Every New Yorker has the right to clean air, water and land, and these are rights that we can never take for granted.  The fact remains that crimes against our natural resources do happen.

While there are a number of government resources dedicated to enforcing laws that protect our environment, citizens also play a critical role in bringing offenses to light.

Enforcement officials cannot be everywhere at once, and therefore every citizen should abide by the principal of "see something, say something."  Doing your part can be as simple as taking a photo or making a phone call to the appropriate enforcement agent.

Explore the tabs below to learn how you can help keep New York's natural resources and communities free from environmental hazards:

Section 1:  What is an Environmental Violation?

Section 2:  How Do You Recognize an Environmental Violation?

Section 3:  What To Do if You Think an Environmental Violation is Occurring

Section 4:  Additional Resources for Reporting

Section 5:  Beyond Reporting: Getting the Word Out