VWC Newsletter - April 1993
Action on the Virginia Wilderness Front
by Ernie Dickerman
The Virginia wilderness campaign for the 1993-94 Congress is moving. In late January six Virginians -- Shireen Parsons (Chair of the Sierra Club - New River Group), Bob Schulmann, Becky Crawford, Jim Loesel, Charlie Blankenship, & Ernie Dickerman -- met at Blacksburg with Congressman Rick Boucher's (D-VA9) legislative aide from Washington, Mary Swetman, and discussed the half dozen citizen wilderness proposals plus 3 or 4 additions to existing Wildernesses, all on the Jefferson National Forest in southwest Virginia. While all are viable proposals at this time, it is a question how many will be in the wilderness bill which Rep. Boucher ultimately introduces. The Congressman meanwhile is talking not only with wilderness advocates, but also with County Boards of Supervisors and timber interests; his objective is to develop a slate of areas & acreages which he believes can be passed by Congress, before he files a wilderness bill.
This is the time when it can be genuinely productive if you live in southwest Virginia, including around Roanoke, to write Rep. Rick Boucher (address U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20015) urging him to include all the citizen proposals in his wilderness bill. Politically he needs this encouragement, to offset what he hears from the opposition. Sure, you don't know what and where our proposals are because while he continues to deal with Supervisors and loggers, he insists on no publicity about specific proposals. This of course is a bit queer from our point of view and contrary to what we normally do, but politics has its exceptional, its extraordinary moments.
In Nelson County, in Rep. L.F. Payne's (D-VA5) District, the future of the Three Ridges and The Priest wilderness proposals are in jeopardy. Approved back in 1991 by the County Board of Supervisors, the new Board taking office after the November 1992 elections has voted against wilderness designation. While Rep. Payne is believed to personally look with favor on Wilderness Act protection, he is politically in a difficult position with the Board of Supervisors being opposed. Local citizens are working on the Board to persuade it to change its mind and adopt a favorable attitude. If you live in the 5th District, please write Rep. L.F. Payne (U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20015) urging his active support. If you live in Nelson County, please write or telephone your Supervisor (County Courthouse, Lovingston, VA 22949) asking his support for wilderness. Yours and enough others' communications can change the Board's official mind!
Vigorous and wide open is the action going on to promote the 8,500 acre Mt. Pleasant wilderness proposal in Amherst County, on the east side of the Blue Ridge in the Pedlar Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest. This is a first class wilderness in every way with its four peaks just over 4,000 ft. high, its secluded hollows containing stands of centuries-old trees, its cascading mountain streams tributary to the North Fork of the Buffalo River, and numerous inspiring panoramic views. Led by Dan French, the residents of Amherst County are strongly behind the proposal and so is the Amherst County Board of Supervisors.
The new Congressman for the 6th Congressional District which includes Amherst County, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA6) with his negative views about the environment, will need a lot of persuading to do the right thing and support the Mt. Pleasant proposal. One argument that seems to reach him is that this area is the primary source of the pure, abundant public water supply in the county. The Amherst County Board of Supervisors and the Amherst County Water Authority recognize that wilderness designation under the Wilderness Act is the permanent, positive way to protect this economical, high grade public water source.
Virginia Fibre Corporation, operating a large pulp & paper plant in the county, is strenuously opposing Wilderness Act protection of Mt. Pleasant, on the principal that no national forest land should be permanently closed to logging. This "principal" denies the equal rights of all other and different users of the national forests who want some parts of these forest not cut down.
Because as usual the key to success in winning wilderness designation for any area is the support or at least acquiescence of the local Congressperson, it is obvious that Rep. Bob Goodlatte (address U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20015) is in extreme need of hearing from each of us living in the 6th Congressional District. Something he does not know yet but he can benefit politically from learning, is that his District is full of voters who believe in treating the environment with care and respect and who expect their Congressman to act accordingly. Give yourself the pleasure of letting him know.
