Critical Environmental Areas committee is a working group advising the Planning Board on natural gas drilling and other industrial activity in Caroline.

New York law gives people, through their town government, the right to select local places and resources of special importance to their community. These places are called “Critical Environmental Areas” (CEAs) – areas of natural, agricultural, historical, or cultural significance that are designated locally and registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Listing these places gives them added consideration during the permitting process for industrial developers.

Whereas a designation as a Critical Environmental Area does not inhibit or restrict drilling or other industrial activity, it would require the State and industrial developers, including gas companies, to recognize them as especially important to the local community and where possible reduce or mitigate potentially negative impacts in or near these areas.