Lake George — A judge in the State Supreme Court granted a provisional injunction to revoke the June George Park Commission’s June aquatic herbicide permit to kill invasive lake weeds.
This decision will be made on June 8 after hearing comments from lawyers representing both the Park Commission and the Lake George Society, and other petitioners in the proceedings.
The provisional injunction temporarily blocks the use of herbicides by the Park Commission until the court determines that it has sufficient information to make a definitive decision.
A document outlining the court’s ruling states that “the petitioners may not win in the end, but they provide the minimum amount of evidence needed.”
LGA, Lake George Waterkeeper, The Hague Town, Lakeside Residents, Adirondack Park Agency hastened the permit approval process, did not provide sufficient data, and held a hearing on herbicide use proposals Insisted that it should have been.
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“The injunction will protect the lake while the court overhauls the regulatory process used by the Adirondack Park Agency to issue herbicide permits,” LGA and Waterkeeper said in a news release. I wrote.
At a hearing on June 8, Assistant Assistant Attorney Josh Tallent claimed that herbicides were used without adverse effects on Lake Minerva, Lake Saratoga, and Lake Glen in front of Judge Robert Muller.
In response, the petitioner claimed the uniqueness of Lake George and argued that more data was needed regarding the specific application of herbicides on Lake George. Authorities want to use chemicals against the invasive Eurasian watermilfoils.
Davewick, Executive Director of the Lake George Park Commission, said on Tuesday: There is no individual agenda, and we do not break new ground here. But I respect the court’s decision. “
Muller was paying close attention to a great deal of public interest at the June 8 hearing.
The judge will meet with lawyers on both sides at a private meeting on June 29th.
With the injunction approved, LGA and Waterkeeper said they plan to pursue their own scientific research in parallel with the Jefferson project.
Although the injunction is temporary, the Park Commission’s permit was in June, and a court proceeding effectively invalidated the permit, which would delay planned use by at least a year. rice field.
Authorities had to use herbicides until the end of June, when Eurasian watermilfoils began to grow actively, Wick said.
The court order also states that “the provisional injunction is conditional on the petitioner submitting a $ 100,000 business within 15 days of this decision.” This money helps the park committee’s traditional way of tackling watermilfoils by hand.
before Post star According to the article, manual harvesting costs $ 8,750 a week for each plant-removing diver, according to Wick.
Drew Wardle Post star..You can contact him at 518-681-7343 or email him dwardle@poststar.com..
Source: poststar.com
