NEW YORK CITY’S ASYLUM APPLICATION HELP CENTER WINS AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION’S HODSON AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

 

Prestigious Award Recognizes Application Help Center for Extraordinary Service by Government Law Office 

In First Year, Center Submitted More Than 58,000 Work Authorization, Temporary Protected Status, and Asylum Applications 

Innovative Model is First-in-Nation to Combine Government, Law Firm, Corporate, Nonprofit, and University Support to Provide Pro Se Application Support at Scale

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that following the city’s Asylum Application Help Center’s first anniversary, the center has won the American Bar Association’s Hodson Award for distinguished public service for its work helping asylum seekers submit applications for work authorization, temporary protected status (TPS), and asylum. The award — named in honor of the distinguished public service career of the late Major General Kenneth J. Hodson, a former judge advocate general of the U.S. Army — recognizes sustained, outstanding performance or a specific and extraordinary service by a government or public sector law office.

“New York City has done more than any other locality across the country to manage the asylum seeker crisis, and a key part of that work is helping our newcomers take their next steps towards independence by helping them submit vital and complicated work authorization, TPS, and asylum applications,” said Mayor Adams. “This well-deserved award is a credit to our creative and dedicated team, who created this first-in-the-nation center and have supported more than 58,000 applications — that’s tens of thousands of individuals and families who are this much closer to the American Dream. And if we get the federal changes we need to make it easier for even more people to work, we’ll be able to do that much more. My thanks to the American Bar Association for recognizing this incredible, impactful work.”

“Since the first asylum seekers arrived in New York, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with Mayor Adams and his administration to provide resources and support,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “Thanks to our partnership with Mayor Adams and his administration, we’re making real progress on work authorization and case management. Migrants came to this country to work — so we’re coordinating our efforts to put them to work.”

“In just one year, our help center has become a beacon of hope and support, reflecting our city’s dedication to upholding the American Dream and providing essential services to those in need,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to serving asylum seekers with compassion and excellence. We are honored to receive this award and remain steadfast in our mission to serve our community with compassion and care.”

“In just one year, the Asylum Application Help Center has helped complete more than 58,000 applications, work authorizations, and temporary protected status applications,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “We know that this work is part of a complex federal process, but our teams have worked incredibly hard to help every individual and family that came through the doors of the center. Our teams also enlisted the help of law firms, academic institutions, and philanthropies to build out this effort including support from the state government to create satellite sites to reach even more people. Thank you to our teams leading this work, setting a standard for the nation, and thank you to all those that have contributed over the last year.”

“The backbone of the Asylum Application Help Center is our dedicated corps of supervising attorneys, application assistants, and operational staff who show up every day with creativity and positivity to assist our newest neighbors,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg. “We are deeply grateful to all who have answered the call to serve at the center, and for the support of Governor Hochul, the federal government, and our dedicated partners from the educational, nonprofit and corporate community. Together, we have not only helped file over 58,000 applications, but have been recognized by the American Bar Association as a model for the nation.”

“Today, we celebrate a major milestone in our response to this national humanitarian crisis with the one-year anniversary of the Asylum Application Help Center,” said Office of Asylum Seeker Operations Director Molly Schaeffer. “In collaboration with our state and federal partners, the center has helped migrants and asylum seekers submit over 58,000 applications for asylum, work authorization, and TPS. New Yorkers do what we do best in times of crisis: we develop creative solutions, and we’re proud that we’ve created a national model that helps people take the next steps in their American journey.”

“As an immigrant, helping thousands of families take the next step in their journey to security and stability is an honor of a lifetime,” said Asylum Application Help Center Executive Director Masha Gindler. “I am grateful to the American Bar Association for recognizing the hard work and irreplaceable talent of the center’s application assistants, supervising attorneys, and site management staff on our one-year anniversary.”

In the Asylum Application Help Center’s first year, the city has helped migrants and migrant families in the city’s care submit more than 58,000 applications for work authorization, TPS, and asylum. The Asylum Application Help Center has expanded to five locations in two boroughs, and co-hosted successful satellite clinics in partnership with the state of New York, which has supported the center with $40 million in funding; the federal government; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; New York Law School; and Educational Alliance. It has welcomed almost 2,000 volunteers from universities, law firms, and corporations. Thousands of asylum seekers assisted by the Asylum Application Help Center have already been granted work authorization, TPS, and asylum.

