Tree Huggers win another one.........

[Vinson65]

Tree Huggers Win another one!!!!!

Adirondack Council sues Lewis County over ATV law
October 5, 2006, 4:17 PM EDT


ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ An environmental group sued northern New York's Lewis County on Thursday in an effort to reverse its law allowing the use of all-terrain vehicles on parcels of land located in the Adirondack Park.

The suit by the Adirondack Council charges that the county failed to identify the ecological risks of allowing ATV use in the areas and notify the public about the action. Those actions are required under state law, the group said.

The local law, passed in June, allows ATVs to be used on county reforestation lands, some of which are located in the Adirondack Park. The law opens a total of 1,900 acres of county forest land to ATV use.

ATV opponents say the vehicles cause considerable damage, ruining stream beds and trampling wildlife habitat. ATVs and other motorized vehicles are banned from state land designated as wilderness.

Adirondack ATV enthusiasts have opposed greater restrictions sought by environmentalists, arguing the activity provides an economic boost to northern New York's struggling economy.

"We have a large ATV group of tourists and a large number of people in Lewis County like to ride ATVs," County Manager Joe Baruth said.

He said the reforestation lands already have fire and access roads that can be used as trails without causing ecological damage.

The six-million-acre Adirondack Park is a mix of public and private land.