Nov 15, 2006 — International Paper has canceled a controversial plan to burn tire chips as an alternative fuel source at the company's mill in Ticonderoga. IP announced yesterday that had concluded a test of tire-derived fuel nearly a week early. The test was also halted briefly last week when emissions threatened to exceed mandated levels. Spokeswoman Donna Wadsworth says preliminary test data indicates that long-term use of tire-derived fuel would not be economically feasible. While burning tires at a third of the target rate, the boiler was already producing particulate pollution close to the permitted environmental limit. State officials in Vermont -- including Governor Jim Douglas -- opposed the test and filed a lawsuit to block it. They worried that increased pollution would blow across Lake Champlain. Yesterday, pro-environment groups praised IP's decision to cancel the project. BJ Ernst is executive director of the Northeast Clean Air Coalition in Vergennes Vermont. She spoke last night with Brian Mann.  Go to full article

Sep 20, 2006 — Ethanol fuel is grain alcohol blended with regular gasoline. E10 is the most common blend, 10% ethanol, 90% gas. It runs in regular cars. About a third of the gas sold in America is E10. E85 is 85% ethanol and only runs in specially designed engines. Ethanol is big business for American corn farmers. But corn isn't the only crop you can make ethanol from. And it may not be the best, for the environment or for North Country farmers. New York State is taking steps towards a radically different kind of ethanol production. Gregory Warner reports.  Go to full article

Jun 29, 2006 — Officials at Finch, Pruyn & Company say they plan to sell their paper mill in Glens Falls. The plant has anchored the region's economy for over a century and employs roughly 850 workers. As Brian Mann reports, the company says there are no plans to shut down the plant.  Go to full article

Mar 28, 2006 — In a rare twist, a pro-environment group is selling a big chunk of Adirondack Land back into the private sector, for $2.5 million. The Adirondack Nature Conservancy announced yesterday that they'll sell more than 600 acres of land in Newcomb to the Tahawus hunting and fishing club. The property includes a remote mountain valley and 115-acre Zack Lake. The valley is surrounded by forest land owned by the Finch Pruyn timber company, based in Glens Falls. The land won't be opened to the public, but it will remain on the local tax rolls. The forest and the lake will also be protected by a permanent conservation easement. The Zack Lake property is so remote that it wasn't surveyed until 1899. It was first owned by great camp developer William West Durant. Nature Conservancy director Mike Carr told Brian Mann that several factors convinced his organization to put the property on the open market.  Go to full article

Feb 16, 2006 — In Tupper Lake, the local planning commission is finishing work on new zoning rules that will govern the proposed $400 million resort around the Big Tupper ski area. The Adirondack Park Agency has also begun a review of the project. Developer Michael Foxman, from Philadelphia, hopes to build more than 700 mansions, condos and townhouses over roughly six thousand acres. It would be the biggest project in the Adirondacks in the last 25 years. Yesterday, we looked at some of the environmental questions surrounding the resort. This morning, in part two of our report, Brian Mann looks at how this project could shape development across the Adirondack Park.  Go to full article

Jan 20, 2006 — Mild winter weather is slowing down logging operations across the region. Many areas in the North Country can only be logged in the winter because they stay too wet and muddy in the summer.  Go to full article

Nov 15, 2005 — Koch Industries doesn't plan immediate changes at the Georgia Pacific Mill in Plattsburgh. The private company's buy-out of Georgia Pacific was announced earlier this week. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Nov 10, 2005 — Hundreds of New Yorkers and Vermonters turned out last night for a public hearing in Ticonderoga. They came to debate International Paper's plan to use recycled car tires as fuel at the company's mill in Ticonderoga. IP hopes to conduct a 2-week test burn to determine whether the cheaper fuel adds significant amounts of pollution to the air and water. The plan would save the company millions of dollars a year. But critics on the Vermont side of the lake say the proposed test is flawed and won't provide needed information. As Brian Mann reports, one of the protestors at last night's hearing was Vermont Governor Jim Douglas.  Go to full article

Oct 13, 2005 — State environment officials in New York have moved a step closer to allowing a 2-week test burn of tires to power International Paper's mill in Ticonderoga. The DEC issued a "draft permit" yesterday. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Sep 21, 2005 — A pro-environment group says the state violated New York's constitution by cutting down thousands of trees along Rt. 3 outside of Saranac Lake. The trees were cut by the Department of Transportation on public land in the Adirondacks, where timber harvesting is banned. As Brian Mann reports, state officials say the project was meant to protect motorists.  Go to full article