Adirondack Protection Organization applauds
State Legislature's passage of land exchange to permit power line to adjoin Rt. 56
Niskayuna, NY – The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks applauded successful first passage in the State Legislature yesterday of an amendment to the State Constitution's Article 14 that would permit a future, new 46kV power line to be routed along State Route 56 and avoid damaging adjacent spruce-fir forest and sensitive private land.
The amendment authorizes the state to convey to National Grid up to six acres of State Forest Preserve land adjoining Rt 56 for the purpose of constructing the new power line. In exchange, ten acres owned by National Grid elsewhere would be conveyed to the state for incorporation into the Adirondack Forest Preserve.
"The Association thanks the New York Power Authority, National Grid, and particularly Senator Betty Little and Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli for their sponsorship and quick action to secure successful passage during this legislative session," says David Gibson, Association executive director. "The amendment makes complete sense for this important electric reliability project, for adjoining private landowners and for the Adirondack environment. It is also a net gain for the Adirondack Forest Preserve."
The Association estimates that this constitutionally authorized route would be approximately four miles shorter, hundreds of thousands of dollars less expensive and far less environmentally damaging than the route permitted earlier this month by the Adirondack Park Agency.
"State lawmakers today took the right action. Tupper Lake and Tri-Lakes regional residents will see better power reliability with far less potential impact to the Adirondack Park's boreal habitat, forests and wetlands," states Dan Plumley, the Association's Director of Park Protection.
"We have argued that a six mile long route around the Forest Preserve to the west of Route 56 on private lands, recently permitted by the Adirondack Park Agency, would cause undue adverse impacts to the natural resources of the Adirondack Park," says the Association's Mike DiNunzio. A new 75 foot right-of-way in that location would require the permanent clearing of 55 acres of spruce and fir, and the crossing and resulting damage to 22 forested wetlands, and the possible taking of private land by eminent domain.
"With this constitutionally authorized alternative, all that is avoided. The power line construction will utilize the existing Rt. 56 ROW as much as possible and only require the removal or alteration of 4-6 acres of less sensitive forest land beyond the ROW," DiNunzio concludes.
Like all constitutional amendments, this land exchange is required to undergo passage in two separately elected legislatures, followed by a vote of the public. Therefore, the same land exchange will need to be passed in next year's new legislature, permitting the exchange to come before the voters in the fall of 2007. This schedule would meet the New York Power Authority's projected timetable for completion of the line in the following year. The Association will encourage voters to support the land exchange on election day 2007.
The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 to employ public education, citizen action, public and private partnerships and strong advocacy to protect, enhance, and sustain the wild character, ecological integrity, and mutual well-being of the natural and human communities of the Adirondack region. The Association's Center for the Forest Preserve in Niskayuna serves as an Adirondack research library and learning center.