New York Consolidated Laws, Environmental Conservation Law - ENV § 71-4401. Definitions

1. “Regulated medical waste” means regulated medical waste as defined in title 15 of article 27 of this chapter.

2. “Pound” means an avoirdupois pound.

3. “Gallon” means a unit of liquid capacity equal to two hundred thirty-one cubic inches or four quarts.

4. “Environment” means any water, water vapor, any land including land surface or subsurface, air, fish, wildlife, biota, and all other natural resources.

5. “Release” means any pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or leaching, directly or indirectly, of a substance so that the substance or any related constituent thereof, or any degradation product of such a substance or of a related constituent thereof, may enter the environment, or the disposal of any substance.

6. “Disposal” means the discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of any substance so that such substance or any related constituent thereof may enter the environment, or the abandonment of any substance.

7. “Abandonment” means the intentional relinquishment or forsaking of all possession or control of any substance.  In any prosecution under this title, it is an affirmative defense to an allegation of abandonment that the defendant surrendered possession or control of such substance to another party who knowingly and voluntarily consented to assume such possession or control.

8. “Intentionally, knowingly, recklessly and criminal negligence” shall have the same meanings as defined in section 15.05 of the penal law.

9. “Criminal transaction” shall have the same meaning as defined in section 40.10 of the criminal procedure law.