Adirondack Peace Threatened by Howitzer Tests?

A proposal for large artillery testing in New York's Adirondack Park is drawing significant opposition. Private military contractor Michael Hopmeier seeks to establish a howitzer barrel testing range on private land in Lewis, N.Y., which would involve firing projectiles 30 times annually over a distance of about two football fields.

Opponents fear the noise from these tests would disrupt the park's renowned tranquility and negatively impact local wildlife, including moose, deer, bears, and birds. Environmentalists also express concern about the proximity to state-owned forest land and the overall character of the protected park.

Hopmeier's company, Unconventional Concepts, Inc., contends that the tests are vital for national security, supporting research for a U.S. Army lab. He claims the noise, once it travels through the woods, would be less than common country sounds like chainsaws or firearms. The tests would involve steel projectiles fired from barrels up to 155 millimeters wide, with no explosive warheads.

Regulators at the Adirondack Park Agency have been reviewing the 2021 application, requesting more information multiple times. A rare public hearing is scheduled for April 22, where an administrative law judge will assess the proposal's compatibility with the park's regulations and character. This hearing follows substantial public feedback, with over 1,400 comments submitted, predominantly opposing the plan.

Some residents have previously expressed frustration with Hopmeier due to military exercises conducted last September, which involved helicopters and gunfire. While this howitzer proposal is separate, it is viewed by some as another disturbance. The landowner offering his property for the testing range believes it will benefit the country and create needed employment.

Hopmeier has also filed a lawsuit challenging the Adirondack Park Agency's decision to hold the hearing, citing alleged bias from a board member. He maintains that regulatory approval from the agency, while not strictly required, would 'make things cleaner' for his company's operations and future government contracts.