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For Immediate Release: March 31, 2000

Contact:
Edward J. Hood | Assistant Director of Planning | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050


Adirondack Park Agency Schedules Public Hearings on Proposed Regulatory Changes


Proposed draft changes to eleven key sections of the Adirondack Park Agency's regulations will be the subject of three public hearings the Agency has scheduled for this May and June. The Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR) recently authorized the Agency to proceed to formal rulemaking and hearing on the proposed changes pursuant to the New York State Administrative Procedure Act.

GORR's approval of the proposed changes authorize the Agency to begin a formal public rulemaking process on elements of Parts 572, 573, and 586 of its regulations related to project review and permitting functions. The proposed changes, covering topics including procedures for review of projects, preexisting subdivisions, general permits, conceptual review of projects, division of land by gift, agreements with other agencies, renewal of permits, and appeals and requests for reconsideration were developed over the past several years following extensive public review and comment.

The formal rulemaking process begins with publication of a notice of the proposed rulemaking in the New York State Register. This notice appeared March 22 in the State Register and in the Environmental Notice Bulletin and included information on the proposed changes and a schedule of the dates, times, and locations for three public hearings.

The public hearings, combined to satisfy both State Administrative Procedure Act and State Environmental Quality Review Act requirements, will be held both inside and outside the Park. The dates, times, and locations of these hearings are as follows:

DATE TIME LOCATION

Thursday, May 25, 2000 6:00-10:00 p.m. Town of Colonie Community Center, Albany

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 6:00-10:00 p.m. Town of Webb School, Old Forge

Thursday, June 1, 2000 6:00-10:00 p.m. North Country Community College, Saranac Lake

At the hearings, the public will be asked to consider the draft changes presented in the State Administrative Procedure Act Regulatory Impact Statement and the related Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS). Following the hearings, and a short continuation of the public comment period and development of any necessary revisions, the Agency will follow a sequence that includes preparation of a Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement, issue a findings statement, adopt the rule changes and publish them in the State Register.

More information on the proposed regulatory changes is available in the March 22 edition of the NYS State Register, on the Agency's web site www.northnet.org/adirondackparkagency/ , or by writing or calling the Agency at this address:

Edward J. Hood, Assistant Director of Planning NYS Adirondack Park Agency P.O. Box 99 Ray Brook, New York 12977 (518)891-4050

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