Waterfront projects face challenges from state DEC

Several projects backed by the Bloomberg administration as part of its goal to open up New York City’s waterfront for recreational are under fire from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, which charges that shade cast on the water by the new construction violates the law and imperils marine life. Projects like the 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park are being contested by the D.E.C, which says features that aren’t dependent on the water, like floating sidewalks, violate law administered under the Pataki administration to protect the marine life. The city must obtain a permit from the D.E.C in order to build in or over the water.