Reporter Jamie Munks reported that the Johnsburg Town Board shut down on Tuesday a proposed local law that would have allowed ATV riders to petition for access to segments of town roads as a connection between trails. After a lengthy public hearing with impassioned pleas from people on both sides of the issue, the board voted 4-1 against the proposal, with Councilman Peter Olesheski, who put forward the legislation, the only one voting in favor of it.

Reporter Matthew Wald reports that a federal appeals court overturned a federal rule that laid out how much air pollution states would have to clean up to avoid incurring violations in downwind states.

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that one of the first benefits of the Regional Economic Development Council process has been to inaugurate one regional identity for the North Country. 

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that the village of Tupper Lake is seeking $300,000 to perform a study to determine if a biomass-fired energy system would be feasible. 

Writers Dan Plumley and Dave Gibson, of the environmental group Adirondack Wild, say that at a cost of less than $700 per acre, New York State’s purchase of the former Finch lands is a well-balanced acquisition benefiting the Park’s environment, human communities and needed economic enhancement.

Reporter Nick Reisman reports that Lt. Gov. Bob Duffy positioned Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration as establishing a real balance between environmental regulation and enticing businesses to come to New York.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that political compromises in the 1970s led to APA zoning regulations that are inadequate to protect shorelines of lakes and ponds in the Adirondack Park.