A constitutional amendment approved by voters in November 2013 allows the NYCO Mining company to obtain 200 acres of Adirondack Forest Preserve land next to its mine in exchange for 1,500 acres. Groups that had challenged test drilling on the land have decided not to appeal a judge’s ruling in favor of the mining company.
NYCO Mining planned to conduct mineral sampling on the 200-acre parcel but four groups sued. In December State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Buchanan dismissed the lawsuit and restraining order.
On Friday Adirondack Wild, Protect the Adirondacks, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and the Atlantic States Legal Foundation announced they will not appeal.
In a release the groups say they disagree with the court decision, but the time and resources of the organizations are better spent monitoring the test drilling and advocating for legislation.
The mining company will eventually reclaim the 200 acres and return them to the forest preserve.
