(a) The State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQR”) of 1975 (article 8, Environmental Conservation Law), provides that all agencies shall prepare, or cause to be prepared by contract or otherwise an enviromental impact statement (“EIS”) on any action they propose or approve which may have a significant effect on the environment. Subdivisions (1) and (2) of section 8-0113 of the Environmental Conservation Law require that, after consultation with other agencies subject to the provisions of said article 8, including State agencies and representatives of local governments, and after conducting public hearings and review of any other comments submitted, the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation shall adopt rules and regulations of statewide applicability that implement the provisions of SEQR.

(b) Rules and regulations of statewide applicability were adopted on March 19, 1976 by the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation and filed with the Secretary of State on March 22, 1976 as Part 617 of Title 6 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.

(c) This Part is adopted pursuant to subdivision (3) of section 8-0113 of the Environmental Conservation Law which requires agencies to adopt and publish such additional procedures as may be necessary for the implementation by them of SEQR, consistent with the statewide rules and regulations (6 NYCRR Part 617) adopted by the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation pursuant to subdivision (1) of section 8-0113 of the Environmental Conservation Law.