A January email sent to staff announced the resignation of 49-year-old Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Seggos will leave his position following the 2024 state budget negotiations as the longest-serving commissioner in New York State, being in the role since October 2015.
“I’ve loved the job every day,” Seggos says. “It’s been an incredible privilege and honor to be able to go in every day and be the state’s environmental voice.”
Seggos’ eight and a half years was almost shorter when he announced his resignation in 2018 but decided to stay, serving another five years. The longest-standing commissioner has a lot to be proud of, growing the branch to over 3,000 employees and implementing crucial environmental action.
“We’ve accomplished a lot, made amazing partnerships, and gained incredible staff,” Seggos says. “I felt like I had done as much as I could. Rebuilt the agency and had a chance to do incredible things for the climate. It was a good time to go, leaving on a high note, turning the reins over to the next person coming in.”
Seggos’ first action came during the 2015 Hoosick Falls water crisis. The success and proactive solution changed the way the DEC operated and even the resources available to them. Seggos’ aggressive approach led the agency to an enormous budget increase mainly used for crisis management.
Excess money will allow the DEC to operate larger-scale projects as well as carefully monitor smaller issues. Seggos’ productivity within the agency has granted more environmental security to the common citizen since his introduction into the department.
“We all get into these professions wanting to save the world, but I think you have to never lose sight of backyard issues and that’s some of the most important work,” Seggos says.
With the fear that comes with modern-day climate change, Seggos’ “backyard” attitude has helped voters trust that climate change can be fought as well as their small-town issues.
“I think the path to failure in this job is to only look at the big things,” he says. “Climate change is really important. We have to put enormous resources into fixing that, but there are thousands of little things that matter to everyday New Yorkers. Maybe not on a grand scale, but it might be a single well in someone’s town that has contaminants in it and if we don’t fix that problem we’re talking about the lives of moms, dads, and kids, very visceral stuff.”
Seggos has been an essential force for the environment, putting into place one of the state’s largest and nationally recognized climate plans. He is most acknowledged for his involvement in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the Climate Action Council, the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, the State’s Superfund law, and the Brownfield Tax Credit program.
With the DEC in full throttle, Seggos’ plan to step down leaves countless projects and programs to the newly appointed commissioner. The New York Cap-and-Invest Program launched in 2023 is one of the most ambitious projects to reach the public. His departure from the agency leaves countless questions on whether these will be kept in place.
“The next commissioner is going to come in and inherit a really good plan and good tailwinds on implementation of ultra-wind, solar, battery storage, new transmission lines, all of that is underway right now,” he says. “They’ll have to come in and pick up the baton and start running with it and be flexible to explore new pathways that come about.”
All his hard work has led him to be one of the most successful and respected commissioners to serve under the New York State Governors. Being placed at the forefront of many urgent issues, Seggos reflects on the best parts of his time with the DEC.
“I really think it was the toughest times that were the funnest,” Seggos says. “Those things were genuinely rewarding; we were actually fixing problems. It’s an amazing place, the people are so dedicated to the DEC, and they firmly believe in the mission of the agency. The people that get into public service I think are some of the best people.”
As for the future, Seggos has not specified his plans but hopes to stay close to public service. The DEC has not yet announced his successor. With budget negotiations coming up, a new commissioner will take over and continue to serve as the environment’s spokesperson.
“I hope we fulfill our plans,” Seggos says, “because ultimately that means people will be more prosperous and help to lead the state and the country in the future.”
Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation Announces Plan to Step Down
