COLD SPRING – The Village of Cold Spring and Town of Philipstown’s attempts to overturn the state’s approval of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail environmental review have been called baseless and wasteful by the president and CEO of the trail corporation.

Peter Mullan said that his organization and the state approached the project “by the book with a transparent, thorough and extensively executed environmental review process in accordance with law and with years of public input.”

He said, “The reality, which is well known to all stakeholders, is that the Fjord Trail has undergone extensive review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act with State Parks acting as the lead agency. It has also been subject to years of public input from environmental experts, other state agencies, community members, and municipal authorities. We are confident in the diligence and rigor of the environmental review process in accordance with SEQRA, and we will continue to be a collaborative partner with our community and the State of New York.”

Paul Thompson, co-founder of Philipstown Advocates for Trails, explained that his non-for-profit, “promotes the construction, upkeep, and access of multi-use trails and paths for community residents, both for their recreation and as a means of them getting around the neighborhood. The Fjord Trail checks all these boxes and we are satisfied with the results of the very thorough environmental review process.”

Putnam County Legislator Nancy Montgomery also supports the trail. “I have seen firsthand the years of planning, public engagement, environmental review, and collaboration that have shaped this project. I continue to believe that many residents support thoughtful investments in public safety, environmental protection, and managed access along this corridor, even if local leaders do not always hear those voices.”

Officials in Cold Spring and Philipstown have voted to sue the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc. and the State Parks Department alleging an environmental review for the 7.5-mile trail is insufficient.

The western Putnam municipalities contend that the Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement has failed to comply with the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act since it failed to address issues such as the analysis of environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, traffic, parking, public safety and consistency with local land use controls.