For Immediate Release: January 20, 2010
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency will conduct five (5) public hearings from January 25, 2010 to February 5, 2010 pursuant to Section 816 of the Adirondack Park Agency Act to classify or reclassify certain State lands within the Adirondack Park. The action involves 91 State land classification proposals totaling approximately 31,056 acres and four (4) State land reclassification proposals totaling an estimated 468 acres.
The classification proposals involve lands in ten (10) counties including: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence, and Warren. The proposed action involves only the classification or reclassification of State lands according to the provisions of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.
Two recent significant State land acquisitions are included in this package along with several smaller acquisitions. The 17,000 acre Chazy Highlands tract, located across the towns of Ellenberg, Dannemora and Saranac, in Clinton County is recommended for Wild Forest classification. The Tahawus Tract, which includes Henderson Lake in the Town of Newcomb, is proposed for addition to the High Peaks Wilderness Area.
This action does not authorize the development of new structures or improvements without prior SEQRA assessment by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and/or the Adirondack Park Agency, including the development of a Unit Management Plan pursuant to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.
An inter-active map and detailed descriptions of the proposed classifications are available from the Adirondack Park Agency's website at http://www.apa.state.ny.us/
Public hearings will take place at the following locations and dates:
January 25, 2010 Newcomb Fire Hall 5635 Route 28N Newcomb, NY 7:00 pm
January 27, 2010 Park Avenue Building 183 Park Ave Old Forge, NY 7:00 pm
January 28, 2010 Town Hall 3662 Route 3 Saranac, NY 7:00 pm
February 2, 2010 St. Lawrence County Human Services Center 80 SH 310 Canton, NY 7:00 pm
February 5, 2010 NYDEC, 625 Broadway Albany, NY 1:00 pm
The public is encouraged to attend the hearings and provide comment. The Agency will also accept written comments regarding the classification proposals until March 19, 2010.
Please submit written comments to:
Richard E. Weber PO Box 99, Ray Brook, NY 12977, or fax to (518)891-3938, or by email apa_slmp@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
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