News stories tagged with "grannis"

(12/08/10) Former Assemblyman and Conservation commissioner Peter Grannis is blasting the Paterson administration for what he describes as careless and hasty decisions to cut the DEC's staff. In a public radio interview this week, Grannis argued that Paterson's top aides didn't understand the DEC's complicated mission and were unwilling to look at alternatives to widespread layoffs. Martha Foley has our story. more

(04/20/10) This morning we begin a three-part series looking at the major land acquisitions that are reshaping the Adirondack Park. Hundreds of thousands of acres have changed hands in the Adirondacks, bought from private owners by New York State. This week we'll look at how those sometimes controversial deals are made, and who makes them.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced earlier this month that they will investigate the 2008 purchase of 20,000 acres in Clinton County, and tomorrow we'll look at that current controversy.

Today, we start with the big picture.
Many of these big land deals have resulted from a close partnership between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and one environmental group: the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.
Supporters praise the partnership for facilitating protection of prized lakes, mountains and open space. Critics say the relationship is too close and warrants more scrutiny. Brian Mann has our story.

(02/09/10) Governor Paterson's proposed budget would vastly rein in what New York can do with its environmental resources. The plan would slash the Environmental Protection Fund by a third. It would put a moratorium on new land aquisitions. And it would cut the Department of Environmental Conservation budget by 11%. Many observers say the DEC never recovered from deep cuts in the 1990s. DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis was in Clayton last Friday to mark the completion of a brownfield clean-up on the St. Lawrence River. He told David Sommerstein his agency does face big challenges.

(01/27/10) During budget hearings in Albany yesterday, North Country Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward questioned Department of Environmental Conservation head Pete Grannis about a number of revenue-related issues. Martha Foley has more.

(03/27/08) When Republican Governor George Pataki left office, local leaders in the Adirondack Park worried that tensions with Albany and with environmental groups would escalate. The Glens Falls Post-Star published an editorial arguing that it might be time to do away with the Adirondack Park Agency. But as Brian Mann reports, all sides say ties between Park leaders and Albany have actually improved dramatically.

(12/28/07) The state Department of Conservation is launching a new nature magazine for kids, filled with photos, articles and tips on activities designed to encourage children to reconnect with the outdoors and the natural world. DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis says Conservationist for Kids will be published three times a year. He told Todd Moe that the new magazine is part of a plan to connect more New Yorkers to nature.

(07/18/07) Sustainable development was the buzz-phrase at a high-level gathering yesterday in Lake George. Some of the Spitzer administration's most powerful officials unveiled a million-dollar grant program designed to help Adirondack communities improve their economies. As Brian Mann reports, some local leaders hope the money will help hamlets in the Park expand their borders.

(06/08/07) State officials in New York want tighter safety rules for sportsmen using big spring-loaded traps. The rules would require trappers to rig their gear off the ground, or to use special boxes designed to keep dogs and other pets from being caught. As Brian Mann reports, the state's biggest trapping organization supports the new guidelines. But anti-trapping activists say they don't go far enough.

(03/28/07) A senate committee has approved Governor Spitzer's nominee for State Environmental Commissioner, Assemblyman Pete Grannis, but has not set a time for the final steps of the confirmation process. New York has been without an environmental commissioner for nearly three months. Karen DeWitt reports.

(03/28/07) Hunting won't be the only North Country issue that Pete Grannis faces as DEC commissioner. Yesterday, Senator Joe Griffo, who represents part of St. Lawrence and all of Lewis County, questioned the Assemblyman about his attitude toward 4-wheeled recreational vehicles on state land. Grannis described ATVs as "destructive." Senator Betty Little, whose district includes much of the Adirondacks, also quizzed Grannis about a range of issues, including sports fishing access on Lake Champlain and the reintroduction of wolves. Speaking after the vote with Brian Mann, Little said many in the region are worried that Grannis will push for more land purchases and tighter regulations in the Adirondack Park.