When environmentally minded voters see a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot that would allow a power line in the Adirondack State Park, their first impulse might be to vote it down.

But don't be impulsive: the placement of the line on six acres of public land along Route 56 in St. Lawrence County provides an alternate route to cutting through an ecologically valuable land parcel, according to an article in the Little Falls Times. A white pine old growth forest, 95 streams and wetlands and habitat for the endangered spruce grouse otherwise would have stood in the path of construction.

The power line connecting Stark Falls Reservoir to the Village of Tupper Lake has in fact already been constructed. The State Legislature unanimously passed approval measures in 2007 and 2008, and the New York State DEC, the New York Power Authority and National Grid signed an agreement to build the line adjacent to Route 56 in February 2008, according to articles in the Press Republican and Adirondack Daily Enterprise. National Grid activated the line this past May, bringing much-needed power to Tupper Lake, where outages in recent years have forced the town to place residents in shelters to protect them from bitter winter temperatures.

The amendment to Article 14, Section 1 of the State Constitution would allow the state to swap the six acres of Forest Preserve land along Route 56 for forty-three acres of adjacent forest land currently owned by National Grid. Voters must approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority in order for it to pass.

"This was a power line that was needed to provide for the safety and welfare of Tupper Lake," said Adirondack Council Executive Director Brian Houseal. "Although we preferred not to do an after-the-fact, this is important for public health, safety, and welfare."

While the amendment has no vocal opponents, advocates are spreading awareness around the state in hopes to dissuade voters from overlooking or misinterpreting the measure.