NEW GWNF MANAGEMENT PLAN TO BE APPEALED
by Lynn Cameron
The final 10-year management plan for the George Washington National Forest came out Jan. 21, 1993. Although the new Management Plan is suppposed to focus on the theme of biodiversity, the Plan actually offers weak protection and lots of loopholes.
Of the 27 inventoried roadless areas, only two, Three Ridges and The Priest, were recommended for Wilderness Study. Most of the others were put under designations that will allow heavy forms of game management, such as clearcutting to make large openings, and prescribed burning. In addition, trees in these roadless areas can be "salvaged". Salvage cutting is probably the biggest loophole in the whole plan. Any salvage harvesting done on lands not suitable for timber will be above and beyond the allowable sale quantity (ASQ). Not only dead and dying trees will be salvaged, but also healthy trees, such as poplar, that are not eaten by gypsy moths. The only areas completely protected from salvage cutting are wilderness and wilderness study areas.
The ASQ was increased from 27 million board feet in the draft plan to 33 in the final plan. Since the GW is a below-cost forest, this increase will be very costly to taxpayers. The Forest Service admits that using the new plan, the GW will lose about $7 million in below-cost sales during the next decade. The forest biologist considered 21 mbf to be the maximum sustainable yield for the GW.
Since the new GW Plan does not offer a sensible approach to managing the forest, it is being appealed by the VWC, Sierra Club, and the Wilderness Society. The appeal is being prepared by David Carr of the Southern Environmental Law Center with input and expert testimony from a number of sources.
HELICOPTER SALVAGING ON THE GW
by Lynn Cameron
Officials in two districts of the George Washington National Forest have proposed helicopter salvage sales in roadless areas within the last year. The first of these was in the Big Schloss area in the Lee Disctrict early in 1992. When the public objected loudly to this proposed action, Lee District Ranger John Coleman withdrew the proposal in the Big Schloss, but allowed this new method of extracting timber in another area nearby.
More recently, in November, 1992, Bud Risner of the Dry River District, proposed a helicopter salealong Briery Branch in the Little River Roadless Area. Although there was again a strong public outcry, Risner decided to go ahead with the sale without even doing the required environmental impact statement. VWC was outraged by the proposed helicopter sale and felt that the action would diminish the wild character of the area and jeopardize its future consideration for wilderness designation. In February, the VWC, along with the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society, filed an appeal for the sale.
Forest Service officials have stated that they may harvest by helicopter up to one half mile into the interior of roadless areas. To go farther is not profitable. Not only trees that are dead and dying, but all trees that are profitable to take out, may be cut. In the proposed sale in Little River, the decision memo indicated that in addition to oak and other species preferred by gypsy moth, yellow poplar and ash would also be cut. Gypsy moths do not eat yellow poplar and ash. The intent is to harvest the largest, highest-quality trees in the area.
While the Briery Branch helicopter sale would be profitable to the Forest Service and would not require the construction of new roads, it would in effect result in "highgrading" of the most remote and pristine areas of the forest that have not been accessible up to now. As the new Forest Plan is implemented, the District Rangers will undoubtedly continue to try to use "salvage" as a profitable loophole. The VWC will have to remain vigilant in their efforts to protect the integrity of the few remaining roadless areas on the GW.
BREWERY POLLUTION IMPACT ON PARK REVIEWED
by Charles Pierce
A potential serious pollution threat to Shenandoah National Park and its major wilderness area from operation of a major new brewery in Virginia might be avoided under an alternative being considered by the Coors Brewing Co.
In discussions Coors has been holding with Virginia Air Pollution Control Department and Shenandoah National Park officials, the brewing company representatives have reviewed the possibility of using natural gas to heat the boilers at its proposed 10 million barrels of beer a year brewery at Elkton, VA.
Use of natural gas instead of coal at the proposed brewery could result in considerably lower levels of pollution and impact on Shenandoah National Park, the nation's most polluted national park.
