News and Events for Nassau and Suffolk Counties (Region 1)

DEC Announces Enforcement of New York's Plastic Bag Ban to Start Oct. 19, 2020

DEC will begin enforcement of the State’s ban on single-use plastic carryout bags on Oct. 19, 2020. The plastic bag ban, which went into effect on March 1, was not enforced per an agreement between the parties in a lawsuit brought by Poly-Pak Industries, Inc., et al, in New York State Supreme Court.

Pursuant to an Order of the New York State Supreme Court, Albany County, DEC agreed to provide the parties and the Court at least 30 days' notice prior to commencing enforcement. DEC is currently conducting extensive outreach to stakeholders, including grocery stores, retailers, and others, to provide notice of the start of enforcement and answer questions.

DEC continues to encourage New Yorkers to use reusable bags wherever and whenever they shop with the #BYOBagNY campaign, launched earlier this year. Additional information about exemptions to the plastic bag ban, frequently asked questions, and posters, flyers, and tip strips to download, as well as tips for keeping reusable bags clean are available on DEC's website.

New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion plastic bags annually—each for about 12 minutes—and approximately 85 percent of this staggering total ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways, and streets. In March 2017, Governor Cuomo created the New York State Plastic Bag Task Force, chaired by DEC Commissioner Seggos. The task force met several times to develop a uniform, comprehensive, and equitable solution to the challenge of plastic bag waste. The final report analyzed the impacts of single-use plastic bags and provided options for legislation that could help develop a statewide solution. In addition, following passage of the New York State Plastic Bag Waste Reduction Act, DEC held a series of meetings with industry stakeholders across the state to invite input from the public and guide the agency's development of rules and regulations to implement the law.

For more information about the plastic bag ban, reusable bags, or to file a complaint about entities using single-use plastic carryout bags, visit DEC’s website, email plasticbags@dec.ny.gov, or call (518) 402-8706.

The lawsuit brought by Poly-Pak Industries, Inc., Green Earth Food Corp., Francisco Marte, Mike Hassen, and the Bodega and Small Business Association in New York State Supreme Court. DEC was represented by the New York State Attorney General’s Office in the lawsuit. The Court issued its decision in the case on Aug. 20, 2020.

Free Fishing Day in New York on Saturday, September 26

New York residents can fish for free on Saturday, September 26, which is National Hunting and Fishing Day, celebrated each year to promote outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and target shooting.

On free fishing days, New York residents and non-residents may fish for free without a fishing license. Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that, although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. The final free fishing day for 2020 will take place on Veterans Day, November 11. When not participating in Free Fishing Days, anyone 16 years of age and older must have a current State fishing license to fish in New York. Fishing licenses are now valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. For more information on purchasing a fishing license, visit DEC's website.

DEC's Places to Fish webpages are a reliable source for those ready to plan their next fishing trip. You can find many destinations across the state. For beginning anglers interested in getting started, the I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing provides information on everything from rigging up a fishing rod to identifying your catch and understanding fishing regulations.

DEC Announces 23rd Annual Youth Waterfowl Program

DEC is holding its 23rd Annual Youth Waterfowl Program for young hunters on Long Island ages 12 to 15, on October 24 and November 7. DEC collaborates on the youth program with the New York Conservation Officers Association, Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Ducks Unlimited, Tanglefree, Peconic River Sportsman’s Club, and the South Shore Waterfowlers Association.

The Youth Waterfowl Program is a special event to help junior hunters prepare for and participate in Youth Waterfowl Days. The program includes instruction in:

• Hunting ethics and regulations
• Waterfowl identification
• Firearms safety review
• Retriever and decoy use
• Cold water survival and boating safety
• Trap shooting

The Youth Waterfowl Program instructional course is set for October 24 and the designated hunting day is November 7. Special COVID-19 precautions will be made to ensure a safe learning environment including health questionnaires, capacity limits and mask usage.

Since its inception in 1998, the Long Island Youth Waterfowl Program has trained approximately 630 young waterfowl hunters.

Certified hunter education instructors and DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) guide participants through the program and help youth hunters become part of the long tradition of waterfowl hunting on Long Island. All new applicants must attend the instructional day at Peconic River Sportsman’s Club on Oct. 24th, which qualifies them for the youth hunt at Southaven County Park in Yaphank on Nov. 7.

Participants must be 12 to 15 years of age by Nov. 7, complete a hunter education course by Oct. 24, possess a junior (small game) hunting license by Nov. 7, and be registered with the Harvest Information Program.

For further information regarding the Youth Waterfowl Program or to sign up for the Oct. 24 instructional class, please contact DEC Region 1 Hunter Education Program at (631) 444-0255 or e-mail mary.arnold@dec.ny.gov. For more information on the Youth Waterfowl Hunt, visit DEC’s website.

Applications for the Youth Waterfowl Program are due by October 17. Space is limited to 25 students.

About Youth Waterfowl Days:

Each year, two days are set outside the regular duck hunting season in each waterfowl zone to allow junior hunters to hunt ducks and geese. On these Youth Waterfowl Days, junior hunters (ages 12 to 15) must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. Adults cannot hunt during these two days.

The 23rd Annual Youth Waterfowl Program is a part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, an effort to improve recreational activities for in-state and out-of-state hunters and to boost tourism opportunities throughout the state. 

Guardrail Construction Project Complete at Edgewood Oak Brush Plains State Forest 

DEC recently installed a 16,000-foot guardrail at Edgewood Oak Brush Plains State Forest (Edgewood) to protect visitors from traffic along Commack Road and from illegal ATV use on the property. Edgewood Oak Brush Plains State Forest is an approximately 813-acre area located in the towns of Babylon, Huntington and Islip. 

Edgewood is dominated by pitch pine-scrub oak barrens interspersed with areas of grassland and stands of bigtooth aspen. These unique barrens occur in only three places on Long Island, six in the State, and are considered a globally rare habitat. Edgewood is home to many common animal species including several types of warblers, red-tailed hawks, eastern cottontail, red fox and hognose snakes. In addition, several species of rare invertebrates are present including the coastal barrens buckmoth. Edgewood provides many recreational opportunities to the public including hiking, bird watching, and bike riding.

Edgewood is maintained and improved through the continuous efforts of DEC, the towns of Babylon, Huntington and Islip and volunteer stewards including Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists (C.L.I.M.B.), Long Island Healthy Trails and Greenways (L.I.G.H.T) and other groups. Through their cooperative efforts, tons of illegally dumped waste have been removed, unlawful access routes have been blocked, and new parking facilities have been constructed.

Individuals wishing to utilize Edgewood must obtain a free DEC three-year seasonal access permit. You may obtain an access permit by visiting DEC’s website. 

DEC encourages residents to engage in responsible recreation during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis - Play Smart, Play Safe, Play Local.

Forest Ranger Highlights

DEC Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State. Below is an example of the work our Forest Rangers carry out in Region 1.

Suffolk County, Town of Brookhaven

On Sept. 20, Forest Rangers Hicks and Gallagher received a complaint from a member of a local mountain bike club about illegal dirt bikes in the Rocky Point State Forest. Both Rangers responded to the area and observed the illegal operator who fled the area when Ranger Hicks attempted to stop him. Ranger Hicks followed the tracks and clouds of dust back to the operator’s residence and charged him with operating an ATV on public land. Approximately two hours later, Rangers observed an illegal ATV in the same area with the riders attempting to flee the scene after Ranger Gallagher attempted to stop them with his patrol vehicle. The operator of the ATV eventually stopped after noticing Ranger Hicks further down the trail. The operator was charged with operating an ATV on public land and riding without a helmet.