2023 New York Laws › PAR - Parks, recreation and historic preservation › Title C - Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation › Article 20 - New York State Park Preserve System › 20.02 - Powers, Functions and Duties; Commissioner.

§  20.02  Powers,  functions and duties; commissioner.  In addition to
  the powers, functions and duties  provided  for  in  section  3.09,  the
  commissioner shall:
1.  Conduct  scientific  and  environmental  studies  to determine the
  selection of state  parks,  parkways,  historic  sites  or  recreational
  facilities  that  shall be designated park preserves as well as portions
  of parks that shall be designated park preservation areas.
2. Maintain the integrity of  park  land,  flora,  fauna,  and  scenic
  vistas;  restore  and  maintain  historical and archeological sites; and
  provide for the management of all unique, rare, threatened or endangered
  species of flora and fauna within designated  park  preserves  and  park
  preservation areas.
3.  Provide  personnel  trained in the natural sciences, including but
  not limited  to  biology,  botany,  ecology,  entomology,  geology,  and
  zoology,  to  staff  such park preserves and park preservation areas and
  provide  for  the  management  of  their  educational   and   scientific
  utilization.
4.  a. Construct necessary facilities including offices, roads, paths,
  environmental centers and parking areas, on no more than fifteen percent
  of the land area of each such state  park,  parkway,  historic  site  or
  recreational facility that has been designated a park preserve.
b.  Maintain  portions  of  facilities  that have been designated park
  preservation areas in  their  undeveloped  state,  limiting  development
  within such areas to appropriate passive recreational facilities.
5.  Establish  environmental  education  classes  to  be  conducted by
  naturalists for  the  public  in  cooperation  with  other  governmental
  agencies.
6.  Develop  a  written  stewardship  plan  for  each  designated park
  preserve  and  park  preservation  area.  Such  plan  shall  include   a
  description  of  stewardship activities required to monitor, protect and
  enhance the fauna, flora, scenic, historical,  archeological  and  other
  resources  that  merited  designation  of  the  park  preserve  or  park
  preservation area. Such plan shall also provide for passive recreational
  uses such as  horseback  riding,  fishing,  hiking,  nature  study,  and
  photography  provided  that  such uses are compatible with the long-term
  protection of the  ecological  and  historical  resources  that  merited
  designation of the park preserve or park preservation area.
7. To insure that the types and intensity of use of such park preserve
  lands  is  commensurate  with  the  goal of maintaining their ecological
  viability and balance, establish an admission control system  by  permit
  on either a group or individual and non-discriminatory basis pursuant to
  rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
8.  Prepare  an  environmental  impact  statement  and  conduct public
  hearings pursuant to article eight of the environmental conservation law
  prior to acting  on  any  proposal  to  remove  park  preserve  or  park
  preservation  area  designation  from  any state park, parkway, historic
  site or recreational facility designated hereto.
9. Promulgate rules and  regulations  to  effectively  carry  out  the
  purposes of this article.