For Immediate Release: October 12, 2023
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY - The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold a series of public hearings to solicit public comments for State Land classification and reclassification proposals. The 2023 classification package involves proposals for State Lands in 8 counties in the Park. The package includes 19 State Land classification proposals of recently acquired parcels totaling approximately 5,800 acres, 11 reclassification proposals totaling approximately 250 acres, and six classifications involving map corrections.
APA Chair John Ernst encouraged the public to participate in the public comment process. Chair Ernst said, "For more than a century the people of the great state of New York have demonstrated profound interest in the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve. We are very honored to bring forth this state land classification action and look forward to hearing from all constituents on the proposed package."
Highlights of the Proposed State Land Classification Action
The Champlain Valley Hills (ES-1) acquisition is in the Town of Chesterfield, Essex County and includes many defining features, including spectacular views of Lake Champlain from Mt. Trembleau, a variety of vegetation types, wildlife and Lake Champlain shoreline. The 610.6-acre parcel is proposed to be classified as Wild Forest.
Tub Mill Pond (ES-4) is a 1,200-acre acquisition that lies on the western edge of the Lake George/Lake Champlain watershed in the Town of Moriah, Essex County. It includes five lakes and ponds with 2.6 miles of shoreline. This parcel is proposed to be classified as Wild Forest.
Thirteenth Lake Shoreline (WR-1) is a 17.9-acre acquisition in the Town of Johnsburg, Warren County. The acquisition of this parcel secures the permanent protection of the entire shoreline of Thirteenth Lake. The lake is easily accessed from the north and features a 0.1-mile-long accessible path from the trailhead to the shore where there is an accessible hand launch and accessible tent sites. Thirteenth Lake contains rainbow trout and landlocked salmon. This parcel is proposed to be classified as Wilderness.
Marion River – Arietta (HA-1) is a 266.8-acre parcel located in the Towns of Arietta and Indian Lake in Hamilton County. The parcel will establish a canoe carry around rapids and a connection between Raquette Lake and Blue Mountain Lake along one of the most popular Adirondack canoe routes. The parcel includes the remnants of a former rail line built by William West Durant in 1899 and is proposed to be classified as Wild Forest.
Grass River Corridor (SL-2) is a 948-acre parcel in the Towns of Colton and Clifton, St. Lawrence County. The parcel parallels the South Branch of the Grass River (designated Scenic River under the Wild, Scenic, and Recreational Rivers Act). The river meanders as it makes its way through the parcel and includes several oxbows. The proposed classification for this parcel is Wild Forest.
SUNY Cortland – Camp Pine Knot (HA-3) is a 208.5-acre property administered by State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland including an environmental and outdoor education center. The parcel is located on Long Point on Raquette Lake, in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. This parcel requires a map correction. Previous APA maps show the parcel as private lands classified as Moderate Intensity Use. The proposed classification for this parcel is State Administrative.
Detailed maps and the draft environmental impact statement describing the proposed action are available from the APA’s website at Adirondack Park Agency State Land Monthly Mailing (ny.gov) https://www.apa.ny.gov/Mailing/2023/10/StateLand.htm.
Staff also prepared an online interactive story map to help the public learn more about each parcel in this action. Story maps are a way to communicate a narrative using a variety of media including maps, text and photos. Please use this link to access the story map -https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/62e2d75c42844667a4f5bba0f52e1a29
The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) was prepared by APA staff in consultation with the Department of Environmental Conservation. The Agency Board accepted the DSEIS at its October meeting and authorized staff to proceed with public hearings.
The Public Hearings will be held:
November 1, 2023
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Virtual Hearing
https://tinyurl.com/APAClassPkg
1-518-549-0500
Access code: 2331 477 3001
To make a public comment during the virtual public hearing please email your name and the phone number used to connect to: contact@apa.ny.gov
November 1, 2023
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Adirondack Park Agency Board Room
1133 NYS Route 86
Ray Brook, New York 12977
November 13, 2023
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Public Hearing Room, 1st Floor
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
The Agency will also accept written comment on the 2023 Classification Package. Written comment must be received by close of business November 27, 2023.
Please address all written comment on this matter to:
Megan Philips, Deputy Director, Planning
Adirondack Park Agency
Post Office Box 99
1133 State Route 86
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Or by email: SLMP_UMP_Comments@apa.ny.gov
Agency staff will consider all public input that is received during the comment period and may incorporate those comments, in consultation with the Department, into a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS). The FSEIS will include a written response to public comments and will present final alternatives. The final alternatives may include modifications to alternatives described in the DSEIS.
The FSEIS will be brought to the Agency Board after the close of the public comment period. The Agency Board will then decide (a) whether to accept the FSEIS and (b) whether to recommend the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (APSLMP) amendments to the Governor. If the APSLMP amendments are authorized by the Agency, a Board Resolution recommending the package will be forwarded to the Governor for approval.
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.