| Authorizes the designation of natural heritage areas; state-owned waters, lands or portions thereof may be designated as natural heritage areas in order to conserve and manage plants, wildlife or ecological communities with an emphasis on rare plants, wildlife, and ecological communities which support such plants or wildlife; provides the head of any state agency or entity having jurisdiction over state lands or waters previously designated as New York state bird conservation areas may seek to remove all or a portion of such lands or waters from such designation; provided, however, that, prior to such removal, an environmental impact statement is prepared pursuant to article eight of this chapter, and a public hearing conducted. |
