The Bureau of Legal Affairs and General Counsel is the Department's in-house legal department. It provides legal counsel, advice, and assistance to the other Bureaus in connection with procuring and managing contracts, drafting and enforcing statutes and regulations, regulating solid waste transfer stations, and working with other government departments and agencies. The Bureau also serves as the Department's liaison with the City Council and State Legislature, manages the Department's City Environmental Quality Review processes, coordinates the Department's responses to Freedom of Information Law requests for documents, and provides litigation support to the City's Law Department in connection with lawsuits involving the Department. Finally, the Bureau provides legal counsel on employment and personnel matters, and is the Department's advisor on the legal aspects of environmental compliance efforts.

In the coming years, the closure of Fresh Kills and consequent waste reduction, recycling, and export will generate a great variety of legal work. The Bureau of Legal Affairs and General Counsel anticipates working with the rest of the Department and other City agencies on this major project.

Deputy Commissioner - Robert Orlin

• Assistant Commissioner, ACCO - R. Blendermann
• Assistant Commissioner - J. Strauss
• Assistant Commissioner, Environmental Review- S. Brautigam
• Director, Intergovernmental Affairs - A. Ciccone
• Emp. Counsel, Department Advocate - R. Brackeen