Helping asylum seekers to file asylum applications helps deliver on another promise made in Mayor Adams’ “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” released last spring. The Adams administration also continues to strongly urge the federal government to immediately use every tool at its disposal to protect and support newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers — and the municipalities supporting them — by expanding humanitarian parole and temporary protected status and expediting.

Since the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis began in April 2022, New York City has taken fast and urgent action to provide care to the more than 200,000 migrants who have come to the five boroughs and sought assistance from the city — opening more than 200 emergency shelters to provide a roof over the heads of migrants. In addition to the Asylum Application Help Center, the city has also stood up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical resources and enrolled tens of thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms. Last August, Mayor Adams hosted “The American Dream Works” — a rally with hundreds of asylum seekers, union members, business leaders, and elected officials calling for expanded work authorization for asylum seekers. Subsequently, President Biden announced an extension of temporary protected status for Venezuelan migrants.

“Educational Alliance is proud to be partnering with the city’s Asylum Application Help Center on a work authorization clinic pilot program at our offices on Manhattan’s Lower East Side,” said Rich Baum, president and CEO, Educational Alliance. “We appreciate the city’s support and innovative effort to make a difference in the lives of new New Yorkers. When asylum seekers are equipped with the tools they need to find work, they are more readily able to thrive and flourish in their new community.”

“New York Law School was excited to join the city in providing pro se asylum assistance,” said Anthony Crowell, dean and president, New York Law School (NYLS). “In addition to sending interns and volunteers to the Center, NYLS served as a satellite site for the Asylum Application Help Center. By hosting 16 asylum clinics on our campus, we gave our students, faculty, alumni, and community volunteers more opportunities to meaningfully contribute to this program and support our new neighbors.”

“Last summer, when New York City called upon its leading institutions of higher education to contribute much-needed people power to aid the newest New Yorkers in filling out applications for asylum, New York University promptly responded to the call,” Georgina Dopico, provost, New York University. “Since then, we have watched with pride as our students, faculty, and staff devoted their energy, wisdom, and compassion to this important effort. And now, we congratulate the team at the Asylum Application Help Center, both for helping tens of thousands of people and for receiving this well-merited award for doing so; we are glad to have been part of the effort.”

“The Colin Powell School is a proud partner of the Asylum Application Help Center,” said Andrew Rich, Richard J. Henley and Susan L. Davis dean, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, City College of New York. “By welcoming so many new Americans to New York City, the center embodies the core values, not only of our institution, but also of our students. Over the last year, 30 of our students worked with asylum seekers to navigate a complex application process. We are pleased to have contributed to the center’s efforts in its first year, and we look forward to continuing to provide our students with meaningful and transformative experiences through this relationship.”

Housing Lottery Launches For Attorney Street Apartments At 165 Broome Street On The Lower East Side

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for Attorney Street Apartments, a 15-story residential building at 165 Broome Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Designed by Handel Architects and developed by Grand Street Guild Housing Development Fund Company, Grand Street Guild East Housing Development Fund Company, Southeast Grand Street Guild Housing Development Fund Company, and Clinton Broome Development LLC, the structure yields 235 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 196 units for residents at 30 to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $18,480 to $154,080. 

Attorney Street Apartments at 165 Broome Street on the Lower East Side via NYC Housing Connect

Amenities include an on-site resident super, resident lounge, elevator, bike storage, package room, and laundry room. Apartments feature vinyl tile, engineered stone countertops, and white appliances. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 30 percent of the AMI, there are 34 units for incomes ranging from $18,480 to $57,780.
At 50 percent of the AMI, there are 46 units for incomes ranging from $37,543 to $96,300.
At 70 percent of the AMI, there are 53 units for incomes ranging from $53,520 to $134,820.
At 80 percent of the AMI, there are 63 units for incomes ranging from $61,509 to $154,080.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than August 28, 2024.

