility- Siting Programs Identified
in CRRA:
• CRRA Section 4: Hazardous waste
transportation, storage and
distribution facility siting
• CRRA Section 9: Petroleum bulk
storage
• CRRA Section 5: Hazardous substance
bulk storage
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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13. Sea-Level Rise Projections Incorporation into Permits
• Funding Programs & Agencies Identified in CRRA:
• CRRA Section 3: Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (DEC, EFC)
• CRRA Section 6,7: Open space acquisition (DEC, Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation [OPRHP])
• CRRA Section 7: Open space project operation and maintenance agreements
(OPRHP)
• CRRA Section 8: Landfill closure assistance (DEC)
• CRRA Section 10: Local waterfront revitalization (Department of State [DOS])
• CRRA Section 11: Coastal rehabilitation project assistance (DEC)
• CRRA Section 12: Agricultural and farmland protection (DAM)
• CRRA Section 13: Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DOH,EFC)
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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14. Community Risk & Resiliency Act (CRRA) Provisions
1. Official Sea-Level Rise Projections
2. Consideration of Sea-Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Flooding in Facility Siting,
Permitting & Funding
3. Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act Criteria (SGPIPA)
4. Model Local Laws Concerning Climate Risk
5. Guidance on Natural Resiliency Measures
Create and Maintain
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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15. Think Green.
2016 State of the State Proposed the Following
Relating to Infrastructure/Natural Resiliency Measures:
Future Opportunities in NYS
• $200 Million Competition to Revitalize Upstate Airports
• $1 Billion Initiative for State & Local Roads (PAVE NY)
• $1 Billion Initiative for State & Local Bridges (BRIDGE NY)
• $500 Million Infrastructure Hardening Program
• $100 Million for Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)
Funding will be awarded to innovative, forward-thinking
development plans that:
• reduce environmental impact,
• incorporate sustainable green building techniques,
• use renewable energy,
• Incorporate, where appropriate, use of recycled/reclaimed
materials and permeable pavements.
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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16. Funding Already Awarded in 2016
City of Troy: Tide Gate Removal : $12,500
• “The City of Troy will disassemble and remove a tide
gate located on the Wynants Kill in close proximity to
the Hudson River.
• The gate’s removal will improve upstream access on
this tributary for herring and American eel, and will
also help reduce flooding problems.”
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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17. Planning Ahead
• The Community Risk & Resiliency Act
(CRRA) will affect both public and
private sectors
• Oil & Gas, Mining
• Landfill closures
• Sewerage services
• Hazardous waste
• Petroleum storage
• Drinking water
• Agriculture & Farmlands
• Open space activities
• Major projects near water
- Permits
- Facility Siting
- Funding
• The requirements that will need to be
addressed for those listed above will
change every 5 years according to
updated sea-level predictions
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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18. Planning Ahead • Potential services that will be key to
complying with State Law:
• Feasibility Studies and Identification of
Required Permits
• Permitting and Regulatory Agency
Coordination NYSDEC/USACOE Permits
• Wetland Identification, Delineation &
Classification
• Wetland Mitigation Plans
• Environmental Monitoring
• Natural Resource Inventories
• Impact Assessments, Alternative
Analysis, and Preliminary Engineering
Design
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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19. Stay Informed
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
• Notice of Adoption will be distributed
• Opportunities to review draft guidance
19

20. Community Risk & Resiliency Act (CRRA) Provisions
 1. Official Sea-Level Rise Projections
 2. Consideration of Sea-Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Flooding in Facility Siting,
Permitting & Funding
 3. Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act Criteria (SGPIPA)
 4. Model Local Laws Concerning Climate Risk
 5. Guidance on Natural Resiliency Measures
The State agencies responsible for implementing CRRA are currently identifying
information needs and organizing staff teams to develop guidance required by
CRRA. These agencies anticipate providing regular updates on progress through
2016.
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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21. Trending- California
• “…to shore up bay communities
against expected sea level rise in
future decades.”
• On June 7, 2016, voters can
approve or reject a $12/year parcel
tax for 20 years
• This money will fund clean water
projects, pollution prevention
programs and the restoration of
approximately 35,000 acres of
wetlands along the bay
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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22. Trending- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Climate Smart Brownfields
• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
• Regional Priority given to projects
that advance/contribute to
community climate change resiliency
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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23. Closing/Questions
Amanda Post
Biologist
Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C.
www.sterlingenvironmental.com
24 Wade Road
Latham, NY 12110
518-456-4900 ext. 122
amanda.post@sterlingenvironmental.com
© 2016, Sterling Environmental Engineering, P.C
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