New York Consolidated Laws, Environmental Conservation Law - ENV § 15-1301. Definitions

1. “Comprehensive study and report” shall mean a comprehensive engineering and economic feasibility study and the resultant plan for the development of projects to provide adequately for present and reasonably foreseeable area-wide public water supply system needs.  The study shall be designed to develop such information as may be required by the department, including, but not limited to:  technical feasibility;  cost estimates for construction, property rights acquisition and contingencies and for engineering, legal and other services;  proposed methods of financing;  and estimates of first costs and subsequent total annual costs of construction, operation and maintenance of recommended facilities.  Such study shall not provide for plans and projects for public water supply system, or portions thereof, the scope or the area of which is less than that determined by the commission as necessary for comprehensive area-wide water supply system planning.  Such study shall not include the preparation of detail design and engineering drawing, specifications, and contract documents.

2. “Public water supply system” means the public treatment facilities, transmission facilities and source of supply facilities to provide water for residential, commercial, industrial and fire service needs for areas located in two or more municipalities.

3. “Municipality” means a county, city, town or village.

4. “Governing body” means:  (a) in a county, the county legislative body;  (b) in a city, the board of aldermen, common council, commission or other body vested by its charter or other law with jurisdiction to enact ordinances or local laws, except that in a city having a population of one million or more, if there be a board of estimate, the term “governing body” shall mean such board of estimate;  (c) in a town, the town board;  and (d) in a village, the board of trustees.

5. “Local agency” means the department, bureau, commission, board, division, agency, public benefit corporation, administration, or committee of municipalities, designated by the governing body of each participating municipality, or designated by the county legislative body in the case of a county acting on its own motion, to conduct and develop comprehensive studies and reports.