News Release

August 16, 2006

REGULATING DISTRICT SCHEDULES THIRD PUBLIC MEETING FOR PERMIT SYSTEM RULES Session Will Provide an Opportunity for People to Ask Questions, Express Views The Hudson River - Black River Regulating District announced the date for an additional meeting to gather public input regarding the revised rules for the permit system at Great Sacandaga Lake. The meeting will be Wednesday, September 6, 2006 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the auditorium of the Northville Central School, 131 South Third Street, Northville, New York.  The public is encouraged to attend this meeting to ask questions and express their views on the draft regulations.  

“When we postponed the first summer meeting to August 17, we kept the second meeting date of August 23 so seasonal residents would be able to attend. In response to requests from some people to have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the draft rules prior to submitting comments, we have added a third meeting.  This will give the public more time to view the draft rules and prepare questions and comments for the meetings,” stated Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director.  The August 17 meeting will focus on rules related to access permit eligibility and permit fees. The August 23 meeting will address the remainder of the rules. After this meeting, the September 6 meeting agenda will be determined.

“The first five public meetings provided excellent input that helped create draft rules.  We anticipate that we will continue to revise the current draft rules using input from the next three meetings as well as written public comments,” stated Mr. LaFave.  After these public meetings the revised, proposed rules will be submitted to the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR). Following GORR approval, proposed rules will be sent to the Department of State for publication in the State Register, beginning a 45 day formal notice and comment period.

The Regulating District has posted the August 17 public meeting agenda and the draft rules on its website at http://www.hrbrrd.com/draftrules.html.  This web page also contains a public comment form for people who wish to submit written comments.  Copies of the draft rules can be obtained at the District’s Sacandaga and Albany offices. 

Tentatively, the Regulating District hopes to approve the rules at their December board meeting so the revised rules can be implemented in 2007, with the exception of permit system fees which have been capped until 2010.