The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Thursday, February 12 and Friday February 13, 2009 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters in Ray Brook, NY. The meeting will be webcast live. The webcast can be found here: http://www.apa.state.ny.us

The Full Agency will convene on Thursday morning at 9:00 for the Acting Executive Director’s monthly report.

At 9:15 a.m., the Regulatory Programs Committee will hear a report detailing staff efforts to prepare for possible federal and state projects that may result from the federal economic stimulus package. The committee will be briefed on APA/DEC/DOT executive level partnering meetings and ongoing issues related to the reconstruction of NYS Route 28 and the relocation of a sub-transmission power line.

The committee meeting will conclude with an overview presentation detailing permits issued to the Nature Conservancy as part of the Finch, Pruyn and Company, Inc. land acquisitions.

At 10:30 a.m., the Park Planning Committee will convene for a presentation from DEC staff regarding the draft NYS Open Space Plan and priority conservation projects for DEC Regions 5 and 6. Mike Carr, Executive Director of the Adirondack Nature Conservancy will follow the DEC presentation detailing how the Finch, Pruyn and Company land acquisitions will provide increased recreational opportunities within the Park on public lands and on private lands under conservation easement.

The committee will then consider a draft supplemental environmental impact statement for proposed APA map amendments submitted by the Town of Minerva, Essex County. The Town of Minerva developed these map amendments in conjunction with local comprehensive planning efforts. The map amendments put forward changes to APA land use classifications for approximately 4,591 acres of private land within the town.

At 1:00 p.m., the State Land Committee will hear an informational presentation for the revised Bog River Complex Unit Management Plan. Among the changes, DEC has proposed an amendment that would allow for continued floatplane access to a limited portion of Lows Lake for four years, with a “sunset” date of Dec. 31, 2012.

Under the proposal, floatplane access would be managed through a permit system designed to minimize user conflicts and resource impacts by controlling the frequency, location and timing of access. This DEC amendment differs from a previous proposal to extend floatplane access for 10 years. The APA is scheduled to consider State Land Master Plan compliance at its March 2009 meeting.

At 2:00 p.m., the Legal Affairs Committee will consider authorizing further State Administration Procedure Act measures for a revised “Boathouse” definition.

At 3:00 p.m. the Local Government Services Committee will receive an overview on the 2008 Local Government program and an update on recent meetings with officials concerning implementation of the Agency’s revised regulations.

At 3:30 p.m. the Administration Committee will review a draft proposal for an alternative work schedule and hear an update on the 2009-2010 agency budget.

On Friday, February 13 at 9:00 a.m. the Park Ecology Committee will convene for an update on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded permit compliance project, review 2008 wetlands statistics and hear a summary presentation related to soil data and on site wastewater system siting.

At 10:15 the Economy Affairs Committee will convene for two presentations on regional economic development issues.

Lake Placid/Essex County Convention and Visitors Bureau President Jim McKenna will report on a destination planning project. This project, funded through the DEC “Smart Growth” program, involves five target communities in Essex County.

Tug Hill Commission Executive Director John Bartow will then discuss strategies for regional economic resurgence and the recommendations of the Northern Forest Sustainable Economy Initiative. The Northern Forest Sustainable Economy Initiative is a four-state effort funded through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

The initiative advocates for public investment in programs that benefit the Northern Forest and for legislation and policies that help the region build a sustainable economy, revitalize communities and conserve the landscape. The Northern Forest is the largest intact forest ecosystem east of the Mississippi, spanning 30 million acres across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York

The Full Agency will convene at 11:30 a.m. to conclude its meeting with committee reports and take actions as necessary.

Meeting materials are available for download from the Agency’s website at:
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Mailing/0902/index.htm

The next APA meeting is March 12-13, 2009 at the Adirondack Park Agency Headquarters. The April APA Meeting will be held April 16-17, 2009, in Ray Brook.