DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Rumsey, over a two-justice partial dissent, upheld the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) determinations regarding snowmobile trails in newly added portions of the Adirondack Park. Because approval of the trails was still subject to permits and variances, two of petitioners’ causes of action were deemed not ripe for review. The Third Department determined there was no conflict between the Rivers System Act and the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. The Rivers System Act was deemed to control and the act allowed the proposed snowmobile traffic as a continuation of an existing use. And the Third Department held that a 2009 “guidance” document for the siting of snowmobile trails adopted by the DEC did not commit the DEC to a definite course of future action. Concerning the “ripeness” issue, the court wrote:

… [P]ermits and variances must be obtained through further administrative action before the proposed uses may be established. Specifically, permits are required to erect a bridge over a scenic river …  or to construct a trail within a scenic river area … . Moreover, variances are required for the use of motorized vehicles within scenic river areas … , and for construction of a Class II snowmobile trail, to the extent that it may exceed the maximum trail width of four feet that is permitted by regulation … . Permit and variance applications are governed by the Uniform Procedures Act … , which imposes conditions related to the substantive relief sought and provides the opportunity for further public participation. No permit or variance may be granted unless the proposed use is consistent with the purpose of the Rivers System Act … , and conditions may be imposed as necessary to preserve and protect affected river resources or to assure compliance with the Rivers System Act … . Moreover, there is an opportunity for public comment on applications for a permit or a variance …  and the granting of a permit or variance may be challenged through a CPLR article 78 proceeding. Thus, inasmuch as the harms upon which the first and second causes of action are based may be prevented or ameliorated by further administrative action, Supreme Court correctly concluded that the first and second causes of action are not ripe for judicial review. Matter of Adirondack Wild: Friends of The Forest Preserve v New York State Adirondack Park Agency, 2018 NY Slip Op 03193. Third Dept 5-3-18

​ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT))/ADIRONDACK PARK (DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT))/CIVIL PROCEDURE (RIPENESS, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT))/RIPENESS (CIVIL PROCEDURE, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT))/SNOWMOBILES (ADIRONDACK PARK, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT))/LAND USE (ADIRONDACK PARK, SNOWMOBILES, (DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION’S (DEC’S) DETERMINATIONS ON THE USE OF SNOWMOBILES IN NEWLY ADDED PORTIONS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK UPHELD, TWO CHALLENGES NOT RIPE FOR REVIEW (THIRD DEPT))