What Interstate Environmental Commission does

Interstate Environmental Commission (IEC) is a congressionally authorized, tri-state quasi-governmental agency founded in 1936 that protects water quality across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Originally established as the Interstate Sanitation Commission and renamed in 2000, IEC operates from a 2,800 square foot office and laboratory at the Brooklyn Army Terminal and is governed by 15 commissioners (five appointed by each member state). The agency runs a portfolio of interconnected environmental monitoring and compliance programs, including the Western Long Island Sound Monitoring Program (22 stations), the LIS Pathogen Monitoring Network, the NJDEP Harbor Monitoring Program (29 sites), the NYSDEC 604b Monitoring Program, NPDES compliance inspections, the Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program, the Unified Water Study, and the LIS Septic System Replacement Program.

IEC's technical foundation is a NELAP-accredited environmental laboratory holding certifications from NYSDOH ELAP (Lab ID: 10437), NJDEP (Lab ID: NY240), and Connecticut DPH (Lab ID: PH 0320) since 2000, with 2026 additions for Microcystins testing (EPA Method 546) and Total Organic Carbon (Standard Method 5310B-14). Field operations are supported by a research vessel (R/V Natale Colosi, acquired 1987) and continuous monitoring sondes, generating a multi-decade historical water quality database that informs member-state regulatory decisions and is published through EPA's WQX and ICIS systems.

IEC is funded primarily through federal Clean Water Act Section 106 grants, EPA Long Island Sound Office funding, state matching contributions from NY, NJ, and CT, and a $7,560,016 EPA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law award administered via the Long Island Sound Partnership. The agency employs approximately 10 staff and delivers services at no cost to government partners while administering a $10,000-per-property reimbursement program for septic system replacement to homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Name

Interstate Environmental Commission

Legal name

Interstate Environmental Commission

Website

https://iec-nynjct.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Interstate Environmental Commission is a congressionally authorized tri-state agency that monitors water quality, conducts NPDES compliance inspections, and runs certified laboratory analyses across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut for federal, state, and municipal partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Monitoring and Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Sanitary Services (4950), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Control & Environmental Compliance Enforcement (BPAIAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Agencies (BPAIAOAM), Environmental Health Inspections & Code Enforcement (Housing/Sanitation/Vector Control) (HLAJAFAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental monitoring services
• Water quality testing
• Regulatory compliance monitoring
• Laboratory analysis services
• Watershed protection programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary funding from federal sources, predominantly Clean Water Act Section 106 grants, providing compliance assistance and water quality monitoring support to member states.
2. EPA Long Island Sound Office Funding: Annual federal funding from EPA Region 1's Long Island Sound office to support western Long Island Sound monitoring programs.
3. EPA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Septic System Replacement: $7,560,016 in funding through EPA BIL awarded by Long Island Sound Partnership passed through NYSDEC for septic system replacement program ($3,780,008 per county for Nassau and Suffolk).
4. Private Foundation Funding: Funding from Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound since 2017 to support IEC's participation in the Unified Water Study.
5. State Funding: State funding from member states (NY, NJ, CT) to implement grant work plans and meet federal grant match requirements.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Interstate Environmental Commission is a tri-state, congressionally-authorized environmental agency that conducts water quality monitoring, laboratory analysis, and regulatory compliance services across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. It operates a NELAP-accredited environmental laboratory, performs compliance inspections at NPDES-permitted facilities, coordinates volunteer pathogen monitoring networks, and administers funding programs for water quality improvement. Services are delivered to member state agencies, municipalities, community groups, and academic institutions across the Interstate Environmental District.

Product overview

Interstate Environmental Commission operates as a tri-state water and air pollution control agency offering a portfolio of interconnected environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, and laboratory analysis services. Core offerings include: the Western Long Island Sound Monitoring Program (dissolved oxygen/hypoxia tracking since 1991); the LIS Pathogen Monitoring Network (fecal indicator bacteria coordination); the Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program (citizen science); NJDEP Harbor Monitoring Program; NYSDEC 604b Monitoring Program; NPDES Compliance Monitoring; Pathogen Trackdown investigations; Short-Notice Emergency Monitoring; Unified Water Study participation; and the LIS Septic System Replacement Program. Supporting infrastructure includes a NELAP-accredited environmental laboratory at Brooklyn Army Terminal providing microbiological, nutrient, BOD, turbidity, chlorophyll a, microcystins, and TOC analyses; Water Quality Regulations and Classifications framework; and a Publication Center with 80+ years of historical data. The commission also conducts Public Education and Outreach through special events, student internships, and laboratory tours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Western Long Island Sound Monitoring Program Environmental monitoring program that tracks dissolved oxygen, hypoxia conditions, and key water quality parameters in western Long Island Sound weekly from late June through mid-September, with year-round monthly monitoring. Covers 22 monitoring stations between the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and Rye, NY.
• LIS Pathogen Monitoring Network Coordinated monitoring network for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in the Long Island Sound watershed. Recruits watershed-based groups to collect samples analyzed by state-certified laboratories, targeting areas with data gaps including rivers, streams, and embayments.
• Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 17,000 quality investigations completed since 1936
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 1936Primary federal partner providing funding through Clean Water Act Section 106 grants, Long Island Sound office funding, and data exchange through WQX and ICIS databases. EPA Region 2 provides grants for harbor monitoring and Region 1 for Long Island Sound programs.
• New York State Department of Environmental ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember state partner providing regulatory oversight and coordination. IEC provides compliance assistance, monitoring data, and technical support for NYSDEC programs including 604b Monitoring Program and Long Island Sound monitoring.
• New Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember state partner for which IEC conducts Harbor Monitoring Program since 2021 to inform water quality classification decisions for NJDEP Division of Water Monitoring & Standards.
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember state partner with which IEC collaborates on Long Island Sound monitoring aligned with CTDEEP programs, participating in Unified Water Study since 2017.
• Long Island Sound PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative effort sponsored by EPA and states of CT and NY to improve water quality. IEC serves as representative on Management Committee and receives funding through LISP for various programs.
• New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional program for which IEC conducts surveys and monitoring activities within the New York-New Jersey Harbor and coastal ocean waters, sampling at over 120 ocean stations.
• New York City Department of Environmental ProtectionkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYCDEP partnered with IEC on Bronx River/MS4 Outfall Study to fill data gaps in bacteriological monitoring and guide outfall long-term control planning.
• City University of New York / College of Staten IslandkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through BioBAT at Brooklyn Army Terminal for laboratory space. Also partnered with CUNY Brooklyn College for Alley Creek and Bergen Basin Pathogen Reduction Project.
• Save the Sound / Connecticut Fund for the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2017, Save the Sound has provided funding for IEC's participation in Unified Water Study and coordinates the broader UWS network of 28 groups monitoring 48 embayments.
• New York City Department of Health and Mental HygienekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC DOHMH provides water quality information on NYC beaches during summer for public health monitoring and recreation safety.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAA National Weather Service provides real-time meteorological and wet-weather data for sampling planning and environmental conditions.
• HDR Inc.keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm partnered with NYCDEP and IEC on Bronx River/MS4 Outfall Study, collecting samples for IEC's microbiological analyses.
• Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica BaykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with CUNY Brooklyn College and IEC on Alley Creek and Bergen Basin Pathogen Reduction Project evaluating nature-based solutions for water quality improvement.
• Stony Brook UniversitykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with IEC and HEP on eelgrass restoration monitoring adjacent to Living Breakwaters on Staten Island's southern coast, measuring habitat and water quality parameters.
• BioBATkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioBAT partnership fosters growth of life sciences industry and provides IEC's 2,800 sq ft laboratory and office space at Brooklyn Army Terminal since October 2022.
• Harbor Watch at EarthplacekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in LIS Pathogen Monitoring Network coordinating FIB monitoring in Connecticut waters including Norwalk Harbor, Stamford Harbor, and other Long Island Sound areas.
• The Maritime Aquarium at NorwalkkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in LIS Pathogen Monitoring Network for fecal indicator bacteria monitoring in Long Island Sound watershed.
• Freshkills Park AlliancekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer monitoring participant collecting samples for IEC laboratory analysis as part of Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Gowanus Canal ConservancykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer monitoring participant collecting samples for IEC laboratory analysis as part of Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Hackensack RiverkeeperkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer monitoring participant collecting samples for IEC laboratory analysis as part of Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Hudson River Park TrustkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer monitoring participant collecting samples for IEC laboratory analysis as part of Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Lower Raritan Watershed PartnershipkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer monitoring participant collecting samples for IEC laboratory analysis as part of Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Rahway River Watershed AssociationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer monitoring participant collecting samples for IEC laboratory analysis as part of Coordinated Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• SWIM CoalitionkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates Community Water Quality Testing sites previously overseen by CWQT, organizing network of groups and coordinating with laboratories including IEC.
• Ash Creek Conservation AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Bridgeport Harbor, Johnson's Creek, Pequonnock River, and Yellow Mill Channel in Connecticut.
• Alliance for the Mystic River WatershedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Bush Pond, Haleys Brook, Long Pond, Whitford Brook, and Williams Brook in Connecticut.
• Connecticut National Estuary Research ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Duck River, Lieutenant River, and Poquonnock River in Connecticut.
• Coalition to Save Hempstead HarborminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Dosoris Pond and West Pond in Glen Cove, New York.
• Cornell Cooperative ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Goldsmith's Inlet, Huntington-Northport Bay Complex, and Mattituck Inlet in New York.
• Friends of the BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Beekman Beach, Frost Creek, and White's Creek in Oyster Bay area, New York.
• Salonga Wetlands Advocates NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork member monitoring Crab Meadow Creek, Fresh Pond, Nissequogue River, and Port Jefferson Harbor in New York.
• National Park ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith NPS funding, IEC collects beach samples for analyses.
• Plus PoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEC supports Plus Pool initiative through laboratory analyses for water quality testing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pace Analytical Services: National commercial environmental testing laboratory network providing water, soil, and air analyses. Comparable to IEC's NELAP-accredited laboratory operations, though operating as a for-profit commercial lab rather than a public agency.
• Save the Sound / Connecticut Fund for the Environment: Regional environmental nonprofit coordinating the Unified Water Study, of which IEC is a participating partner since 2017. Comparable as a Long Island Sound-focused water quality organization, though operating as an advocacy/NGO rather than a regulatory agency.

