Source: https://www.ecode360.com/6821075
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 06:07:48+00:00

Document:
§ 82-2 Declaration of policy.
§ 82-5 Permit required; exceptions.
§ 82-6 Application for permit; processing.
§ 82-8 Decision on permit application.
§ 82-9 Standards for permit decisions.
§ 82-10 Conditions for permit.
§ 82-11 General powers of agency.
§ 82-12 Other laws and regulations.
§ 82-14 Suspension or revocation of permit.
§ 82-15 Penalties for offenses.
Conservation Advisory Council — See Ch. 8.
This chapter shall be known as the "Freshwater Wetlands Protection Law of the Town of Moreau."
It is declared to be the public policy of the Town of Moreau to preserve, protect and conserve freshwater wetlands and the benefits derived therefrom, to prevent the despoliation and destruction of freshwater wetlands and to regulate the development of such wetlands in order to secure the natural benefits of freshwater wetlands consistent with the general welfare and beneficial economic, social and agricultural development of the town. It is further declared to be the policy of the Town of Moreau to exercise its authority pursuant to Article 24 of the State Environmental Conservation Law.
The freshwater wetlands located in the Town of Moreau are invaluable resources for flood protection, wildlife habitat, open space and water resources.
Considerable acreage of freshwater wetlands in the Town of Moreau has been lost, despoiled or impaired by unregulated draining, dredging, filling, excavating, building, pollution or other acts inconsistent with the natural uses of such areas. Other freshwater wetlands are in jeopardy of being lost, despoiled or impaired by such unregulated acts.
Wildlife habitat by providing breeding, nesting and feeding grounds and cover for many forms of wildlife, wildfowl an shorebirds, including migratory wildfowl and rare species.
Protection of subsurface water resources and provision for valuable watersheds and recharging groundwater supplies.
Regulation of freshwater wetlands, in accordance with the agricultural exemption established in § 82-5 hereof, is consistent with the legitimate interest of farmers and other landowners to graze and water livestock, make reasonable use of water resources, harvest natural products of the wetlands, selectively cut timber and otherwise engage in the use of land for agricultural production.
Any land in the Town of Moreau immediately adjacent to a freshwater wetland lying within 100 feet, measured horizontally, of the boundary of a freshwater wetland.
The Town Board of the Town of Moreau.
The outer limit of the vegetation specified in Subsections A and B of the definition of "freshwater wetlands" below and of the waters specified in Subsection C of the definition of "freshwater wetlands" below.
Wetland trees, which depend upon seasonal or permanent flooding or sufficiently waterlogged soils to give them a competitive advantage over other trees, including, among others, red maple (Acer rubrum), willows (Salix species), black spruce (Picea mariana), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), red ash (Franxinus pennsylvanica), American elm (Ulmus americana) and larch (Lanx laricina).
Emergent vegetation, including, among others, cattails (Typha species), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), bulrushes (Scirpus species), arrow arum (Peltandra virginica), arrow-heads (Sagittaria species), reed (Phragmites communis), wild rice (Zizania aquatica), bur reeds (Sparganium species), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) and water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica).
Wet meadow vegetation, which depends upon seasonal or permanent flooding or sufficiently waterlogged soils to give them a competitive advantage over other open land vegetation, including, among others, sedges (Carex species), rushes (Juncus species), cattails (Typha species), rice cut-grass (Leersia oryzoides), red canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) and spike rush (Eleocharis species).
Lands and submerged lands containing remnants of any vegetation that is not aquatic or semiaquatic that has died because of wet conditions over a sufficiently long period, provided that such wet conditions do not exceed a maximum seasonal water depth of six feet and provided further that such conditions can be expected to persist indefinitely, barring human intervention.
The waters overlying the areas as set forth in Subsections A and B and the lands underlying the areas set forth in Subsection C.
A map on which are indicated the boundaries of any freshwater wetland and which has been filed with the Clerk of the Town of Moreau by the State Department of Environmental Conservation pursuant to § 24-0301 of the State Environmental Conservation Law.
The applicant, the agency, the State Department of Environmental Conservation, each local government in which the regulated activity or any part thereof is located and any person who appears and wishes to be a party in interest at the public hearing held pursuant to § 82-7 of this chapter.
Any corporation, firm, partnership, association, trust, estate, one or more individuals and any unit of government or agency or subdivision thereof.
