§ 58-0101 — Definitions

§ 58-0101. Definitions.\n As used in this article the following terms shall mean and include:\n 1. "Bonds" shall mean general obligation bonds issued pursuant to the\n"clean water, clean air, and green jobs environmental bond act of 2022 "\nin accordance with article VII of the New York state constitution and\narticle five of the state finance law.\n 2. "Cost" means the expense of an approved project, which shall\ninclude but not be limited to appraisal, surveying, planning,\nengineering and architectural services, plans and specifications,\nconsultant and legal services, site preparation, demolition,\nconstruction and other direct expenses incident to such project.\n 3. "Department" shall mean the department of environmental\nconservation.\n 4. "Disadvantaged communities" shall mean a community that is\nidentified pursuant to section 75-0111 of this chapter.\n 5. "Endangered or threatened species project" means a project to\nrestore, recover, or reintroduce an endangered, threatened, or species\nof special concern pursuant to a recovery plan or restoration plan\nprepared and adopted by the department, including but not limited to the\nstate's wildlife action plan.\n 6. "Flood risk reduction project" means projects that use nature-based\nsolutions where possible to reduce erosion or flooding, and projects\nwhich mitigate or adapt to flood conditions.\n 7. "Green buildings project" means (i) installing, upgrading, or\nmodifying a renewable energy source at a state-owned building or for the\npurpose of converting or connecting a state-owned building or a public\nschool building, or portion thereof, to a renewable energy source; (ii)\nreducing energy use or improving energy efficiency or occupant health at\na state-owned building or a public school building; (iii) installing a\ngreen roof at a state-owned building or a public school building; (iv)\ninstallation of renewable heating and cooling systems at a state-owned\nbuilding or a public school building; or (v) emission reduction\nprojects.\n 8. "Municipality" means a local public authority or public benefit\ncorporation, a county, city, town, village, school district, supervisory\ndistrict, district corporation, improvement district within a county,\ncity, town or village, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state\nor the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the\nboundaries of New York state, or any combination thereof.\n 9. "Nature-based solution" means projects that are supported or\ninspired by nature or natural processes and functions and that may also\noffer environmental, economic, and social benefits, while increasing\nresilience. Nature-based solutions include both green and natural\ninfrastructure.\n 10. "Open space land conservation project" means purchase of fee title\nor conservation easements for the purpose of protecting lands or waters\nand/or providing recreational opportunities for the public that (i)\npossess ecological, habitat, recreational or scenic values; (ii) protect\nthe quality of a drinking water supply; (iii) provide flood control or\nflood mitigation values; (iv) constitute a floodplain; (v) provide or\nhave the potential to provide important habitat connectivity; (vi)\nprovide open space for the use and enjoyment of the public; or (vii)\nprovide community gardens in urban areas.\n 11. "Recreational infrastructure project" means the development or\nimprovement of state and municipal parks, campgrounds, nature centers,\nfish hatcheries, and infrastructure associated with open space land\nconservation projects.\n 12. "State assistance payment" means payment of the state share of the\ncost of projects authorized by this article to preserve, enhance,\nrestore and improve the quality of the state's environment.\n 13. "State entity" means any state department, division, agency,\noffice, public authority, or public benefit corporation.\n 14. "Water quality improvement project" for the purposes of this\ntitle, means projects designed to improve the quality of drinking and\nsurface waters.\n 15. "Wetland and stream restoration project" means activities designed\nto restore freshwater and tidal wetlands, and streams of the state, for\nthe purpose of enhancing habitat, increasing connectivity, improving\nwater quality, and flood risk reduction.\n