Direct peers

• Great Lakes Commission: Binational (US-Canada) interstate compact agency promoting the integrated management and protection of the Great Lakes. Comparable to IEC in interstate governance, environmental monitoring coordination, and policy advocacy roles.
• Delaware River Basin Commission: Federal-interstate compact agency governing water quality and allocation across the Delaware River basin (NY, NJ, PA, DE). Highly comparable to IEC as an interstate regulatory body performing water quality monitoring, standards-setting, and inter-jurisdictional coordination.
• Susquehanna River Basin Commission: Federal-interstate compact agency managing water resources of the Susquehanna River basin (NY, PA, MD). Comparable to IEC in governance structure, interstate compact basis, and water quality monitoring mandate.
• Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO): Interstate compact commission (IL, IN, KY, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV) responsible for controlling and abating water pollution in the Ohio River. Directly comparable to IEC in mission, interstate structure, and water quality regulatory function.
• Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB): Interstate compact agency coordinating water resources management among MD, PA, VA, WV, and DC for the Potomac basin. Comparable to IEC as an interstate commission focused on regional water quality coordination and monitoring.
• New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC): Interstate commission providing water quality training, technical assistance, and laboratory services to the six New England states. Comparable to IEC as a multi-state water pollution control organization with laboratory and monitoring capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Federal environmental regulator and primary funder of IEC via Clean Water Act Section 106 grants and Long Island Sound program funding. Comparable as a public sector environmental authority, though operating at the federal level with vastly broader scope.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC): State-level environmental agency with regulatory, monitoring, and laboratory functions across New York. Comparable as a public sector environmental regulator, though operating at the state level rather than tri-state compact basis; IEC is also a key partner/contractor to NYSDEC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Interstate Environmental Commission