The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's new policy requiring a greenhouse gas emissions review for large-scale projects will be included in the state's mandated environmental review process starting in mid-August. Under New York's existing environmental review process, governed by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), any time a state or local government agency is considering a new project, it must first identify and mitigate the significant environmental impacts of the activity it is proposing or permitting. It must also balance adverse environmental impacts with the social and economic benefits of a project. Until now, however, the SEQRA review process did not include procedures for assessing a project's impact on climate change. The new policy is detailed in the DEC's Guide for Assessing Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in an Environmental Impact Statement, an instruction manual for DEC staff.