A state office has reviewed revisions to the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District's proposed access permit system rules and has sent them to Gov. David Paterson's office without making significant changes.
The Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform, which is charged with "helping the State and its agencies write better rules and regulations," according to its Web site, formally reviewed the revisions after the regulating district's board unanimously adopted them at its May meeting.
The suggested changes were made by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. If adopted, they would take away access permit holders' exclusive rights to the shoreline and make all the land around the lake similar to a public park. Anyone could access any part of the shoreline as long as they arrive there from a public property or from the water.
GORR spokesman Tim Beadnell said the governor's office will now look at the rules. He said GORR had not made any substantial changes to them.
GORR will consult with the governor, his counsel and others before it makes any final recommendations. Once that process is complete, GORR could decide whether to prohibit the regulating district from putting certain rules in the state register, where the rules must be published before a mandatory 30-day public comment period begins. It could also publish the rules in the state register as they now stand.
The regulating district's monthly meeting was scheduled to take place today at 10 a.m. in Inlet, Hamilton County, at the town hall. A good deal of public comment was expected, because the proposed revisions to the rules have sparked anger among the lake's permit holders.
Board member Patrick Dugan, who was absent from last month's Hudson River-Black River meeting, said he would have voted against adopting the rules had he been there. Dugan lives on the lake and has an access permit.
"What the DEC did to the people, or is trying to do to the people up here, is just plain vindictive," Dugan said.
He expressed concern that the rules could cause property values in the area to plummet, and said he would speak out against the rules at the meeting.
Fellow board member Ronald Pintuff, who also lives on the lake and who voted for the regulations, could not be reached for comment.
Some town officials have expressed concern the rules could cause them to close their public beaches.
Mayfield officials have said they are concerned the rules would no longer allow them to charge admission to their town beach, because anyone would be allowed to access the beach from the water. Northampton officials have expressed similar concerns.
Broadalbin Supervisor Lee Hollenbeck said it was possible the rules could cause his town to lose revenue, since it charges more money for out-of-town beach visitors than it does for local people.
Zach Subar can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com