| The Division of Environmental Compliance develops and implements programs in partnership with a variety of stakeholders to address the pressing environmental needs and concerns of the region. The Division supports the following programs and initiatives: | |
| Western New York Stormwater Coalition | A number of communities in Western New York have joined together to develop a stormwater management program to protect our waterways and enhance our quality of life. The Western New York Stormwater Coalition is a forum for these regulated communities to share resources and work in partnership toward compliance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Phase II Stormwater requirements. Find out more about how you can prevent stormwater pollution and take the stormwater challenge quiz. |
| Erie County Water Quality Committee | The ECWQC was established in 1992 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Its mission is to protect and improve the quality of both surface and groundwater for their intended uses, primarily through the reduction of nonpoint source pollution and by focusing on Erie County water-related issues. For more information, visit the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation website. |
| The mission of the Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance (LEWPA) is to foster collaboration and partnerships within the watershed to address regional water quality and quantity concerns and in doing so, protect and enhance our Lake Erie resource. The Alliance includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie counties. | |
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Healthy Niagara |
The Division of Environmental Compliance, in partnership with the Town of Tonawanda and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, are developing a watershed management plan for New York's Niagara River watershed area, an area of 1,225 square miles. In addition to the watershed management plan, the project includes development of a Niagara River Atlas, State of the Niagara River Watershed Report and a land use plan for the Town of Tonawanda. For more information, visit Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper's website. |
| Green Hospitality Initiative | Erie County partners with Buffalo State College on a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded project called, "Pollution Prevention for the Hospitality Sector." Under this program, the County, with the assistance of college interns and faculty from Buffalo State College, assist Hospitality facilities throughout Western New York in greening their operations and services. For more information, please visit the Green & Mean (it) website. |
| Erie County Environmental Management Council | The Erie County Environmental Management Council is responsible for reviewing and advising local and state government on present and proposed methods and plans for preserving, enhancing, and using the environment for the protection and benefit of all the people, and for fostering unified action on environmental problems among local governments and among public and private agencies and organizations operating within the county. |
| Brownfield and Urban Redevelopment |
The urban center and first ring suburbs are now victims of their earlier success in attracting industry and commerce to the Western New York area. Often these lands are dotted with urban blight or are considered brownfields, which mean these lands may have some level of contamination. Brownfield sites range from abandoned gas stations to rail yards and former heavy industrial manufacturing plants. Working with the Office of Economic Development, the Division offers technical facilitation services among environmental agencies and the project's redevelopment team. |
| Erie County Indoor Air Quality Program | The US Environmental Protection Agency has identified Erie County as Zone 1 (highest) Risk for Radon incidence. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The Erie County Indoor Air Quality Program works to reduce the risk from naturally occurring, cancer-causing radon gas through the sale of low cost radon test kits, education and outreach to residents, home contractors, building inspectors, and real estate agents. |
| Solid Waste Management Program | The Erie County Solid Waste Management Program provides municipalities, businesses, school districts, and residents with assistance for solid waste management, disposal, recycling and reporting. The program targets problematic and priority waste streams such as household hazardous waste, waste electronics and pharmaceutical waste. |
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Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites |
The Division provides planning and technical support for the County's inactive hazardous waste sites and participates in a number of coalitions organized to address these sites including the Coalition Against Nuclear Materials in Tonawanda and the West Valley Citizen's Task Force. |
