News Release

May 11, 2006

SARATOGA ASSOCIATES TO FACILITATE REGULATING DISTRICT'S FOURTH PUBLIC MEETING FOR PERMIT SYSTEM RULES Independent consultant Saratoga Associates will facilitate the Hudson River - Black River Regulating District's fourth meeting to seek public input regarding revisions to its rules and regulations for the permit system at Great Sacandaga Lake. The meeting will be Wednesday, May 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the auditorium at the Northville Central School, 131 South Third Street, Northville, New York (Please note that this is the location where the first two, but not the third, meetings were held). This meeting will deal with permit system issues including permit eligibility, the permit application process and permit fees. The tentative agenda is on the Regulating District’s website: Saratoga Associates' Meeting 4 Agenda.

“Our last meeting, facilitated by Saratoga Associates, was well attended and very successful," stated Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director of the Regulating District. “Since then, Saratoga Associates has been conducting research to determine what issues need public input at the May 17 meeting. We hope for more participation from holders of commercial and special permits as well as other permit holders."

The fifth meeting, to be facilitated by the Regulating District, is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday May 30th.  The agenda and location will be set after the May 17 meeting.

After draft rules are prepared, the Regulating District will again seek input by holding a second round of public meetings during the summer months when it will be more convenient for seasonal residents to attend. All of these meetings will be open to the public.

Tentatively the Regulating District hopes to complete the rules revision process by the end of this year so the revised rules can be implemented in 2007, with the exception of permit fees which have been capped until 2010.

People who are not able to attend these meetings can download a “Permit System Rules Revision Public Comment Form” from the Regulating District’s website: Permit System Rules Revision Public Comment Form