The presence in the environment of human-induced conditions or contaminants in quantities or characteristics which are or may be injurious to humans, plants, animals or property.
Any form of draining, dredging, excavation, removal of soil, mud, sand, shells, gravel or other aggregate from any freshwater wetland, either directly or indirectly.
Any form of dumping, filling or depositing of any soil, stones, sand, gravel, mud, rubbish or fill of any kind, either directly or indirectly.
Erecting any structures or roads, the driving of pilings or placing of any other obstructions, whether or not changing the ebb and flow of the water.
Any form of pollution, including but not limited to installing a septic tank, running a sewer outfall, discharging sewage treatment effluent or other liquid wastes directly into or so as to drain into a freshwater wetland.
That portion of any subdivision of land that involves any land in any freshwater wetland or adjacent area.
Any other activity which substantially impairs any of the several functions served by freshwater wetlands or the benefits derived therefrom which are set forth in § 82-3 of this chapter.
Public health activities, orders and regulations of the Consolidated Board of Health of the Town of Moreau undertaken in compliance with § 24-0701, Subdivision 5, of the State Environmental Conservation Law.
Any actual and ongoing emergency activity which is immediately necessary for the protection and preservation of life or property or the protection or preservation of natural resource values. Such emergency activities include, for example, search and rescue operations; preventive or remedial activities related to large-scale contamination of streams or other bodies of water; floods, hurricanes and other storms; and public health concerns. Within five days of the end of such an emergency involving the undertaking of any activity which otherwise would be treated as a regulated activity under this chapter, the person chiefly responsible for undertaking such emergency activity shall send a written statement to the agency setting forth the pertinent facts regarding such emergency, including an explanation of the life, property or resource values such activity was designed to protect or preserve.
Any person proposing to conduct or cause to be conducted a regulated activity requiring a permit under this chapter upon any freshwater wetland or adjacent area shall file an application for a permit with the Clerk of the Town of Moreau. The Clerk shall immediately forward such application to the Town of Moreau Conservation Advisory Council, which Council shall deliver said application to the agency with its comments within 15 days after receipt.
An application for a permit shall be filed by the applicant on a form prescribed by the agency. Such application shall set forth the purpose, character and extent of the proposed regulated activity. The application shall include a detailed description of the regulated activity, a map showing the area of freshwater wetland or adjacent area directly affected, with the location of the proposed regulated activity thereon, a deed or other legal description describing the subject property and such additional information as the agency deems sufficient to enable it to make the findings and determinations required under this chapter.
The application shall be accompanied by a list of the names of the owners of record of lands adjacent to the freshwater wetland or adjacent area upon which the project is to be undertaken and the names of known claimants of water rights, of whom the applicant has notice, which relate to any land within, or within 100 feet of the boundary of, the property on which the proposed regulated activity will be located.
The Clerk of the Town of Moreau shall cause a copy of such completed application to be mailed to all local governments where the proposed activity or any part thereof is located.
Within five days of its receipt of a completed application for a permit regarding a proposed regulated activity, the agency shall provide the applicant with a notice of application which the applicant shall publish at his or her own expense at least once in each of at least two newspapers having a general circulation in the Town of Moreau.
Specify that persons wishing to object to the application should file with the agency a notice of objection by a specified date, together with a statement of the precise grounds of objection to the application.
Specify that if no notices of objection are timely filed or if the agency determines that the proposed activity is of such minor nature as to not affect or endanger the balance of systems within any freshwater wetland, then the agency, in its discretion, may determine that a hearing is not necessary and dispense with the public hearing.
Specify that the application, including all documents and maps therewith, is available for public inspection at the office of the Clerk of the Town of Moreau.
No sooner than 30 days and not later than 60 days after its receipt of a completed application for a permit regarding a proposed regulated activity and after the publication of a notice of application pursuant to Subsection D of this section, the agency shall hold a public hearing on such application at a suitable location in the Town of Moreau, which hearing shall be held pursuant to the provisions of § 82-7 of this chapter.
The agency shall, within 21 days of receipt of a completed application, provide the applicant with a notice of hearing which the applicant shall publish at his or her own expense at least 15 days prior to the date set for the hearing, at least once in each of at least two newspapers of general circulation in the Town of Moreau.
At least 15 days prior to the date set for the hearing, the agency shall, by certified mail, provide notice of hearing to all owners of record of land adjacent to the affected freshwater wetland or adjacent area and to all known claimants of water rights, of whom the applicant has notice, which relate to any land within, or within 100 feet of the boundary of the property on which the proposed regulated activity will be located.