Global Cryptocurrency Exchange BitMEX Pleads Guilty To Bank Secrecy Act Offense

 

Company Willfully Flouted U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Laws

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that HDR GLOBAL TRADING LIMITED, a/k/a “Bitcoin Mercantile Exchange” or “BitMEX” (“BITMEX”), pled guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by willfully failing to establish, implement, and maintain an adequate anti-money laundering (“AML”) program. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As BitMEX’s founders and long-time employee admitted in federal court in 2022, the company, one of the leading cryptocurrency derivatives platforms in the world from 2015 to 2020, operated in the United States without any meaningful anti-money laundering program, as required by federal law. As a result, BitMEX opened itself up as a vehicle for large-scale money laundering and sanctions evasion schemes, posing a serious threat to the integrity of the financial system. Today’s guilty plea indicates again the need for cryptocurrency companies to comply with U.S. law if they take advantage of the U.S. market.”   

FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis said: “By only mandating lax service access credentials, BitMEX not only failed to comply with nationally required anti-money laundering procedures designed to protect the US financial markets from illicit actors and transactions, but knowingly did so to increase the business’s revenue.  This plea represents the FBI’s steadfast dedication to ensuring adherence to all U.S. financial laws, protecting the U.S. financial system, and holding accountable those who attempt to establish a workaround for profits.”

According to the allegations in the Information and other filings and statements made in court:

Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed founded BITMEX in or about 2014, and Gregory Dwyer became BITMEX’s first employee in 2015 and later its Head of Business Development.  BITMEX, which has long serviced and solicited business from U.S. traders and also operated through U.S. offices, was required to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and to establish and maintain an adequate AML program.  AML programs ensure that financial institutions, such as BITMEX, are not exploited for illicit purposes and serve to protect the integrity of the U.S. financial system and national security, more broadly.

The company and its executives knew that because BITMEX operated in the United States, including by serving U.S. customers, it was required to implement an AML program that included a “know your customer” (“KYC”) component but chose to flaunt those requirements, requiring only that customers provide an email address to use BITMEX’s services.  Indeed, senior executives each knew that customers residing in the United States continued to access BITMEX’s trading platform through at least in or about 2018 and that BITMEX policies nominally in place to prevent such trading were toothless or easily overridden to serve BITMEX’s bottom line goal of obtaining revenue through the U.S. market without regard to U.S. criminal laws.  Corporate executives took affirmative steps purportedly designed to exempt BITMEX from the application of U.S. laws like AML and KYC requirements, despite knowing of BITMEX’s obligation to implement such programs by operating in the United States.  As part of BITMEX’s willful evasion of U.S. AML laws, the company lied to a bank about the purpose and nature of a subsidiary to allow the company to pump millions of dollars through the U.S. financial system.

HDR GLOBAL TRADING LIMITED, an entity incorporated in the Republic of Seychelles, pled guilty to one count of violating the Bank Secrecy Act, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Money Laundering Investigation Squad and thanked the attorneys and investigators at the CFTC whose expertise and diligence were integral to the development of this investigation.

Fifteen Defendants Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

 

Defendants Include Members and Associates of the “Young Mob” Street Gang

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 15 Memphis, Tennessee, residents for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme. 

According to court documents, between November 2023 and June 2024, the defendants allegedly worked together, and with others, to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout the Memphis area. During the investigation, agents recovered two stolen vehicles and seized 29 firearms, five machinegun conversion devices (known as “switches”), over $4,000 in cash, approximately 938 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 541 grams of fentanyl, approximately 200 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and 26.43 pounds of marijuana.

The indictment charges the following 15 defendants:

Defendant	Age	Charges
Brian Lackland	34	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, and marijuana; possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes; and being a felon in possession of firearms
Paul Nelson	31	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine; and being a felon in possession of firearms
Ebony Cobb	41	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine
Jerrod Cox	31	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Darius Moore	38	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Edgar Smith	38	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

Mervin Anderson	38	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Courtney Davis	28	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Timothy Achols	36	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Jehu Cruz	23	Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; and possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes
Mohamed Samba	24	Conspiracy to distribute marijuana; and possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes
Prentiss Broadway	33	Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
Braxton Beck	32	Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms
Darion Allen	28	Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms
Delifarroe Goins	29	Federal firearms offenses and being a felon in possession of firearms

If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and defendants charged with distributing methamphetamine face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl face a mandatory minimum of five years or 10 years in prison, depending on the amount distributed, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); FBI; U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Multi-Agency Gang Unit; Memphis Police Department; Bartlett Police Department; and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda Kotula and Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

This case is brought as part of the Criminal Division’s Memphis Violent Crime Initiative, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Memphis. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime. 

