For Immediate Release: April 28, 2014
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is accepting public comment on State Land Master Plan conformance for the recently submitted amendment to the 2010 Jay Mountain Wilderness Unit Management Plan (UMP). The Jay Mountain Wilderness UMP amendment was proposed to ensure the UMP is consistent with the constitutional amendment approved by voters in November 2013 that permits exploratory sampling on the state-owned parcel in the Town of Lewis, Essex County. The APA will accept written comments on this matter until June 2, 2014.
The constitutional amendment authorizes NYCO Materials, Inc. to conduct sampling on the 200-acre parcel, known as Lot 8, to determine the quantity and quality of wollastonite on the site, which is adjacent to the company's long-standing mine.
The current Jay Mountain Wilderness Area includes Lot 8, which is part of the State Forest Preserve and is governed by Article XIV, Section 1 of the State Constitution (Article XIV). The property is also subject to the provisions of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (APSLMP) as outlined in the 2010 Unit Management Plan for the Jay Mountain Wilderness area.
The amendment is intended to:
- Recognize that a constitutional amendment approved by the voters on November 5, 2013 implicitly repeals APSLMP guidelines for Wilderness that otherwise would prohibit NYCO's mineral sampling operations within the Jay Mountain Wilderness area;
- Make the UMP consistent with the constitutional amendment; and
- Note that detailed terms and conditions governing the mineral sampling operations will be set forth in a Temporary Revocable Permit (TRP) issued by DEC.
Please address written comments to:
NYS Adirondack Park Agency, P.O. Box 99, 1133 NYS Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 12977
Or by email - apa_slmp@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Description of the proposed action is available for downloaded from the APAs website at www.apa.state.ny.us.
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.state.ny.us.
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