Specify that any person who wishes to be a party in interest without filing a notice of appearance may do so by appearing at the public hearing and indicating his or her desire to be a party in interest, if a public hearing is held.
The agency shall make the application, including all documents and maps associated with it, available for public inspection at the office of the Clerk of the Town of Moreau.
If no timely notice of appearance has been filed as provided in the notice of hearing published pursuant to Subsection F of this section and the applicant waives in writing any public hearing on his or her application, the agency may dispense with a public hearing and, in such instance, shall provide public notice of the cancellation of the hearing.
Any public hearing held on a permit application received under this chapter shall be conducted by a hearing officer designated by the agency. The hearing officer shall have full authority to control the conduct and procedure of the hearing and shall be responsible that a complete record of the hearing be kept. The public hearing shall be held within the Town of Moreau.
Any person may appear as a party in interest, notwithstanding the failure of such person to file a timely notice of appearance, by appearing at the hearing and making known his or her desire to be a party in interest. Persons who are not parties in interest may be allowed to participate in the hearing where the hearing officer finds that such participation would be in the public interest.
All parties in interest shall be afforded an opportunity to present oral and written arguments on issues of law and policy and an opportunity to call witnesses in their behalf and to present oral and written evidence on issues of fact. The hearing officer shall permit the parties in interest to cross-examine witnesses but may limit such cross-examination to avoid the introduction of irrelevant or repetitious material in the record of the hearing.
Where no public hearing regarding a permit application has been held, either because a hearing was determined not to be necessary pursuant to § 82-6E(2) of this chapter or because no notice of appearance was filed with regard to the public hearing and a hearing was canceled pursuant to § 82-6H of this chapter, the agency shall compile an official file consisting of documents submitted by the applicant and any additional documents relied on by the agency with respect to the application. The agency may also take notice of general, technical or scientific facts within the specialized knowledge of the agency. Any document made part of such official file shall be available for inspection by the applicant and any interested member of the public. On the basis of such file, the agency shall either issue the permit requested, with or without conditions, deny the application or order a public hearing to be held pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The decision by the agency to issue or deny a permit or to order that a hearing be held shall be based on the official file and shall be made in writing within 30 days of its completion of the official file, and in any event within 60 days of its receipt of a completed application, provided that in the case where there have been no objections filed regarding a proposed project, the issuance of a permit shall be deemed to be a written decision by the agency.
In granting, denying or conditioning any permit, the agency shall consider the effect of the proposed activity with reference to the public health and welfare, fishing, flood, hurricane and storm dangers and protection or enhancement of the several functions of the freshwater wetlands and the benefits derived therefrom which are set forth in § 82-3 of this chapter. Due consideration will also be given to the benefit the applicant and/or the public may derive from the completion of the proposed activity.
The proposed regulated activity is consistent with the policy of this chapter to preserve, protect and conserve freshwater wetlands and the benefits derived therefrom, to prevent the despoliation and destruction of freshwater wetlands and to regulate the development of such wetlands in order to secure the natural benefits of freshwater wetlands, consistent with the general welfare and beneficial economic, social and agricultural development of the Town of Moreau.
The proposed regulated activity is consistent with the land use regulations applicable in the Town of Moreau pursuant to § 24-0903 of Article 24 of the State Environmental Conservation Law.
Duly filed written notice, by the state or any agency or subdivision thereof to the agency, that the state or any such agency or subdivision is in the process of acquiring the affected freshwater wetland on which a proposed regulated activity would be located by negotiation or condemnation shall be sufficient basis for denial of a permit for such regulated activity. Such notice may be provided at any time prior to the agency's decision to issue or deny a permit for the regulated activity.
The permit holder shall notify the agency of the date on which project construction is to begin, at least five days in advance of such date.
The agency shall set forth in writing in the file it keeps regarding a permit application its findings and reasons for all conditions attached to any permit.
To adopt, amend and repeal after public hearing, except in the case of rules and regulations that relate to the organization or internal management of the agency, such rules and regulations consistent with this chapter as it deems necessary to administer this chapter and to do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purpose and policies of this chapter.
To the greatest extent practicable, any public hearing held pursuant to § 82-7 of this chapter shall be incorporated with any public hearing required by or pursuant to the New York State Town Law, Village Law, General City Law, General Municipal Law or Environmental Conservation Law relating to approvals or permits otherwise required for the undertaking of regulated activities on the freshwater wetland or adjacent area in question.
