Department of State
Training Assistance
Online Interactive Training Course
Local Government Tech Helpline
(518) 473-3355
(800) 367-8488
An Online Training Course
"Introduction to SEQR"
  Length: 1.5 hours

This introduction to the State Environmental Quality Review Act includes an overview of the environmental assessment form (EAF), Type I, Type II, and Unlisted actions and the sequence of making a positive or negative declaration on a project’s potential to have an adverse impact on the environment. The relationship between the administration of local regulations and SEQR will also be discussed.

NOTE: Online courses are not available for in-service credit for code enforcement officers, continuing legal education credit for attorneys, or certification maintenance credit for members of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Some courses will produce a certificate at the end, and others will only produce your quiz results. The quiz results page should be used as proof of your training.


Resources Provided by the Department of State:

Online Glossary of General Terms for Local Governments»    

Downloadable Glossary » (pdf)

SEQR and Local Government

Department of Environmental Conservation Resources:

Glossary of Terms Specific to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act

SEQR Regulations

The SEQR “Home Page”

SEQR Forms and Online Mapper

SEQR Handbook
A practical reference guide to the procedures prescribed by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR)--Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law. It addresses common questions that arise during the process of applying SEQR. The Handbook also attempts to address the needs of individuals who have varying degrees of experience with SEQR. Topics range from an introduction to the basic SEQR process to discussions of important procedural and substantive details.

SEQR EAF Workbooks
These Workbooks have been prepared to assist applicants, project sponsors, and reviewing agencies in the completion of the EAF. Note that nothing in this workbook, particularly the guidance offered in Part 2 and 3, is found in regulation. While the EAFs need to be completed according to the Part 617 regulations, determination of impacts, or interpretation on the size or significance of an impact is at the discretion of the reviewing agency. The Workbooks are not required to be used during a SEQR process but should be considered as helpful guidance documents that contain background information, links to data and maps, and answers to questions that a reviewing agency may have and source books to assist and guide applicants and reviewers involved in a SEQR review.

Notable Court Cases Involving SEQR
This chapter of the “SEQR Handbook” contains brief summaries of some important court determinations regarding the SEQR process. It is not a comprehensive listing of all SEQR court decisions, but these summaries should give the reader an idea of how the courts of the state and, in particular, the Court of Appeals, have interpreted SEQRA since its implementation.

DEC Commissioner Decisions on Local Agency Disputes
In a coordinated review under SEQR, there are times when the involved agencies are not able to agree which one of them will become the lead agency. When this happens, any of the involved agencies or the project sponsor can request the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to designate a lead agency.