For Immediate Release: November 14, 2025
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Information Officer | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY – At the Adirondack Park Agency's November meeting, the Board voted to accept staff’s recommendation to hold an adjudicatory hearing for a proposed howitzer testing range in the Town of Lewis (P2021-0276). The Board’s decision was based on the following criteria:
- The size or complexity of the project or uniqueness of resources likely to be affected;
- Degree of public interest in the project;
- The presence of significant issues relating to approval criteria.
- The possibility that the project can only be approved if major modifications are made or substantial conditions are imposed;
- The possibility that information presented at a public hearing would be of assistance to the agency in its review;
- The extent of public involvement achieved by other means.
The proposal involves test firing a portable 155mm howitzer barrel assembly using nonexplosive steel projectiles up to 30 times per year on weekdays between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The Board indicated issues with the available information concerning the potential compatibility of the proposal with the land use and development plan and the potential for undue adverse impacts. The vote to send the proposal to a hearing was unanimous.
The Agency ordered this matter to public hearing pursuant to Section 580.3 and directed the hearing officer to cover the issues identified, which are listed in the Project Order. The Agency will now begin the process of scheduling the adjudicatory hearing.
This type of hearing provides the permit applicant, Agency staff, landowners and local governments within five hundred feet of the land involved, any State agency, and other parties to the hearing to present evidence and to argue contested issues before an impartial hearing officer in a forum open to the public. Any exhibits, testimony and written submissions from parties to the hearing will be made publicly available to members of the public who are not parties to the hearing.
The length of the adjudicatory proceeding depends upon the number and complexity of the environmental and legal issues, the number of witnesses, the result of the pre-hearing direction of the Agency and the deliberation before the hearing officer at the issues conference.
An independent hearing officer will be assigned to oversee the adjudicatory proceedings. The role of the hearing officer is to do everything necessary to assure that the hearing is fair and impartial, as well as efficient and orderly, including but not limited to:
- Initiating the hearing with a conference to establish parties, issues and initial hearing schedule;
- Administering oaths or affirmations;
- Setting/adjourning hearing dates and schedule for testimony and argument;
- Ruling on all motions and requests until the close of the hearing;
- Issuing, quashing, or modifying subpoenas for the appearance of persons or the production of documents;
- Admitting or excluding evidence offered for the record;
- Limiting the number of witnesses and cross-examination.
For more details about the hearing process, please refer to the Agency’s Guide to Project Hearings.
The Adirondack Park Agency Board will ultimately render final decision on whether or not to approve the proposed howitzer testing range. Their decision will be based solely on the hearing record. The hearing record will include the transcripts of the hearing, the application, all exhibits as admitted to the record by the hearing officer, any letter, petitions or comments, stipulations and the briefs filed by parties and the Agency hearing staff during the hearing, and any determinations of the hearing officer. The hearing record is closed upon the receipt at the Agency of the full transcript, and briefs or any documents the parties agreed to submit at the hearing, whichever occurs later.
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law.