In a March 3 letter to the Virginia Department of Air Pollution Control, J.W. Wade, park superintendent, said that "we commend Coors' proposal to rely exclusively on natural gas at the Shenandoah facility. By proceeding with a relatively clean fuel and the best available control technology, Coors will minimize its own regulatory requirements and its facility's emissions.
"By enlarging the natural gas line that would supply the Shenandoah facility, Coors will provide the opportunity for others to use natural gas, perhaps to reduce existing emissions or to facilitate additional development. In this manner, economic growth can help to accomplish the environmental clean-up needed to protect Shenandoah National Park's sensitive resources."
Henry Clark, a Harrisonburg attorney representing Coors, said, "we are very seriously considering going to natural gas."
Environmentalists first began to suspect that the long expected construction of the brewery in the Shenandoah Valley might be approaching reality when a representative of a Denver public relations firm began a series of visits to environmental organizations in the Shenandoah Valley late last year. Coors is headquartered in Golden, Colo.
While denying any knowledge that the construction of the brewery was imminent, the visitor from Denver quizzed environmental representatives about the public perception of Coors and offered significant sums of money ($2,000) to environmental groups as "grants" to help in their efforts to improve the environment.
The permitting process for the brewery is not expected to be completed until Fall and the public will be given an opportunity to comment on the proposed permit, according to State air pollution control officials. If the permit is issued, Coors would have up to 18 months to begin construction of the brewery.
APPALACHIAN CORRIDOR H
by Lynn Cameron
The West Virginia Highway Department has selected a preferred route for Appalachian Corridor H, the proposed billion dollar, 4-lane divided highway that will connect I-79 in WV to I-81 in VA. While the chosen route (Scheme D) for this pork barrel project avoids a number of choice natural areas in WV, it will have substantial negative impact on VA's natural resources. Connecting to I-81 near Strasburg, the proposed route:
- bisects the northern end of the George Washington National Forest, interrupting a migration corridor and cutting through wild turkey and bear habitat.
- requires channelizing of Duck Run, one of the best native trout streams in Frederick County, and adversely impacts Cedar Creek, a popular canoeing stream currently under study for wild and scenic river designation.
- may have an impact on the Karst topography and the limestone springs that feed the streams in the area. Several hatcheries and numerous homes and farms depend on these springs.
- comes dangerously close to two GWNF areas: Vance's Cove, an important wildlife area, and Peregrine Falcon nesting sites that must be maintained in a remote setting.
- impacts habitat of state threatened wood turtle.
- lacks a thorough Environmental Impact Statement for the Virginia section of the recommended route.
On May 20, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will make a decision about whether to accept or reject the route recommended by WV. The road will cost $20 million or more to Virginians, even though VA state agencies and GWNF officials had very little input in the planning and route choice. Since Corridor H is not in the VDOT six-year plan, this money will have to be taken away from other planned road projects and improvements. Virginia has very little to gain from Corridor H and much to lose.
Please write Daphyne Thomas of the Transportation Board and our elected representatives and ask
1. that the Board REJECT WV's preferred route.
2. that a thorough EIS for the section of Corridor H that is in Virginia be done.
3. that the option of improving existing roads be seriously investigated.
Dr. Daphyne Thomas, (Commonwealth Transportation Board member
representing the Stanton VDOT district) Finance Dept, JMU,
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Representative Frank Wolf, U.S. House of Rep., Washington,
D.C., 20515 (ranking minority member of the Transportation
Appropriations Subcommittee.)
Senators John Warner and Charles Robb, U.S. Senate,
Washington,D.C., 20510
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the VWC is open to anyone who believes in the need for preservation of wilderness. To join, send a copy of a recent letter supporting wilderness written to a public official, OR send $5.00 or more per year to the VWC Treasurer, address below. Thank you.
The date opposite your name on the mailing label indicates when (month & year) you last made a contribution to VWC Please check it and if the date is more than one year old a new contribution from you will be warmly welcomed.
