Adirondack Base Camp header image

Entries from December 23rd, 2010

Environmental Board Approves Regulation for New Outdoor Wood Boilers Sold in New York State

December 23rd, 2010 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Action Ensures New Models Will Burn 90% Cleaner Than Old

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the Environmental Board today approved a new regulation that sets stringent performance standards for new outdoor wood boilers (OWBs) sold in the state. The regulation will go into effect 30 days after it is filed with the Secretary of State. The stricter guidelines will ensure that new OWBs burn at least 90% cleaner than older models.

“This is about ensuring that new outdoor wood boilers burn cleaner — not only for people who buy OWBs and their families, but also for their neighbors. It’s not unlike the switch to cleaner cars,” said Acting DEC Commissioner Peter Iwanowicz. “It’s also to ensure that OWB stacks are high enough to disperse emissions rather than having them blow directly into houses and other dwellings. That’s important for public health. Also, we have listened to the agricultural community and made appropriate exceptions for farming operations.”

The regulation approved today includes stack height requirements for new OWBs that will reduce the impact of emission plumes on neighboring property owners. In addition, new OWBs will be required to be set back a minimum of 100 feet from neighboring properties — except for OWBs used in agricultural operations, which must be at least 100 feet from neighboring homes. Both new and existing OWBs will be subject to fuel restrictions that ensure that only appropriate fuels are used.

“The new guidelines the state has set on outdoor wood boilers is a necessary step in improving the process of burning wood as a renewable energy resource and is not to stop people from burning clean wood,” said Village of Tupper Lake Mayor Mickey Demarais. “Trying to make our air cleaner and protect our residents is our responsibility and the Village supports establishing guidelines and standards on OWBs to make this happen.”

“The new regulation on OWBs is a responsible move in the right direction without being overly intrusive on the public,” said Elizabethtown Town Supervisor Noel Merrihew. “It’s a good move to put together regulations for the manufacture of the OWBs. Outside the Hamlet areas the smoke can be a problem and this assures long term environmental benefits for our state.”

“In the past, the Cattaraugus County Health Department has been asked by residents plagued by thick smoke emissions to intervene in neighbor feuds involving improperly sited or operated outdoor wood boilers,” said Eric W. Wohlers, Environmental Health Director for Cattaraugus County. “In absence of an enforceable air quality standard, a uniform, statewide regulation to improve combustion efficiency and prevent improper siting of units, coupled with prudent enforcement requiring the exclusive use of proper wood fuel, should dramatically reduce the chance of neighborhood conflicts. There is a place for OWBs in rural New York, if they are responsibly operated and maintained. The new regulation will eventually eliminate those units that were grossly inefficient and were operated irresponsibly as backyard trash incinerators, and ultimately will be more protective of public health.”

Provisions in the regulatory proposal to phase out the use of older OWBs and place restrictions on their use in the interim have been removed and will be addressed through a new public stakeholder process to develop a revised regulatory framework to address concerns of residents impacted by the operation of such units.

The text of the final rule before the Environmental Board is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/ chemical/69348.html on the DEC website. To obtain a copy of the complete rule package before December 22, email foil@gw.dec.state.ny.us or it will be available on the DEC website after the Environmental Board meets on December 22.

Tags: ··

Adirondack Farmers’ Market Cooperative Supports the Wild Center

December 23rd, 2010 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Tupper Lake, NY – The Board of Directors of the Adirondack Farmers’ Market Cooperative recently donated $500.00 to The Wild Center. Citing the inclusion of the Tupper Lake Farmers Market in the AFMC Calendar, Dick Crawford, President of the AFMC Board said, “We appreciate that you let us hold our market at The Wild Center, and as part of celebrating twenty years of Farmers’ Markets, we would like to present The Wild Center with a $500.00 donation”.

The Tupper Lake Farmers Market, looking forward to its third year in 2011, is held every Thursday from mid-June until mid-September at The Wild Center. Over a dozen vendors from the Adirondacks and the Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys will return to the summer pavilion tent at the museum. Meats and vegetables, baked goods and herbs, hand-made crafts, honey and maple syrup will be available for sale by the producers who grew or made them.

Buying local food can have great benefits for you and your neighborhood. Local food can be healthier for you, and there is something special that happens when you meet the people who have made the food that you feed your family.

All related Farmer Market outdoor programming is free and open to the public. Admission to The Wild Center exhibits and additional programming is not included. For more information and directions please contact The Wild Center www.wildcenter.org or call 518-359-7800.

Tags:

Whiteface is Vertical and Family Friendly

December 22nd, 2010 · No Comments · Adirondack News

WILMINGTON, N.Y. — Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y., may be best known for having the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies and for hosting the 1980 winter Olympic Alpine events, but it’s also recognized as one of the nation’s top ski resorts for families.

According to About.Com, Whiteface is one of the country’s top family ski destinations, one of only three eastern resorts to make the list. The on-line article touts the mountain as “an ideal venue for a family ski vacation,” and also describes many of the off-hill activities found in Wilmington and in Lake Placid including a tour of the Olympic sites, ice skating and partaking in the full schedule of winter events for the family.

“This is another tremendous recognition not only for the mountain, but also for the two communities and the entire region,” noted New York State Olympic Regional Development president/CEO Ted Blazer. “Our vertical drop is an important message, but it’s also equally important that the mountain and the region be recognized as a great family destination. This, combined with being ranked the number-one ski resort in the eastern United States by both SKI Magazine and SnowEast Magazine, continues to show that we’re a destination for everyone.”

Whiteface recently completed a 10-year, $20-million capitalization project that also included renovation of Kids Kampus. With nearby parking and one-stop shopping for lift tickets, lessons and rentals, Kids Kampus offers a safe and fun environment for young skiers. The Bunny Hutch chair lift connects Kids Kampus to the rest of the mountain, and a shuttle service runs to and from the newly constructed, state-of-the-art Kids Kampus Lodge all day.

Whiteface also boasts 283 skiable acres and 86 trails. The mountain also received high marks from SKI Magazine readers for its Après-Ski (#2), Dining (#2), Family Programs (#2), Scenery (#2), Terrain/Challenge (#2), Lodging (#4) and Overall Satisfaction (#5). And for the 18th consecutive year, Whiteface/Lake Placid was chosen number-one for its Off-Hill Activities, thanks to its array of Olympic-style sports including bobsledding, ice skating, cross country skiing, ski jumping, as well as events such as World Cup racing, shows and concerts.

Whiteface was also chosen by SnowEast Magazine readers as the East’s favorite resort. Whiteface topped such resorts as Sugarloaf and Sunday River, both in Maine, and even Killington, in Vermont. More than 3,500 readers took part in the poll and they also tabbed Whiteface as the most scenic resort and their favorite destination village.

For more information about Whiteface, log on to www.whiteface.com.

Tags: