The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold two public information meetings and a public hearing in Plattsburgh on the proposed rulemaking to upgrade the classifications of certain surface waters within the Lake Champlain drainage basin.  This rule is being proposed in an effort to enhance water quality for fish propagation within the basin.

The proposed rulemaking is to amend Part 830 of Title 6 of the Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York (6 NYCRR) to upgrade the classifications of certain surface waters in order to meet the “fishable” goal of the federal Clean Water Act. In addition, some waters would be upgraded from “non-trout” to “trout” waters.

The public information meetings will be held on October 13, 2016, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the town of Plattsburgh, Town Office Meeting Room, 151 Banker Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. DEC will present an overview of the proposed rulemaking at both meetings. No public comments will be accepted at these information meetings.

Oral and written comments on the proposed rulemaking will be accepted at DEC’s public hearing at 11 a.m. on November 2, 2016, at the Town of Plattsburgh, Town Office Meeting Room, 151 Banker Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Public comments on the proposed rulemaking will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on November 7.

Copies of the rulemaking documents, along with the Express Terms (text of the proposed rule), and further information are available on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/propregulations.html or by contacting DEC at Part.830Reclass@dec.ny.gov or calling (518) 402-8233.