More trees coming down for "microchips" that may never be.

Saratoga Spa State Park is being torn up to lay these pipes for a "chip" plant that may never come!

Saratoga Spa State Park&Moreau being torn up for pipes for Politics& "chips" ?

Water quarrel at a boil
By ALYSON MARTIN,amartin@poststar.com
Published: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
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MOREAU -- As work on the Saratoga County water line continues, questions have been raised about the legality of laying pipeline in Moreau Lake State Park and the Saratoga Spa State Park.Both of the parks have experienced disruption during the construction of a 28-mile water pipeline planned to stretch throughout northern Saratoga County.About 5.3 miles of piping has already been installed, and work is now in progress on property in both parks, according to Eric Sievers, project engineer.The pipeline is part of a project to bring a water source from the Hudson River in Moreau to the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta, all in anticipation of a spike in population when the Advanced Micro Device's microchip plant arrives in the area, said Moreau Town Supervisor Harry Gutheil.
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Alec Mackay, president of Saratoga Water Services in Malta and the Luther Forest Corporation -- both privately owned companies -- has filed two lawsuits against the county.His lawyer, John Caffry of Glens Falls, said Mackay thinks the project is unnecessary and could cause a negative environmental impact.While Mackay says he supports the Luther Forest Technology Campus, he believes there were better options to pursue to bring water to the area."They have no customers. They have only two customers for very small amounts of money. The main customer they seem to be counting on is the potential (microchip) plant," Caffry said.One of Mackay's lawsuits is challenging the water permit issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation.According to Caffry, the DEC must first determine a clear need for a water supply when issuing a water-supply permit.

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With so few customers, there is no need, Caffry said.There was no demonstrated need for the pipeline and the county misled the DEC when various towns said they wanted some of the water, but later backed out, Mackay said.That case is pending in Albany, Caffry said.The DEC is reviewing Mackay's claims to see if the use of the pipeline is consistent with environmental conservation law, said Maureen Wren, spokeswoman for the DEC.The application did meet the DEC's standards for issuance, Wren said.

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"Each application is reviewed based on the specifics of the proposal," Wren said.Bill Simcoe, executive director of the Saratoga County Water Authority, said Wilton, Ballston and the Luther Forest Technology Campus are all customers, and the pipeline will likely pay for itself within five years."Of course, having this type of thing, it doesn't pay for itself at first. It relies on the growth," Simcoe said. "It's putting new infrastructure in place so you can attract new business to the county. Each of the areas we're running through, they're growing areas, and they need more water."Mackay also filed a lawsuit over what he considered violations of state Environmental Conservation Law.A portion of the law, Article XIV, section 1, reads, "The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed."
Mackay argues that the parks constitute state forest preserves and therefore may not be changed in any way.The case involving environmental impact has been dismissed for lack of standing, Caffry said.However, according to Eileen Larrabee, director of communications for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, state environmental conservation law applies to the land of neither park in this particular example."It was never part of the forest preserve. It was obtained by the state for recreational purposes," Larrabee said.Nonetheless, Mackay is firm on his stance, Caffry said.
Mackay expressed his concerns in letters to several state agencies, including the state office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation.In one letter to Carol Ash, commissioner of the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Caffry wrote on behalf of Mackay: "The project appears to be being driven by political and development interest, not by actual current demand for the water. State parks should not be unnecessarily damaged and the areas around them should not be sacrificed to suburban sprawl, when there is no public need for the project."The 36-inch piping will carry about 14 million gallons per day. The increase in water supply in Saratoga County will inevitably lead to development throughout the county, Mackay said."... it appears that the principal purpose of the Water Project is to subsidize suburban sprawl along the Northway Corridor in Saratoga County," the letter read.The pipeline will travel through both Saratoga Spa State Park and Moreau Lake State Park. About two miles of piping will be installed in Saratoga Spa State Park, about one mile in Moreau Lake State Park, Larrabee said.
The state parks office will receive $300,000 from the Saratoga Water Authority for both parks, to cover some brush loss and to compensate for a building that will be erected at the site of the water intake from the Hudson River, Larrabee said.When the original drawings were shown, the office expressed concerns over the removal of some trees, Larrabee said."We were able to work with them to save some trees, and we received some mitigation funds for any kind of impact the project might have on the parks from the water authority. That money will be used at the parks," Larrabee said. "Where there will be impact, we work to minimize impact."According to Sievers, portions of the the golf course at Saratoga Spa State Park will be disrupted within the next three to four weeks. Next year's golf season should not be affected, he said.Work on the pipeline is scheduled to end in the summer of 2008. Work on the water plant will continue until 2009, Sievers said.
Some contractors are choosing to work throughout the winter, while others will stop for colder months and resume in the spring, Sievers said.While the pipeline continues to be laid, he said, residents can expect to see the work and hear some noise, but they will not notice the pipes once the project is finished.» Subscribe to The Post-Star and save! Click here to find out how » Subscribe to email and cell phone alerts and breaking news
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Attendance up at Saratoga Region State Parks 128%

