The Associated Press reports that EPA chief Lisa Jackson is stepping down. "Jackson constantly found herself caught between administration pledges to solve thorny environmental problems and steady resistance from Republicans and industrial groups who complained that the agency’s rules destroyed jobs and made it harder for American companies to compete internationally."

Letter writer Roger Dziengeleski, a forester and former Finch Paper executive, writes that the clear-cutting general permits proposed by the APA will save forest owners considerable time and expense and benefit the health of Adirondack forests.

The Associated Press reports that the state DEC is warning visitors to the Adirondacks to be prepared with proper equipment now that snow and cold have taken hold.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board writes that the EPA’s Lisa Jackson’s legacy includes the millions of Americans who are victims of her unprecedented surge of new rules on private business.

Reporter Paul Post interviews retiring Assembly Member Teresa Sayward on her time in the legislature. 

The Times Union editorial board writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a mistake when vetoing a bill that would take unclaimed bottle deposit funds and add it to the Environmental Protection Fund. 

Reporter John Broder reports that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is stepping down from the agency.  Ms. Jackson’s departure comes as many in the environmental movement are questioning Mr. Obama’s commitment to dealing with climate change and other environmental problems. 

Letter writer George Nigriny of Glenville — an Adirondack landowner — writes that the APA clear-cutting proposal does not threaten public woodlands. Its only point is to allow private landowners to more simply and effectively manage their woodlands.

Reporter Scott Detrow reports that renewable energy is enjoying great growth — solar is becoming more popular and so is wind. 

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that that environmental advocacy groups see the transfer of unredeemed refunds for bottle deposts from the general fund to the Environmental Protection Fund as an easy way to increase the EPF without dipping into other funding streams.

The Post-Star editorial board writes that it supports the use of triclopyr in the Adirondacks where milfoil growth is heavy. However, neither triclopyr nor any herbicide should be used widely and indiscriminately.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that there are a number of questions that still need to be answered about the state economic development program, including: Does the program actually create jobs?

Reporter Chris Knight reports that the APA has approved a plan to reconstruct a popular boat launch on the Saranac chain of lakes. 

Reporter Phil Brown reports that in the January-February issue of Adirondack Explorer Kim Martineau tries to answer these questions: Are there things we could do to make the Park look more like a park? Or manage it more like a park?

Reporter Brian Mann reports that the North Country Regional Economic Development Council was awarded $90 million in additional funding and tax breaks for new initiatives in the statewide economic development competition. 

Reporter Thomas Kaplan reports that the state budget is facing long-term problems — problems that are increased by the financial pinches of local governments. The report raises concerns about the state’s outsize spending on health care and education, its vulnerability to the ups and downs of Wall Street, and the struggles of its local governments to pay retirement obligations.

A press release notes that a host of environmental advocacy and good-government organizations are calling on state officials to release the details of the not-yet-completed study on the health effects of hydrofracking.

Reporter Julie Grant reports that the requests for food at North Country food pantries continue to rise as employees worry that the federal government will cut food stamp assistance.  

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that the Tupper Lake Planning Board is planning hearings on the first phase of the Adirondack Club and Resort — development of the project’s large "great camp lots" and a number of smaller ones.

Writer Kimberly Rielly, director of communications for the Lake Placid Convention and Visitors Bureau / Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, offers an explanation of the mission of the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council.

Reporter Jamie Munks reports that the proposed Chocolate Moose Campground planned for Fort Ann has changed hands, and the new owners are developing the property for a campground on the site in 2014. 

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that members of the Farm Bureau in New York came out against the proposed "rooftop highway" after farmers in St. Lawrence County gave it a closer look and decided they wouldn’t necessarily be better served with a major four-lane highway.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that environmental advocacy groups are criticizing the APA over its plan to streamline the review of certain kinds of forest clear-cutting.

The Associated Press reports that Republicans are worried about upcoming major regulations from Washington that will affect manufacturing, power generation and health and safety of workers. The regulations could cost manufacturers hundreds of billions of dollars and eliminate millions of American jobs, a new study says.

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that environmental advocacy groups are lining up to oppose a proposed permit change that would fast-track small applications to clear cut on private land. 

 A staff report notes that the APA will be having a one-day meeting Thursday. On the agenda is discussion of Essex County’s proposed public safety communications system. 

Reporter Jimmy Vielkind reports that the state’s 10 Economic Development Councils are expecting to hear how much funding will be available for each region at a ceremony on Dec. 19.

A press release notes that Adirondack environmental advocacy group Protect the Adirondacks is against a measure out for public comment that would ease regulations on selective forest cutting that would encourage sustainable forestry practices and good silviculture prescriptions, including shelterwood cuts, which will result in healthy working forests.

Reporter Thom Randall reports that the Lake George Town Board approved a resolution to require inspection of all boats entering the waters of Lake George. The measure suggests the program be paid through a hike in the county sales tax or a hike in boat registration fees.

Reporter Jon Campbell reports that the leaders of three Assembly committees have called on DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens to double the comment period on the new hydrofracking regulations from 30 days to 60 days. 

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that the long-awaited USDA certified poultry slaughterhouses in the North Country are nearly set to begin production. The mobile slaughterhouse will offer hundreds of farmers a quick way to make money.

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that Assembly Member-elect Dan Stec says he needs to learn more about invasive species before he can decide whether to push for a decontamination project for Lake George. Of note: Stec suggests that state Environmental Protection Fund money should be used for some sort of statewide program aimed at stopping the march of aquatic invasive species.

