“DEC DOES WHAT?!” PODCAST EPISODE 40: YEAR IN REVIEW WITH COMMISSIONER LEFTON

Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC’s Award-Winning Podcast Reaches More than 30,000 Downloads and Streams Since April 2024 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released the latest episode of “DEC Does What?!”, a podcast that features conversations with DEC experts about the agency’s wide-ranging efforts to protect New Yorkers and the environment. Episode 40 welcomes Commissioner Amanda Lefton back to reflect on DEC’s last 12 months of accomplishments, challenges, and investments in communities across the state. 

In this episode, hosts DEC Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner for Equity and Justice Adriana Espinoza and Region 4 Director Sean Mahar speak with Commissioner Lefton about DEC programs and initiatives that increased access to public lands, expanded the FloodSafeNY monitoring network, plugged abandoned oil and gas wells, and budget highlights that included record funding and additional staffing across the agency.  

Commissioner Lefton also spotlighted the largest round of environmental justice grants to support the construction and expansion of education centers across the state, continued engagement with Indigenous Nations, and New York State’s ongoing response to track radiological contamination in Western New York. 

Episode 40 marks the end of season four of DEC’s award-winning podcast. Since launching in April 2024, the podcast has reached more than 30,000 downloads and streams across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.  

For more information on "DEC Does What?!," visit http://dec.ny.gov/podcast.