Opinion ID: 512583
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: seqra

Text: 47 The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Sec. 8-0101 et seq., requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) by state and local agencies on any action they propose or approve which may have a significant effect on the environment. Id. Sec. 8-0109(2) (emphasis added). Pursuant to regulations adopted thereunder, the Department of Environmental Conservation has determined the types of actions having such a significant effect (Type I actions) for which an EIS must be prepared. 6 NYCRR Sec. 617.12. When an EIS is required, the full panoply of procedures prescribed under SEQRA comes into play. See ECL Sec. 8-0109. If, on the other hand, it is determined that the proposed action is one not likely to have a significant effect on the environment (Type II action), then such action do[es] not require [an] environmental impact statement[ ] or any other determination or procedure under SEQRA. 6 NYCRR Sec. 617.13; see Jackson v. New York State Urban Dev. Corp., 67 N.Y.2d 400, 503 N.Y.S.2d 298, 304, 494 N.E.2d 429, 435 (1986) (the heart of SEQRA is the [EIS] process); see also CPLR Sec. 7803(3) (scope of review is limited to whether determination was arbitrary[,] capricious or an abuse of discretion). 48 Although appellants concede that the proposed condemnations of the two sites are not Type I actions requiring the preparation of an EIS, see 6 NYCRR Sec. 617.12(b), they argue nonetheless that an environmental assessment of the proposed condemnations should have been made to determine if there would be a significant impact on the environment. See ECL Sec. 8-0109(4); 6 NYCRR Sec. 617.6(a)(1)(i). However, as indicated in Part II. A. above, HUD is in the process of conducting an environmental review of the proposed housing sites pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq. See 24 C.F.R. Sec. 941.208(b) (1988); see also EDPL Sec. 204(B)(3) (requiring consideration by condemnor of the general effect of the proposed project on the environment). Thus, the environmental assessment that appellants seek is in fact taking place. 49 In any event, we agree with the district court that the proposed condemnations of the Raceway and the Seminary sites are exempt from compliance with SEQRA. The implementing regulations to SEQRA expressly provide an exemption for actions required to be undertaken pursuant to a judgment or order and for actions ... of any court. 6 NYCRR Sec. 617.2(q)(1), (5). Accordingly, in view of the fact that the City was compelled by a federal court order to institute condemnation proceedings against the subject properties and that there was, as the district court found, a meticulous inquiry regarding environmental factors, we conclude that the requirements of SEQRA were satisfied in all respects.