News Release

September 28, 2007

HUDSON RIVER – BLACK RIVER REGULATING DISTRICT SUBMITS PROPOSED PERMIT SYSTEM RULES TO GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF REGULATORY REFORM

Newly Proposed Rules Posted on www.hrbrrd.com

 The Board of the Hudson River - Black River Regulating District will submit the Rules for the Permit System at Great Sacandaga Lake to the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform.   The Board held three public meetings last summer to gather public input regarding the Revised Draft Rules for the Permit System.   In addition to questions posed at the public meetings, written public comments and questions were received from July 16 to August 31, 2007.  From the public input, the Regulating District Board developed Proposed Rules which were finalized and approved for submission to GORR on September 27, 2007 at the Special Board Meeting in Johnstown.

“The Regulating District Board thanks all of the people who submitted public comments regarding the permit system,” stated Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director.  “We were very pleased with the response as we received literally hundreds of comments and questions.”
Initially, the Regulating District Board hoped to act on the Proposed Rules at the September 10 meeting.  Due to the many responses and their desire to adequately review the public comments, the Board members scheduled the Special Board Meeting to consider the Proposed Rules.

After GORR reviews the rules, recommended changes may be made to the Board.  After GORR approves the Proposed Rules, they will be sent to the NYS Department of State for publication in the State Register.  Then there will be a 45-day public comment period.

The Regulating District hopes to formally adopt the rules by December 10, 2007 and forward them to the Department of Environmental Conservation for review and approval.  After DEC approval, the new rules could be implemented in 2008, with the exception of permit system fees which have been capped until 2010.

The permit system Proposed Rules have been posted on the Regulating District’s website at http://www.hrbrrd.com/proposedrules.html.  Copies of these Proposed Rules are available at the Regulating District’s Albany and Sacandaga (Mayfield) offices.