UMP Amendment / Trails Budget / Article 78 filing

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Jessup River Wild Forest UMP 2010 Amendment

The recently issued amendment 2010 draft amendment to the 2005/2006 Jessup River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan has a number of signifigant negative changes. NYSSA is very concerned that the are trail closures that are unnecessary under the guidelines and as a result will isolate users and businesses who have historically had access to the trail system. The amendment should have leveraged the Class I Trail guidelines to preserve access by residents, visitors and businesses.

Your calls, e-mails, and letters are needed to preserve trail access to all snowmobilers.

If you utitlize the example letter, it is critical that you personalize, edit and add your own comments on this matter for your letter to count.
JRWF Example Letter (MS wo rd format)
JRWF Example Letter (text file)

The entire set of JRWF UMP Plan documents can be downloaded from the NYSDEC website HERE

There is a summary of the amendment from the NYSDEC at the bottom of this page, and the specific amendment on which the DEC is currently accepting comments on can be found HERE

Comments are due to the NYS DEC by February 19, 2010 to the attention of Mr. Thomas Kapelewski.
The public comment period for the 2010 Draft Amendment has been extended. Public comment will now be accepted until March 29, 2010.

Thomas Kapelewski, Senior Forester, NYS DEC
PO Box 1316
Northville, NY 12134
Fax: (518) 863-2546
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST INCLUDE A SUBJECT LINE OR THE COMMENT EMAIL WILL NOT BE RECEIVED OR RECORDED

All DEC UMPs and process on DEC website H E R E

NYS Budget and Snowmobile trail fund changes

NYSSA is working hard with the State Budget office on changing their proposed language to remove the broad language that would allow the 30% monies to be used for any recreational activity. We believe that the State does now understand our concern about the budget figures and the proposed budget language that creates the potential for trail fund monies to be used for other than snowmobile related expenses.

Some of the concern from the state is based upon costs incurred by other state agencies- particularly the DOT, for signage, pavement repair at highway crossings, and trailhead parking lot snow removal. We are in the process of identifying the specific concerns and document the unspecified costs.

While NYSSA's position has always included willingness for the snowmobile community to carry our own weight, we will not simply stand by letting the trail fund be used with no questions asked and expenses justified.

We will likely know where this issue stands before the NYSSA Board meeting on February 6, and will set the next steps at that point.

NYSSA has been contacted by several state legislators who are interested in working with us. We have advised them that we are attempting, through our lobbyists and leadership, to negotiate with the State Budget office for the removal of the language that provides for an expansion of allowable expenses, but if that effort fails we will ask for legislative assistance.

If it comes to that, we would most likely conduct a PR campaign and grassroots legislative outreach the week of February 8, 2010. In the meantime- stand by and prepare to defend the trail fund should you letters and calls be needed to defend the fund.

Adirondack Council Article 78 petition against State

On Monday January 11th, the Adirondack Council (AC) filed an Article 78 petition in State Supreme Court in Albany, against the state's Adirondack Park Agency (APA), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Read their press release HERE, and the NYSSA press release HERE.

The basis of the suit is the simple question of whether or not the APA has the authority to establish the snowmobile plan, or whether they are required to first amend the Adirondack State park Master Plan (APSLMP). That is the only issue before the court. The AC says the snowmobile plan does not comply with the ASLMP. The APA's position is that they have the authority to develop rules without first amending the APSLMP.

The APA has authority to adopt rules necessary to carry out the intent of the laws. The state law that governs the APSLMP uses terms like "general guidelines" and "guide the development" (of UMPs). The law also states that the APA and the DEC have the authority to develop regulations "necessary, convenient or desirable" to implement the purpose of the section.

Regardless of how the judge rules on this question, there will be additional opportunity for NYSSA to advocate on the resultant standards for snowmobile trails in the Park. Either way, our efforts and expenditures would be better used over the battle of the standards for the trails, as opposed to the procedural question.

The AC continues to misrepresent their stated goals via the positions they take. As far as the AC position on the UMP process and the snowmobile plan, they claim to be an "environmental organization" but continue to lobby against the use of tracked groomers in the Adirondacks. Tracked groomers are more fuel efficient and operate much cleaner than the 2-stroke utility sleds the Adirondack Council would prefer be used for trail grooming. Their position on this issue is in direct conflict with their stated mission.

The AC suggests that locating trails adjacent to roadways is "safer" for snowmobilers and would vastly improve access for emergency responders. While NYSSA supports trail safety, we find the AC's sudden concern about trail safety disingenuous, given their position on tracked groomers, which would improve safety.