20.02 Powers, functions and duties; commissioner. In addition to the powers, functions and duties provided for in section 3.09, the commissioner shall:
1. Conduct scientific and environmental studies to determine the selection of state parks, parkways, historic sites or recreational facilities that shall be designated park preserves as well as portions of parks that shall be designated park preservation areas.
2. Maintain the integrity of park land, flora, fauna, and scenic vistas; restore and maintain historical and archeological sites; and provide for the management of all unique, rare, threatened or endangered species of flora and fauna within designated park preserves and park preservation areas.
3. Provide personnel trained in the natural sciences, including but not limited to biology, botany, ecology, entomology, geology, and zoology, to staff such park preserves and park preservation areas and provide for the management of their educational and scientific utilization.
4. a. Construct necessary facilities including offices, roads, paths, environmental centers and parking areas, on no more than fifteen percent of the land area of each such state park, parkway, historic site or recreational facility that has been designated a park preserve.
b. Maintain portions of facilities that have been designated park preservation areas in their undeveloped state, limiting development within such areas to appropriate passive recreational facilities.
5. Establish environmental education classes to be conducted by naturalists for the public in cooperation with other governmental agencies.
6. Develop a written stewardship plan for each designated park preserve and park preservation area. Such plan shall include a description of stewardship activities required to monitor, protect and enhance the fauna, flora, scenic, historical, archeological and other resources that merited designation of the park preserve or park preservation area. Such plan shall also provide for passive recreational uses such as horseback riding, fishing, hiking, nature study, and photography provided that such uses are compatible with the long-term protection of the ecological and historical resources that merited designation of the park preserve or park preservation area.
7. To insure that the types and intensity of use of such park preserve lands is commensurate with the goal of maintaining their ecological viability and balance, establish an admission control system by permit on either a group or individual and non-discriminatory basis pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
8. Prepare an environmental impact statement and conduct public hearings pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law prior to acting on any proposal to remove park preserve or park preservation area designation from any state park, parkway, historic site or recreational facility designated hereto.
9. Promulgate rules and regulations to effectively carry out the purposes of this article.
Last modified: February 3, 2019