Public Hearing

Your Town Board, Planning, Zoning, and CAC – Regular attendance at local meetings is the best way to become informed about how local government is protecting your community’s environment. Become familiar with the players in your town and village. See who else is attending meetings and find out their perspective on the environmental aspects of local issues.

Public Hearings – Before an environmental law or local ordinance is passed by the appropriate legislative body, whether it be the U.S. Congress, the NYS Legislature, or the village board of trustees, there is a required public comment period and public hearing. Any environmental project, such as HOV lane widening or development in sensitive wetlands, that requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and/or special permits also calls for public comment. Informational meetings, scoping meetings, and permit hearings also offer the public additional opportunities to participate. The governmental agency or board in charge of the project review, such as the NYSDEC or a local planning board, is responsible for posting notice of upcoming informational meetings and public hearings via local cable television, radio, community bulletin boards, local libraries, and community newspapers.

Public Comment – Depending on the type of meetings, there is a specific procedure for submitting a written and/or spoken statement (testimony). Instructions usually accompany the meeting notice. You may also just want to listen to the testimony of other parties to hear their perspective on the issue. In addition to members of the press, you will find many of the involved parties of a particular project at public meetings: local and state officials, planning and environmental consulting firms, representatives from local environmental groups and agencies, and local citizens opposed to or in favor of the project. Whether you plan to make a statement or not, attendance at these meetings is important not only to learn the details of a proposed project, but to let the involved parties know that you are following their actions.