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Environmental Protection Fund

Image of open space.What is the NYS Environmental Protection Fund?
Created by the NYS Legislature in 1993, the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) provides a reliable and dedicated source of funding for a variety of key environmental programs in NYS. Primarily funded by a dedicated portion of the revenues from the NYS real estate transfer tax, the EPF ensures a reliable stream of revenue to implement critical environmental projects and programs. Each year, the NYS legislature must appropriate this revenue to the EPF.

Why is the EPF important? 

New York’s environment, economy, and public health are dependent upon a strong and fully funded EPF. The EPF supports numerous programs in every part of the state that have a tremendous benefit to all New Yorkers. A sample of program categories that the EPF supports include:

  • Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The EPF supports local waterfront revitalization projects, community parks, environmental education at zoos, aquaria, and botanical gardens, and important environmental stewardship programs.
  • Solid Waste. This category includes program funding for municipal recycling, secondary markets, landfill closures, and pesticide reduction.
  • Open Space & Pollution Prevention. This category includes programs that support the acquisition of open space and farmland protection. Critical pollution control programs, including non-point source pollution reduction, receive funding through this category. Important water quality projects, including programs that benefit the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve, Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, rivers, and other essential water bodies are supported by this category.

Environmental Protection: Keeping Programs Alive

Whether you vacation at state parks, swim at New York’s beaches, visit zoos or botanical gardens, or enjoy New York’s scenic landscapes, the EPF has enhanced your family’s enjoyment of the wonder and beauty in New York. Over 60 categories of environmental programs are funded every year in the EPF. The NYS Legislature funded the EPF at $265 million for FY 08-09, ensuring these valuable programs continue.

CCE would like to thank our members for taking action on the EPF. Your letters and phone calls were pivotal in ensuring a New York’s critical environmental programs can continue to benefit the entire state! CCE will continue to work to ensure that the New York State Legislature provides adequate funding to the Environmental Protection Fund for years to come.

VICTORY!
Recognizing the unmet needs and the increased available revenues, the Assembly and Senate both passed the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) Enhancement Act (A. 8339 / S. 5304) during the 2007 legislative session, which was signed by the Governor on July 18, 2007. The law directs additional revenues, up to $300 million, from the Real Estate Transfer Tax for environmental program allocation, by 2009! Increasing the EPF to $300 million will go a long way to help ensure these valuable programs, like drinking water protection, continue.

Click here for CCE’s memo of support for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) Enhancement Act (A. 8339 / S. 5304) (PDF format)

Click here for the EPF funding history from 1993-2007 (PDF format)

Updated by dglance 4/28/08