Environmental Court Opens in Westchester

WHITE PLAINS-Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano and New York State Supreme Court Justice Francis Nicolai, the Administrative Judge of the 9th Judicial District, announced yesterday, Thursday, March 15, the opening of an Environmental Claims Part to handle civil cases that raise substantial environmental issues. The “dedicated part” is similar to several created in recent years to handle matrimonial, commercial and domestic violence cases in Westchester County.

The new court will hear and determine Westchester-based civil disputes that involve issues that could affect the region’s air, water, traffic and transportation, minerals, natural resources, forest management, flora, fauna, noise, population patterns and growth, existing community neighborhood character and human health. It will not generally deal with challenges to area variances or easement disputes for one-, two- and three- family residences, nor will it handle criminal matters.

Among its other spheres of influence the court will hear cases involving: actions that are the outgrowth of certain environmental laws, including the State Environmental Quality Review Act, State Environmental Conservation Law, Urban Renewal Law, Eminent Domain Procedure Law, New York State Historic Preservation Act and the Coastal Erosion Law.