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The Council on Environmental Quality was established by Article I of the Suffolk County Charter, the "Environmental Bill of Rights". The Voting members are not compensated for their services, but are reimbursed for expenses necessary in performing their functions. Under its mandated charter responsibilities, the Council is advisory to both the County Executive and Legislature. The CEQ office and staff are part of the Suffolk County Planning Department for purposes of administration and budget.
The Council on Environmental Quality meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in the Arthur Kunz Library, H. Lee Dennison Building, Fourth, Floor, Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauupauge, NY 11788. The Council on Environmental Quality meeting schedule can be found on the Meeting Notices and Minutes page on this web site. The minutes of the Council meeting are usually approved at the next successive Council meeting.
Article I assigns the Council the following responsibilities:
- make recommendations on what county activities are likely to have a significant impact on the environment;
- recommend properties for dedication to the County Nature Preserve and Historic Trust;
- assist the County Executive in the preparation of the Annual Environmental Report;
- advise the County Legislature and County Executive on developments in the County with environmental significance;
- review the environmental impact of any project at the request of the County Executive or County Legislature;
- review and report on environmental impact statements that are required to be prepared by county agencies.
Section 418(b) of the Charter requires that the County Executive's proposed capital program include an evaluation of each project's probable impact; accordingly the Council is delegated to conduct preliminary environmental reviews of all proposed capital projects.
Local Law 22-1985 assigns CEQ the responsibility for administering the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA, Article 8 of the New York Environmental Conservation Law) with regard to all county-initiated activities:
All County initiated projects and activities must be evaluated to determine whether an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required; EIS's must be reviewed and evaluated by the Council; and requirements for circulation, notice, public hearing, and comment must be complied with according to prescribed timetables.
Suffolk County Legislative Resolution 871-1972 establishes the Suffolk County Historic Trust and appoints the Council members as trustees thereof.
Local Law 31-1977 establishes the Dredging Projects Screening Committee, which includes one member from the CEQ.
Section 204(B)(3) of the Eminent Domain Procedure Law, Chapter 839 of the Laws of 1977, requires condemners to make a finding regarding the effect of the proposed project on the environment and residents of the locality before any taking of property. Regulations specify that, for County condemnations, these findings will be based on environmental review carried out under the auspices of CEQ.
Article 47 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law and Part 636 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations require the CEQ as an Environmental Management council to encourage the local participation and coordination of Conservation Advisory Councils (CAC's) in the planning activities to influence the ecological balance of the locality.
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