2010 New York Code
ENV - Environmental Conservation
Article 8 - (8-0101 - 8-0117) ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW
8-0105 - Definitions.

§ 8-0105. Definitions.
    Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section
  shall  govern  the  construction  of the following terms as used in this
  article: 1. "State agency" means any state  department,  agency,  board,
  public benefit corporation, public authority or commission.
    2.  "Local agency" means any local agency, board, district, commission
  or governing body, including  any  city,  county,  and  other  political
  subdivision of the state.
    3. "Agency" means any state or local agency.
    4. "Actions" include:
    (i)  projects  or  activities  directly  undertaken  by any agency; or
  projects or activities supported in whole  or  part  through  contracts,
  grants,  subsidies, loans, or other forms of funding assistance from one
  or more agencies; or projects or activities involving the issuance to  a
  person of a lease, permit, license, certificate or other entitlement for
  use or permission to act by one or more agencies;
    (ii) policy, regulations, and procedure-making.
    5. "Actions" do not include:
    (i)   enforcement   proceedings   or  the  exercise  of  prosecutorial
  discretion in determining whether or not to institute such proceedings;
    (ii) official acts of a ministerial nature, involving no  exercise  of
  discretion;
    (iii)  maintenance  or  repair  involving  no  substantial  changes in
  exsiting structure or facility.
    6. "Environment" means the physical conditions which will be  affected
  by  a  proposed  action,  including  land,  air, water, minerals, flora,
  fauna, noise, objects of historic or  aesthetic  significance,  existing
  patterns  of  population  concentration,  distribution,  or  growth, and
  existing community or neighborhood character.
    7. "Environmental impact statement" means a detailed statement setting
  forth the matters specified  in  section  8-0109  of  this  article.  It
  includes  any  comments  on  a  draft  environmental statement which are
  received pursuant to section 8-0109 of this article,  and  the  agency's
  response to such comments, to the extent that such comments raise issues
  not adequately resolved in the draft environmental statement.
    8.   "Draft   environmental  impact  statement"  means  a  preliminary
  statement prepared pursuant to section 8-0109 of this article.