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The recently released 2005 Draft Open Space Conservation Plan will be subject of a public hearing Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation regional office in Saratoga Springs.
The public may also submit comments in writing either by mail or through e-mail.
A workshop and two public hearings will be held. The workshops will begin at 1 p.m. and will immediately be followed by the a public hearing at 2:30 p.m., then another public hearing will be held in the evening from 7 to 9 p.m. The public is welcome to attend any of the sessions, but public comment may only be given during the public hearings, not the workshop.
The deadline for comments is Jan. 18.
The DEC is encouraging the public to review the draft plan and to provide comments, either at the public hearings or through written comments, or through the Web site.
As required by law, the State Open Space Conservation Plan is updated every three years. The first State Open Space Plan was adopted in 1992, subsequent versions include the 1995, 1998 and the 2002 Plans. The State is assisted in its development of the Plan by nine regional advisory committees, who are appointed jointly by the State and County governments.
The plan outlines priority project areas that are eligible for state acquisition funding from the Environmental Protection Fund and other state, federal and local sources. Most of these projects come directly from the deliberations of the Advisory Committees, who are knowledgeable about conservation issues facing their region. Many of the priority project areas have increased in geographic size from previous versions of the Plan in recognition of the broad public support that exists for a comprehensive open space conservation program. The Plan also makes policy and program recommendations to guide the State's Open space protection program for the future, including:
Incorporating the State's new Comprehensive Wildlife Conse rvation Strategy into the land acquisition and conservation strategies of the Plan;
Approving the Community Preservation Act, introduced by Governor Pataki, which would provide local governments with new tools and resources to develop local open space conservation programs to complement State efforts consistent with the State's Quality Communities Program;
Including a new generic priority project category that will enable the State to acquire lands adjacent to, or inholdings within, existing State Forests, Unique Areas and Wildlife Management Areas;
Enhancing the ability of local governments to carry out local open space conservation programs;
Implementing the Erie Canal and Empire State Greenway initiatives outlined by Governor Pataki to encourage the comprehensive development of greenways across New York;
Including the federally funded Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), administered by the Department of State, in the Plan;
Expanding the existing Catskill Mountain Forest Legacy area to include the Shawangunk Ridge and creating a new Forest Legacy Area in the Finger Lakes region to allow these areas to compete for funding from the United States Forest Service to conserve forest resources;
Opposing efforts to weaken or eliminate tax incentives for the donation of conservation properties to public land management agencies or qualified non-profit conservation organizations;
Continuing efforts to identify funding and other resources to provide adequate stewardship of public lands; and
Developing new financial incentives to encourage the stewardship of private lands as part of the State's overall Open Space program.
The plan also describes the many accomplishments that have occurred during the past several years and encourages partnerships among all levels of government, conservation organizations, the public and land owners to continue these efforts in the future.
The draft Plan is also posted on DEC's web site at: www.dec.state.ny.us 11-29-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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