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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
A person is guilty of endangering public health, safety or the environment in the third degree when:
1. He recklessly engages in conduct which causes the release of a substance acutely hazardous to public health, safety or the environment; or
2. He recklessly engages in conduct which causes the release of more than two hundred gallons or two thousand pounds, whichever is less, of an aggregate weight or volume of a substance hazardous to public health, safety or the environment; or
3. He recklessly engages in conduct which causes the release of more than one hundred gallons or one thousand pounds, whichever is less, of an aggregate weight or volume of a substance hazardous to public health, safety or the environment and such release creates a substantial risk of physical injury to any person who is not a participant in the crime; or
4. He or she knowingly engages in conduct which causes the release of more than one hundred gallons or one thousand pounds, whichever is less, of an aggregate weight or volume of a substance hazardous to public health, safety or the environment; or
5. With intent to dispose of construction and demolition debris, he or she intentionally engages in conduct that causes the unlawful disposal or release of either ten cubic yards or more, or twenty thousand pounds or more, of construction and demolition debris, as defined in section 71-2702 of this title.
Endangering public health, safety or the environment in the third degree is a class E felony.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, Environmental Conservation Law - ENV § 71-2712. Endangering public health, safety or the environment in the third degree - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/environmental-conservation-law/env-sect-71-2712/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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