By Jay Lawson
Pro-Adirondack Park proposals were among the priorities included in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2015 combined State of the State address and Executive Budget summary on Wednesday, January 21.
These build on New York’s 123-year legacy of preserving this global treasure, its clean water, wilderness, wildlife and rural communities, according to Adirondack Council Executive Director William Janeway.
Janeway cited the Governor’s continued effort to restore the Environmental Protection Fund.
He also applauded Cuomo’s plan to use bank settlement funds for infrastructure that could include clean water
“The Park did well today,” Janeway said.
The Governor described the need to combat alien invasive species, hire more environmental conservation staff, and reduce threats from oil trains.
“We are also pleased with the Governor’s commitments to build upon the Park’s century-old ‘Forever Wild’ legacy, expanded funding for rural broadband internet improvements and beginning a dialogue about long-overdue reforms of the state’s timberland tax abatement program,” Janeway said.
In his speech, the Governor outlined several proposals designed to assist the Adirondack Park in protecting water quality, wilderness and wildlife while also boosting outdoor recreation and protected public lands that drive the local economy.
New York’s 123-year-old Adirondack Park is the largest park in the contiguous United States.
It contains most of the motor-free wilderness remaining in the Northeast, as well as 130 rural communities spread across 9,300 acres of forests, lakes and rivers.
The Governor’s proposals for the Adirondacks outlined in Wednesday’s speech included the following, as summarized by Adirondack Council:
• Environmental Protection Fund: The state’s capital projects account for major environmental priorities will increase by $10 million to $172 million.
This account pays for clean water, land protection, invasive species, state land stewardship, farmland preservation and smart growth planning.”
• Clean Water & Commu-nity Resiliency Infrastructure: The Governor proposed setting aside $1.5 billion from a recent $5-billion legal settlement to designate funds for priorities that could include clean water and waste-water infrastructure grants and loans.
• Invasive Species Controls: The Governor proposed designation of $1 million for an Adirondack Park-wide invasive species strategy.
Last year, the Legislature made it illegal to transport invasive species from one lake or river to another.
Most harmful, non-native, aquatic plants and animals hitchhike from one place to another on motorboats and trailers.
However, only Lake George and Loon Lake have mandatory boat inspection programs.
Many Adirondack local government and environmental leaders agree that a mandatory inspection program is needed park-wide.
• Adirondack Park Agency and Dept. of Environmental Conservation Staff: The Governor proposed restoring 36 staff members to the DEC, which can include (among other priorities) a ranger academy.
Staffing at the state’s two top environmental protection agencies has suffered since 2007, with both agencies losing upwards of 20 percent of their workforce.
The Park Agency needs replacement personnel to assist local governments and project applicants.
The DEC needs staff to protect and manage public lands, especially new Forest Rangers.
• Reducing Risks from Oil Trains: The Governor proposed more funding and attention to curbing the risks of oil transport through the Park via railroad.
Community leaders, local emergency response officials and those concerned about clean water and wildlife were pleased with this progress, but not satisfied that state and federal officials had done all they could to protect Adirondack communities and Lake Champlain from an oil-spill disaster.
• Broadband Expansion of $1 Billion: The governor announced he would spend $500 million and seek an additional private investment of $500 million to expand high speed internet access in underserved and rural communities, including Adirondack villages and hamlets.
“We applaud the Governor’s commitment to meeting Adirondack community utility, infrastructure and resiliency needs, while honoring and building on the state’s legacy of preserving Adirondack Forever Wild Forest Preserve,” Janeway said.
The Adirondack Council’s mission is to ensure the ecological integrity and wild character of New York’s six-million-acre Adirondack Park, according to Director Janeway.
The Council envisions an Adirondack Park comprised of core wilderness areas, surrounded by working forests and farms, and vibrant rural communities, he said.
Adirondack Council members live in all 50 United States, Janeway added.