The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is publishing DEC's 2026 Regulatory Reform Plan developed in response to Administrative Order 360 and in alignment with the Governor’s directive to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden while maintaining essential environmental and public health protections.

DEC conducted a division-by-division review of its regulations to identify opportunities to repeal, consolidate, streamline, and modernize regulatory requirements without reducing protections for human health and the environment. Collectively, the regulatory reforms proposed in this plan will result in meaningful reductions in regulatory burden, improved clarity and predictability for the regulated community, and a deliberate recalibration of discretionary authority to ensure DEC regulations do not exceed what state or federal statute requires.