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Governor Hochul Announces New York State Boosts Cannabis Industry by Issuing 109 More Adult-Use Licenses

 

Board Approves 109 Adult-Use Licenses, Bringing Total Adult-Use Licenses to 730 Issued in 2024 Thus Far

State Enforcement Agencies Reported Nearly $30 Million Worth of Illegal Product Seized and 164 Stores Padlocked Across New York State

CCB Votes to Amend Cannabis Packaging, Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising Regulations to Support Responsible Industry Growth and Protect Public Health

New York State Now Has Over 144 Adult-Use Dispensaries Opened & Operating

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) took substantial steps to advance the state’s cannabis regulatory framework during this month’s board meeting, addressing several key topics: license approvals, market updates, and enforcement updates.

“New York is building a robust and equitable legal market that is driving significant economic growth for our communities,” Governor Hochul said. "The issuance of 109 additional adult-use licenses is just one step in developing New York’s nation-leading cannabis industry.”

The CCB authorized the issuance of 109 adult-use cannabis licenses spanning the supply chain, encompassing microbusinesses, cultivators, processors, distributors, and retail dispensaries. This move paves the way for entrepreneurs and businesses to enter the budding adult-use cannabis market, driving economic growth and fostering innovation.

The breakdown of the 109 license types approved today includes:

• Adult-Use Cultivator License: 23
• Adult-Use Distributor License: 20
• Adult-Use Microbusiness License: 23
• Adult-Use Processor License: 22
• Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License: 21

58 out of the 109 are transitioning conditional cultivators or conditional processors.

Enforcement Task Force Update

At this meeting, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) presented updates to the CCB regarding the State's ongoing efforts to enforce against the illicit cannabis market. The OCM emphasized that the state's commitment to shutting down unlicensed cannabis storefronts has led to a 50 percent increase in legal cannabis sales in downstate areas, like New York City, affected by the Task Force’s enforcement activities. This crackdown is crucial in ensuring that the legal market thrives and that consumers have access to safer, tested, regulated products.

To date, the OCM reported that over 323 inspections have been conducted by State Officials, resulting in the seizure of more than 4,800 pounds of illicit cannabis products, valued at nearly $30 million. These enforcement actions are part of a broader strategy to eliminate the black market and support the growth of licensed cannabis businesses. As of Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 164 illicit stores have been padlocked. Moreover, 252 Notices of Violation have been issued, and 76 hearings have been conducted.

Additionally, the OCM's Intergovernmental Affairs team, in coordination with the Office of General Counsel, has held several briefings over the past few weeks for New York City elected officials and Community Boards. These briefings aim to keep key stakeholders informed about the ongoing regulatory and enforcement measures, ensuring that local leaders are engaged and supportive of the efforts to create a sustainable and equitable cannabis industry in New York State.

Packaging, Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising (PLMA) Regulations Amended

In addition to issuing licenses, the CCB approved a resolution to file proposed amendments to the Packaging, Labeling, Marketing, and Advertising (PLMA) regulations, which were originally adopted in March 2023. The proposed amendments consider recommendations made by licensees and other stakeholder groups. By engaging with stakeholders and understanding their challenges, the Office has crafted these amendments to be responsive to the realities of the cannabis industry while upholding a firm commitment to protecting public health and safety.

Amendments to the packaging and labeling regulations were designed to help streamline OCM operations by reducing common causes of statements of findings for which there is no risk to health and safety; provide technical edits to the regulations to align with the medical cannabis program; codify changes previously implemented in guidance only and clarify existing provisions. Further changes address the environmental sustainability of packaging, such as encouraging the reuse of packaging, implementing policies that help reduce single-use plastic, and ensuring requirements are feasible for licensees by allowing a phase-in period and plastic alternative exemptions for components of packaging where sustainable alternatives are not yet available in the market.

Amendments to the marketing and advertising regulations were implemented to ensure that licensees remain competitive, particularly in an environment with the widespread proliferation of illicit cannabis businesses while maintaining New York State’s commitment to protect public health and safety. Changes have provided for new allowances for outdoor signage for retail dispensaries, including the removal of the two signs per licensee limit to allow for more signage and storefront awareness; new allowances for promotions and product discounts, as well as adjusted audience composition requirements for certain cannabis advertisements to conform to the proportion of New York State’s population that is 21 and older.

