Money For Sanctuary

Governor George E. Pataki announced on Tuesday that he would allocate $4.2 million from his Clean Water - Clean Air Bond Act fund to pay for the preservation of the 339-acre Sanctuary property near Montauk Point.

"It's great news. I'm totally delighted, after all the efforts of East Hampton Town and two governors, that the Sanctuary is finally going to be preserved," said Town Supervisor Cathy Lester yesterday.

Supervisor Lester noted that nearly all of the land around Montauk Point is preserved, with various parcels owned as parkland by the Federal, state, and town governments, and the Sanctuary "would complete the painting."

In all, the Governor proposed allocating for this year $100.9 million of the $1.75 billion fund approved by the voters in November. Other downstate projects include improvements to the drinking water supply system at Jones Beach State Park, to the pump-out station for commercial boats at Captree State Park, and to a fish hatchery on the Connetquot River.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold public hearings around the state on the criteria used to give approval to the various projects, but the final decision on the Sanctuary rests with the Governor. The hearing on Long Island will be at Bethpage State Park next Thursday at 7 p.m. Speakers may address the merits of particular projects.

The acquisition of the Sanctuary, a wetlands-studded parcel that overlooks the ocean and is adjacent to the state holding at Camp Hero, has been a top priority of the state for years.