Assembly Announces $400 Million for Environmental Protection Fund in Assembly SFY 2021-22 Budget

Speaker Carl Heastie and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright today announced the Assembly's 2021-22 State Fiscal Year (SFY) budget includes an increase of $100 million funding over the proposed executive proposal for a total of $400 million for the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

“Investing in the protection and responsible stewardship of our environment is a key priority for the Assembly Majority,” said Speaker Heastie. “We believe increased funding for the EPF and other important environmental provisions in the Assembly budget will not only help keep New Yorkers safe, but also help keep our economy growing and forward-looking.”

“The Environmental Protection Fund protects our drinking water, clean air, parks and open spaces and helps to reduce pollution and attract tourism and business to New York. This fund is also important in addressing climate change,” said Assemblymember Englebright. “This budget reflects our continued and unwavering commitment to the EPF and an environment that is clean and safe for everyone.”

Within the EPF, the Assembly budget provides an increase of $100 million dollars which includes the following increases:

• $14 million for land acquisition;
• $12 million for agricultural and municipal non-point source pollution control;
• $10 million for farmland protection;
• $10 million for municipal parks;
• $10 million for environmental justice;
• $10 million for municipal recycling;
• $9 million for a new appropriation to address planning and infrastructure issues related to overuse in the Adirondack and Catskill Park;
• $8 million for the Water Quality Improvement Program;
• $7 million for Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquaria (ZBGA);
• $6 million to combat invasive species; and
• $4 million for publicly available, municipal electric vehicle chargers.

In addition, the Assembly budget allocates $500 million for clean water infrastructure as follows: 

• $200 million for the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA); 
• $140 million for New York City; 
• $50 million for the Lead Service Lines Replacement Program 
• $40 million for land acquisition 
• $40 million for WIIA – emerging contaminants; and 
• $30 million for the Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Program.