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New Measure Aims to Amend "Forever Wild" Protections

Environmental groups support a change that would allow small projects to circumvent "forever wild" status.

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If a small town wants to add a bike lane, enlarge a culvert, or widen a road—and the land in question has “forever wild” status—the process of approval can take years and require voters all over the state to approve it. A proposed measure on New York’s November ballot would cut out the red tape. Though it would allow projects on wild land, environmental groups do support it—because it takes care of crucial community needs.

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