As a former Steward from an organization that used to have a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement for Peekamoose Blue Hole I disagree with the updated permit system at the Peekamoose Blue Hole. I supported the no cost day use permits in the Blue Hole area. I feel this did cut down on the litter issues and the overcrowded issues. There is nowhere online that mentions where the $10.00 permit fee goes. Is the $10.00 fee going to the Environmental  Fund, is it going to the Catskill Center or a fund to hire more forest rangers?

I am surprised New York State Department of Environmental Conservation did not even hold a public comment on the new updated permit system including charging people. 2019 Sundown Wild Forest UMP on page 327 shows the public comment on the day use permitting system for visitors to the Blue Hole in 2018 hearing.

The updated permit system is for the entire Peekamoose Blue Hole. If anyone wants to camp or walk around the entire place they have to pay a $10.00 permit. This sounds like Peekamoose Blue Hole becoming a state DEC campground.

How is the DEC going to keep people out of Peekamoose Blue Hole at night? Is there 24 hour staffing? Is there a booth like the ones they have at DEC Campgrounds? They should have a public comment hearing with powerpoint slides to show the public where the fee is going to, and how they are going to keep people out at night. 

 There are many reasons why there is an increase of garbage and other illegal activities happening at places like Peekamoose Blue Hole. There is understaffing of forest rangers statewide. When the state buys more land there will be an increase of litter and illegal activities and less forest rangers to patrol the new land.

 The State Senate and Assembly needs to change the laws of who can tap into the Environmental  Fund to buy more land. If the Governor or New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wants to buy more land it should be approved by the state senate or assembly or let the voters go to the polls to vote on new land. When the state buys more land they should be required by law to hire more forest rangers. In general the state should hire more forest rangers for the current and new land.