September 07, 2007
Contact:Eileen LarrabeeCathy Jimenez518.486.1868
STATE PARKS ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY ATTENDANCE NUMBERS
Patrons Visiting State Parks for Labor Day Weekend Increase by 72% Over Last YearGreat Fall Activities Await
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash said today announced that attendance at state parks and historic sites for the Labor Day weekend was up by 72 percent (690,000 visitors) from last year for a total of 1,653,000 visitors. Visitation also increased during the entire peak summer season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) by 8 percent (2.4 million visitors) over last year.
"Across New York, increasing numbers of families and friends gathered at our parks and historic sites during the warm summer months to enjoy recreational activities and to experience the diverse natural resources throughout the state," said Ash. "As the autumn season approaches and brings cooler weather and vibrant foliage, I encourage New Yorkers to make plans to enjoy great outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and trail running, camping and fishing."
According to Ash, attendance over the Labor Day weekend increased in each of the State Parks eleven regions. The New York City region experienced a dramatic increase of 220 percent over 2006, welcoming more than 143,800 visitors to the parks. The Finger Lakes region had substantial increases as well which resulted in an increase of 56,000 visitors or 123 percent over last year. Parks and historic sites in the Taconic region saw more than 71,800 visitors over the holiday weekend, a 135 percent increase from the previous year.
According to Ash, attendance over the Labor Day weekend increased in each of the State Parks eleven regions. The New York City region experienced a dramatic increase of 220 percent over 2006, welcoming more than 143,800 visitors to the parks. The Finger Lakes region had substantial increases as well which resulted in an increase of 56,000 visitors or 123 percent over last year. Parks and historic sites in the Taconic region saw more than 71,800 visitors over the holiday weekend, a 135 percent increase from the previous year.
Additionally, occupancy at State Parks campgrounds and cabins for the Labor Day weekend totaled 87 percent versus 72 percent last year. According to Ash, over half a million people camped in New York State parks this year, an increase of more 70,000 over last year. The average camping trip lasted four days, and reservations at New York State park campgrounds increased by more than 10,000 this year.
Ash noted that many parks remain open for camping through mid-October, and encourages campers to contact the park for specific hours of operation.
State Parks oversees 67 campgrounds with more than 8,000 campsites, 800 cabins and 41 vacation rentals. Camping reservations are available through ReserveAmerica, which provides online and phone reservations for campsites throughout New York. Reservations are accepted for campsites and cabins from one day to nine months in advance of the planned arrival date by calling toll free 1-800-456-CAMP or online, www.ReserveAmerica.com Campers are reminded not to bring their own firewood and to use only firewood from local sources.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 178 state parks, 35 historic sites, 29 golf courses and 77 developed beaches. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.
###
Labor Day Holiday Weekend: For the three day period Saturday, September 1; Sunday September 2; and Monday, September 3, 2007 vs. Saturday, September 2; Sunday, September 3; and Monday, September 4, 2006
Park Region
2007
2006
Change
Percent
Western New York
Allegany
54,356
31,625
22,731
71.9%
Niagara
471,682
358,718
112,964
31.5%
Genesee
40,590
22,472
18,118
80.6%
Central NY / Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
101,580
45,469
56,111
123.4%
Central
57,235
28,730
28,505
99.2%
Thousand Islands
48,843
25,731
21,112
82.0%
Eastern NY / Hudson Valley
Saratoga/Capital District
57,866
25,379
32,487
128.0%
Taconic
71,801
30,582
41,219
134.8%
Palisades
100,807
68,054
32,753
48.1%
New York City / Long Island
New York City
143,866
44,980
98,886
219.8%
Long Island
506,551
281,517
225,034
79.9%


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Mayor Debate of October 9, 2007, Saratoga Springs

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(dis)Utopia of Saratoga Springs
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Debate Info From Tech Valley Times
Each of the League of Women Voters' city of Saratoga Springs debates will be available ONLINE two days after each live-taping. Two of the access points will be WORD OF MOBILE and NANO BURGH.Also, based on our recommendation, the LWV has agreed to also re-broadcast the sessions on Time Warner's local Govt Access channel. Here is that schedule:October 9 Session: Airs Oct 16 & 17 @ 8PMOctober 15 Session: Airs Oct 19 & 23 @ 8PMOctober 17 Session: Airs Oct 24 & 25 @ 8PM

USA Today on Roosevelt Baths, 10/5/07

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Saratoga baths to offer water options following flap
Posted 17h 15m ago Comment Recommend 3
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — People who use the famed "natural mineral water" baths at Saratoga Spa State Park will soon be able to soak in a tub filled entirely with heated mineral water, defusing a flap over what some saw as adulteration of the quintessential Saratoga Springs experience.
Around 14,000 customers come to the baths each year and pay $20 to soak in the bubbly waters.
But there was controversy earlier this year after the New York Post reported the mineral water was being mixed with municipal tap water. The state and the company that operates the Roosevelt baths — Xanterra Parks & Resorts — were combining heated public drinking water with the cold carbonated mineral waters pumped up from below ground.
The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said that as of 2008, customers will be able to choose between the blended bath and one solely of heated mineral water.
Earlier this summer, the agency announced that Delaware North Parks & Resorts will assume control of the baths and the Gideon Putnam Hotel and Conference Center as of Jan. 1.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Resorts Saratoga Spa State Park
Details at http://www.saratogaspastatepark.org/rooseveltbaths.html.