These changes to the PLMA regulations reflect OCM’s commitment to balancing the policy goals of protecting public health and safety, fostering a sustainable cannabis industry and creating a fair, safe, and informed market for cannabis consumers and businesses alike.

Office of Cannabis Management Executive Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director Felicia A. B. Reid said, “In these first thirty days at OCM, I continue to be inspired by the OCM team’s deep commitment and drive to advancing the agency’s mission with this most recent batch of licenses for Board approval. I appreciate the rigorous work of the Board, under Chair Wright’s leadership, in their review and today’s approvals. OCM best serves the cannabis community and New Yorkers by listening to what stakeholders need to thrive, and my hope is that today’s much-needed updates to our PMLA regulations will enhance licensees’ ability to compete and thrive in the cannabis market.”

Market and Social Economic Equity Update: New York's Growing Cannabis Industry

The Office of Cannabis Management is proud to announce the robust growth and dynamic advancements in New York's cannabis industry. Projections showed that 2024 cannabis sales will exceed $200 million by early June, The Office is delighted to share that as in June alone, sales surged by $71 million, reaching a total of $421.2 million to date.

A key driver of this success is the Social and Economic Equity (SEE) program, which continues to promote inclusivity and opportunity within the industry. Impressively, an analysis of the composition of today’s adult-use retail dispensary licensees indicates that a full 55 percent are SEE-owned businesses, 37 percent are minority-owned business, and 40 percent are women-owned businesses.

Following today’s Board meeting, the total number of adult-use licenses issued in 2024 will climb to 614, with a notable 55 percent held by SEE licensees in aggregate. This reflects the program's commitment to fostering diversity and supporting underrepresented groups. After the Office recommended to the Board the 109 adult-use licenses to be awarded at today’s Board Meeting, it analyzed the composition across the supply chain. The Office is pleased to report that 53 (49 percent) of today’s licensees are social and economic equity (SEE) owned businesses, 24 (42 percent) are women-owned businesses and 13 (25 percent) are minority-owned businesses.

To date there are 144 dispensaries open for business across the Empire State. A full list of New York’s licensed, operational adult-use cannabis retailers is available here.

DEC Releases Draft Regulations for Review to Protect Freshwater Wetlands Across New York State

 

Proposal Would Protect an Estimated One Million Additional Acres of Wetland Habitat and Address Changes to Freshwater Wetlands Act

Comments Accepted through Sept. 19; Hearings Scheduled Sept. 10 and 12

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced the release of proposed regulations to protect freshwater wetlands across New York State. The draft regulations are now available for public comment until Sept. 19, and would safeguard an estimated one million additional acres of unprotected wetland habitat by expanding the number of wetlands regulated by DEC.

“Wetlands provide economic and ecological benefits to all of New York’s communities by improving natural resiliency, helping protect communities from flooding, particularly in response to climate change, while providing essential habitat for fish and wildlife,” Interim DEC Commissioner Mahar said. “I encourage New Yorkers to review this proposal and provide input as we fulfill Governor Hochul’s commitment to modernize wetlands protections and work to ensure the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.”

Freshwater wetlands are lands and submerged lands—commonly called marshes, swamps, sloughs, and bogs—that support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation. New York’s Freshwater Wetlands Act was enacted in 1975 and modernized as part of the 2022-2023 Enacted State Budget. The proposed rule would take effect in January 2025 and clarify jurisdictional status of smaller wetlands of “unusual importance” that meet one of 11 specific criteria contained in the newly amended Freshwater Wetlands Act. In addition, the draft regulations provide a revised wetlands classification system and a process for the public to request and appeal jurisdictional determinations.

The proposed regulations continue DEC’s ongoing efforts to involve interested stakeholders in regulation development and, along with public feedback, build upon an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making DEC released in January 2024.

The proposed rule and supporting documents can be viewed and downloaded on DEC’s website. 

DEC encourages the public to comment on the proposed regulations. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 19, 2024, and can be submitted via e-mail to WetlandRegulatoryComments@dec.ny.gov (subject: “Wetlands Part 664 Comments”) or via mail to NYSDEC, Attn: Roy Jacobson, Jr., 5^th Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4756.

The public can also provide comments during virtual and in-person public hearings. The virtual public hearings are scheduled Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. An in-person public hearing is scheduled Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. at the DEC office at 625 Broadway, Albany, NY. Registration for the public hearings can be found on DEC’s website.