Letter writer Eric Sly, executive director of the Fund For Lake George, writes that compared to the price of lost land value and tourism revenue, prevention of invasive species getting into Lake George is a bargain.  

The Associated Press reports that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, at a national farm forum, told the crowd that "It’s the fact that rural America with a shrinking population is becoming less and less relevant to the politics of this country, and we had better recognize that and we better begin to reverse it."

Reporter Chris Knight reports that sportsmen, environmentalists, local officials debate extent of public access to the Essex Chain of Lakes

Writer Michael Foxman, lead developer of the Adirondack Club and Resort, writes that if the preservationists get their way, the future of communities and families in the Adirondack Park is threatened. 

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that the 2013 New York legislative session could prove most important for Adirondack concerns as the Township 40 issue and the NYCO land swap issue will each need to pass each house again in order to be resolved.

Reporter Chris Morris reports that Natural Resources Defense Council and Protect Our Winters have released a document that shows 38 states have lost 27,000 jobs and about $1 billion in revenue because of the decreased snowfall.

Letter writer David Gibson, of the environmental advocacy group Adirondack Wild, writes that the state should not make any changes to the state’s "Forever Wild" language.

Reporter Phil Brown reports that the Adirondack Council is proposing that the state combine the High Peaks and Dix Mountain Wilderness Areas as well as twenty-three thousand acres of former Finch lands to create a 272,000 acre area.

A staff report notes that researches at Cornell University are testing the growth potential of switch grass in less-than-ideal growing conditions, to see if it would be feasible to grow and use as a biofuel. 

Reporter Jessica Collier that students from Clarkson University reviewed the Adirondack Club and Resort as a final project of their college careers and raised some questions about the review of the project.

Reporter Phil Brown reports that some trails that were closed after Tropical Storm Irene roared through the Adirondacks are still closed, one year later. 

Reporter Jon Campbell reports that state DEC Commissioner Joe Martens is hopeful New York will be able to make a decision on hydrofracking by the end of February, as long as the Health Department’s investigation is completed.

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that the state Court of Appeals denied a motion by environmental advocacy group Protect the Adirondacks for wide access to APA records in the ACR decision. Protect will be allowed to refile the lawsuit in state Supreme Court.

Reporter Don Lehman reports that freight service has not started yet on the Saratoga & North Creek Railroad because it is waiting for contracts to be signed by businesses that would use trains to move their products.  

Reporter Brian Mann reports that state Sen. Betty Little of Queensbury thinks that the power sharing agreement in the state Senate will work and be beneficial for the state.

The Times Union editorial board writes that the state DEC needs to act now in order to protect Lake George and asks: Why not at least try boat inspections?

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that it is unlikely that a boat wash and inspection system would be ready for the 2013 boating season

Reporter Don Lehman reports that Warren County has started a process that would require all boats launched on lakes and ponds in the county be inspected to prevent the spread of invasive species.  

Reporter Brian Mann reports that government and business leaders hope the land around Newcomb and North Hudson being added to the state’s forest preserve will become a major tourist attraction and bring in more visitors. But a growing number of environmental groups in the park say much of the land should be designated as wilderness, a classification that could sharply limit public access.

A staff report notes that the APA is accepting comments from the public on general permits on forestry projects and fighting invasive species. 

Reporter Lohr McKinstry reports that consultants with the Adirondack Futures Project are promoting what they call “The Sustainable Life” which came out of workshops and interviews of people living and working in the Adirondacks.

Writer Michelle Malkin writes that punishing loggers in the Northwest and bringing the timber industry to its knees have made vengeful environmental groups fat and happy. But the northern spotted owl they claim to care so much about is catastrophically worse off thanks to green zealotry. One root cause: habitat loss (thanks in part to raging wildfires resulting from poor forest management and green opposition to thinning/controlled burns).

Reporters Chris Knight and Chris Morris report that Joyce Morency, longtime supervisor of the town of St. Armand, died after a long battle with cancer at 77.

Reporter Steve Virkler writes that ReEnergy officials met with local leaders around the Lyons Falls community to discuss the ReEnergy Lyonsdale plant, the improvements made to it, and the future of wood-chip plants in New York.

The Associated Press reports that the health review of New York’s hydrofracking plan is expected to be completed by Monday.

Reporter Andy Flynn reports that within a short time, the Saratoga and North Creek railway will be running freight trains to Tawawus. 

Reporter Stephen Williams blogs that Protect the Adirondacks is urging the state to establish a 39,000-acre Upper Hudson River Wilderness Area along 22 miles of the river running between Newcomb and North River.

Reporter Sean Ewart reports that north country lawmakers would retain leadership positions in the state Senate if the Independent Democratic Caucus decides to align with the GOP, giving Republicans the leadership of the state’s upper house. “Generally it’s the GOP conference that’s a better representative of upstate New York,” according to Senator Elizabeth O’C. Little, R-Queensbury, chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

Reporter Rick Karlin reports that some are saying now may be the time to start repairing the state constitution through a constitutional convention. One benefit: Fixing the need to vote on constitutional amendments that are actually minor changes.

The Post-Star editorial board writes that in order to fight invasive species, whatever can be done should be done. Of note: In its effort to underscore its concern that it’s better to be safe than sorry, the board writes: "We don’t pretend to know if boat-washing is worth the money. After all, we saw two decades of controversy over whether PCBs should be removed from the Hudson River without a clear-cut consensus. But doing nothing is short-sighted and ill-advised."

The Associated Press reports that New York environmental officials have released revised regulations on hydrofracking and will begin taking public comment on them in December.