The agency may require that, prior to commencement of work under any permit issued pursuant to this chapter, the permittee shall post a bond with the agency, in an amount determined by the agency, conditioned upon the faithful compliance with the terms of such permit and for the indemnification of the Town of Moreau for restoration costs resulting from failure to so comply. Such bond shall be issued by a corporate surety authorized to do business in the state and shall be in favor of the Town of Moreau. It shall remain in effect until the agency certifies that the work has been completed in compliance with the terms of the permit or the bond is released by the agency or a substitute bond is provided.
The agency shall set forth in writing in the file it keeps regarding a permit application its findings and reasons for imposing a bond pursuant to this section.
The agency shall set forth in writing in the file it keeps regarding a permit application its findings and reasons for revoking or suspending a permit pursuant to this section.
Administrative sanctions. Any person who violates, disobeys or disregards any provision of this chapter, including any provision of any permit issued pursuant to this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted by the agency pursuant to this chapter shall be liable to the people of the state for a civil penalty of not to exceed $3,000 for every such violation, to be assessed, after a hearing or opportunity to be heard upon due notice and with the rights to specification of the charges and representation by counsel at such hearing, by the agency. Such penalty may be recovered in an action brought by the Attorney General at the request and in the name of the agency in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such civil penalty may be released or compromised by the agency before the matter has been referred to the Attorney General, and such penalty may be released or compromised and any action commenced to recover the same may be settled and discontinued by the Attorney General with the consent of the agency. In addition, the agency shall have power, following a hearing held in conformance with the procedures set forth in § 71-1709 of the State Environmental Conservation Law, to direct the violator to cease his or her violation of this chapter and to restore the affected freshwater wetland to its condition prior to the violation insofar as that is possible within a reasonable time and under the supervision of the agency. Any such order of the agency shall be enforceable in an action brought by the Attorney General at the request and in the name of the agency in any court of competent jurisdiction. Any civil penalty or order issued by the agency pursuant to this subsection shall be reviewable in a proceeding pursuant to Article 78 of the State Civil Practice Law and Rules.
Criminal sanctions. Any person who violates an order, permit or rule or regulation of the agency regulating freshwater wetlands and adjacent areas pursuant to this chapter shall, in addition, for the first offense, be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000; for a second and each subsequent offense, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 or a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 days nor more than six months, or both. Instead of these punishments, any offender may be punishable by being ordered by the court to restore the affected freshwater wetland to its condition prior to the offense, insofar as that is possible. The court shall specify a reasonable time for the completion of such restoration, which shall be effected under the supervision of the agency. Each offense shall be a separate and distinct offense, and, in the case of a continuing offense, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense.
Any decision or order of the agency, or any officer or employee thereof, made pursuant to or within the scope of this chapter may be reviewed at the instance of any person affected thereby, including but not limited to any owner of the affected wetland or adjacent area and any resident or citizen of the Town of Moreau, by the Board in accordance with Title 11 of Article 24 of the State Environmental Conservation Law, provided that such review is commenced by the filing with the Board of a notice of review within 30 days after service of such order or notice of such decision given, as the case may be.
Any party to any proceeding before the agency may make an appeal to the Board in accordance with Title 11 of Article 24 of the State Environmental Conservation Law from any order or decision of the agency, or any officer or employee thereof, issued or made pursuant to or within the scope of this chapter, provided that such appeal is commenced by the filing with the Board of a notice of appeal within 30 days after service of such order or after notice of such decision given, as the case may be.
Any decision or order of the agency, or any officer or employee thereof, made pursuant to or within the scope of this chapter may be reviewed at the instance of any person, including but not limited to any owner of the affected wetland or adjacent area and any resident or citizen of the Town of Moreau, in accordance with Article 78 of the State Civil Practice Law and Rules, provided that such review is commenced within 30 days of the filing of such decision or order and the limitation upon the availability of such remedy as prescribed in § 7801 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules shall not be applicable to the applications for review of determinations and orders made pursuant to this chapter.
The institution of a judicial proceeding to review a determination or order of the agency shall preclude the institution of a proceeding before the Board to review such a determination or order. The availability of such review by the Board shall not affect the right of any person to seek review of a determination of the agency as provided in Article 78 of the State Civil Practice Law and Rules.

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