THE SENATE, ean STATE OF NEWYORK moe) cee { meen TONY AVELLA ats et BoULEARD vernon SENATOR, HTH DISTRICT sree uo ASSISTANT CONFERENCE LEADER (naisr20momes suc FOR POLICY & ADMINISTRATION OF THE am sen x acca INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE screener anovess March 17, 2015 on, Joseph J. Martens Commissioner ‘New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 sr raca wane Dear Commissioner Martens: As Vice-Chair ofthe Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, Ijoin in the request of the following organizations, environmental attorneys and mute swan experts, for an extension of the public comment period on the Revised Draft Management Plan for Mute ‘Swans in New York. ‘As you know, there were numerous comments provided to DEC pursuant to the intial Draft Management Plan and there is expected to be even more in response to the Revised Draft. ‘The current comment period was proposed to run for approximately 45 days until April 24, 2015. Given the various issues raised in the Revised Draft and the numerous sources noted, it seems more than appropriate that DEC grant an additional 45 days to extend the ‘comment period to 2 full 90 days to give the public time to review and analyze these studies and provide extensive comment on this highly contentious issue.Page2 March 17, 2015 Sincerely, “penctly Tony Avella State Senator 11% Senatorial District E olte Raabe Bite Birnleant Friends of Animals Ist Peter Muller New York State League of Humane Voters ‘Elinor Molbegot, Esq, Humane Society of New York Mil Shella Bolin, CB The Regal Swan Foundation, Inc. ast John Grandy Pegasus Foundation & Humane Society ofthe United StatesPage 3 March 17, 2015 oe Joanna Grossman Federal Policy Advisor ‘Animal Welfare Institute John Lyons, Esq. Grant & Lyons. ‘Wayne Thompson, Esq David Karopkin Founder & Director GooseWateh NYC