The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) aims to promote the conservation, improvement, and protection of New York's natural resources and environment; manage Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, and Fish Hatchery facilities; and support the health and safety of New York's residents and its natural environment.
The DEC's Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) program is designed to empower not-for-profit community groups by providing them with financial support to hire independent technical advisors. These advisors assist in understanding the specifics of pollution and contamination issues at State Superfund and Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) sites that significantly threaten public health or the environment. The goal is to help these communities comprehend the contamination's nature and scope at eligible sites and to participate in developing and evaluating cleanup strategies effectively.