NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Oral Testimony by Invitation Only


SUBJECT:

Water Quality in the Adirondacks

PURPOSE:

To examine various water quality issues in the Adirondacks

Blue Mountain Lake
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
10:00 am
The Adirondack Museum
Route 28/30
Blue Mountain Lake, NY


The Adirondack Park, the largest park in the contiguous United States, contains six million acres covering one-fifth of New York State. The Adirondack Park is nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park. More than half of the Adirondack Park is private land, devoted principally to hamlets, forestry, agriculture, and open-space recreation. The Park is home for 130,000 permanent and 110,000 seasonal residents, and hosts millions of visitors each year. The remaining 45 percent of the Park is publicly owned Forest Preserve, protected as "Forever Wild" by the New York State Constitution since 1894.

Despite the abundant natural resources of the Adirondack Park, there are a number of issues that challenge the future of water quality in the Region. These issues range from invasive species and mercury levels in Adirondack lakes to the impact of non-point source run-off and aging septic systems on water quality in the Region. For example, the Lake Champlain Basin Program "State of the Lake" report for 2005 identifies invasive species as one of the major problems threatening the future of the Lake. The New York State Invasive Species Task Force, established by Chapter 324 of the Laws of 2003, has recently issued its final report which makes a number of recommendations on actions the State can take to address this growing problem. In addition, the Department of Environmental Conservation, based on a study of mercury levels in the lakes in the Adirondack and Catskill Regions, has issued an advisory that infants, children under 15 and women of childbearing age should not consume several species of fish from waters in these Regions. Also, the number of beach closings and water quality advisories across the State, including in the Adirondack Region, have increased in the recent years.

The Committee is convening this hearing in order to solicit information to assist State and local policy makers on how to address these and other water quality issues confronting the Region. The Committee will invite witnesses representing a wide range of interests including State and local government officials, public interest groups and the scientific community to assist in this effort.

Oral testimony will be accepted by invitation only and limited to 10 minutes duration. 10 copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. Written testimony will also be accepted and may be sent to the contact person listed on the reply form. In order to further publicize the hearing, please inform interested parties of the Committee’s interest in receiving written testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.


Thomas P. DiNapoli, Member of Assembly
Chairman, Committee on Environmental Conservation



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on Water Quality in the Adirondacks to be held on September 27, 2005, or who wish to submit written testimony, are requested to complete and return this reply form by September 16, 2005 by mail or fax to:

Alex Roth
Principal Legislative Analyst
New York State Assembly
Program & Counsel Staff
Capitol/ Room 520
Albany, NY 12248
(518) 455-4363
fax (518) 455-5182

(It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.)


box I plan to attend the public hearing on September 27, 2005 concerning the Water Quality in the Adirondacks to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation.

box I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:





box I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

box I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.

box I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.

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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:






NAME:

TITLE:

ORGANIZATION:

ADDRESS:

E-MAIL:

TELEPHONE:

FAX TELEPHONE:

*** Click here for printable form ***


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