Rensselaer, NY, May 06, 2013 — Last month, Governor Cuomo carried through on a promise he made to dairy farmers, loosening environmental regulations for small farms.

Right now, a farm with 200 cows or more has to prepare detailed and costly manure management plans. Starting this week, that threshold will be bumped up to 300 cows.

Speaking at last summer's Yogurt Summit, Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine said the change would help boost milk production to meet demand fueled by Greek yogurt's popularity. "Simply put," said Aubertine, "this will make it much easier for small farms to grow."

North Country lawmakers and the state Farm Bureau praised the rule change. But environmental groups say more unregulated manure means more farm runoff in rivers and streams. It remains a big question whether the change will do much of anything at all - to the environment or for the economy.  Go to full article

Lake George, NY, Feb 25, 2013 — State Environment Commissioner Joe Martens was in in the North Country on Friday, unveiling $250,000 in new funds to help stop invasive species from reaching Lake George.

The money will go to help a local coalition pay for boat washing and inspection stations around the lake.

"We were able to tease out $250,000 extra for Lake George," Martens said.

"Depending on what the outcome is of this last fall's and next spring's program on the lake, we'll go back and see if we can't dedicate more funds to it."  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jan 25, 2013 — Proponents and opponents of hydrofracking in New York state read Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget closely for clues about fracking's future in the state.

They didn't see much. A decision on whether fracking will be allowed is expected after a health study is complete in February.

The agency overseeing the review, and in charge of permitting should fracking get the go-ahead, is New York's Department of Environmental Conservation. And it's in for a cut of five and a half percent in Cuomo's new budget.  Go to full article

Ithaca, NY, Dec 28, 2012 — New York's Department of Environmental Conservation released a draft set of regulations for hydraulic fracturing in November. Those proposed rules are open for public comment until Jan. 11, 2013.

Fracking opponents are preparing to make the most of the opportunity.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Nov 21, 2012 — New York State will miss the November 29th regulatory deadline to complete a review of the health impacts of high volume hydraulic fracturing, Governor Cuomo confirmed yesterday.

The missed deadline means that March 1st next year is the earliest the final version of the regulations to govern fracking in the state will be released.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Oct 22, 2012 — New York Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner commented in-depth for the first time about a new health review that has once again delayed a decision on hydraulic fracturing in New York.

Joe Martens says the internal study by the Department of Health is turning up more questions. His comments Friday came as some landowners, and politicians, in the Marcellus Shale region are growing impatient for a final decision on hydrofracking.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Aug 16, 2012 — The search for 34-year-old Seth A. Kilburn picked up steam on Wednesday, with volunteers and law enforcement officials joining forces to check big swaths of land and water in and around Lake Placid.

Kilburn was last seen leaving Wiseguys bar in Lake Placid early Sunday morning. Village police have since received word that he was seen shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday on Sentinel Road near Lisa G's restaurant, walking in the direction of the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex.

Kilburn was reported missing by his parents early Monday morning.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Aug 14, 2012 — A search is underway for a Lake Placid man who was last seen early Sunday morning.

Lake Placid village police are seeking the public's help as they look for 34-year-old Seth A. Kilburn. He was last seen leaving Wiseguys bar on School Street in the village of Lake Placid between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Sunday.  Go to full article

Jun 19, 2012 — A Federal agency has given a Chicago-based company the green light to revive a 30-mile industrial railroad that stretches from North Creek to Newcomb. The track cuts through the Adirondack Park into the eastern High Peaks, one of the most popular destinations for hikers and campers.

Green groups opposed the project, arguing that the rail line violated protected forest preserve land. But as Brian Mann reports, they now say their fight to block the project is over.  Go to full article

Jun 05, 2012 — Every 10 years or so, the Department of Environmental Conservation goes out to Little Galloo Island, which is 20 miles off the coast of Cape Vincent in Lake Ontario, to survey waterbird populations there.

The island, with a few dead trees, some grass and a rocky shoreline, is a haven for colonial waterbirds. It has nests of Caspian terns, herring gulls and tens of thousands of ring-billed gulls, the standard seagull seen throughout the north country.

It's a wildlife management area owned by the DEC. Reporter Joanna Richards accompanied the state biologists out to the island this spring to get a look at this special nesting ground and see how the DEC does its work.  Go to full article