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Lynn Cameron 95 Hope St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(703) 434-1318
VICE PRES Marilyn Lockhart Rt. 1, Box 349, Afton, VA 22920
(703) 456-6981
TREASURER Julie Simpson P.O. Box 3889, Winchester, VA 22601
(703) 662-7043
SECRETARY R.D. Floyd Rt. 1, Box 510A, Tye River, VA 22922
(804) 263-5003
by Ernie Dickerman
The Virginia wilderness campaign for the 1993-94 Congress is moving. In late January six Virginians -- Shireen Parsons (Chair of the Sierra Club - New River Group), Bob Schulmann, Becky Crawford, Jim Loesel, Charlie Blankenship, & Ernie Dickerman -- met at Blacksburg with Congressman Rick Boucher's (D-VA9) legislative aide from Washington, Mary Swetman, and discussed the half dozen citizen wilderness proposals plus 3 or 4 additions to existing Wildernesses, all on the Jefferson National Forest in southwest Virginia. While all are viable proposals at this time, it is a question how many will be in the wilderness bill which Rep. Boucher ultimately introduces. The Congressman meanwhile is talking not only with wilderness advocates, but also with County Boards of Supervisors and timber interests; his objective is to develop a slate of areas & acreages which he believes can be passed by Congress, before he files a wilderness bill.
This is the time when it can be genuinely productive if you live in southwest Virginia, including around Roanoke, to write Rep. Rick Boucher (address U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20015) urging him to include all the citizen proposals in his wilderness bill. Politically he needs this encouragement, to offset what he hears from the opposition. Sure, you don't know what and where our proposals are because while he continues to deal with Supervisors and loggers, he insists on no publicity about specific proposals. This of course is a bit queer from our point of view and contrary to what we normally do, but politics has its exceptional, its extraordinary moments.
In Nelson County, in Rep. L.F. Payne's (D-VA5) District, the future of the Three Ridges and The Priest wilderness proposals are in jeopardy. Approved back in 1991 by the County Board of Supervisors, the new Board taking office after the November 1992 elections has voted against wilderness designation. While Rep. Payne is believed to personally look with favor on Wilderness Act protection, he is politically in a difficult position with the Board of Supervisors being opposed. Local citizens are working on the Board to persuade it to change its mind and adopt a favorable attitude. If you live in the 5th District, please write Rep. L.F. Payne (U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20015) urging his active support. If you live in Nelson County, please write or telephone your Supervisor (County Courthouse, Lovingston, VA 22949) asking his support for wilderness. Yours and enough others' communications can change the Board's official mind!
Vigorous and wide open is the action going on to promote the 8,500 acre Mt. Pleasant wilderness proposal in Amherst County, on the east side of the Blue Ridge in the Pedlar Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest. This is a first class wilderness in every way with its four peaks just over 4,000 ft. high, its secluded hollows containing stands of centuries-old trees, its cascading mountain streams tributary to the North Fork of the Buffalo River, and numerous inspiring panoramic views. Led by Dan French, the residents of Amherst County are strongly behind the proposal and so is the Amherst County Board of Supervisors.
The new Congressman for the 6th Congressional District which includes Amherst County, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA6) with his negative views about the environment, will need a lot of persuading to do the right thing and support the Mt. Pleasant proposal. One argument that seems to reach him is that this area is the primary source of the pure, abundant public water supply in the county. The Amherst County Board of Supervisors and the Amherst County Water Authority recognize that wilderness designation under the Wilderness Act is the permanent, positive way to protect this economical, high grade public water source.
Virginia Fibre Corporation, operating a large pulp & paper plant in the county, is strenuously opposing Wilderness Act protection of Mt. Pleasant, on the principal that no national forest land should be permanently closed to logging. This "principal" denies the equal rights of all other and different users of the national forests who want some parts of these forest not cut down.
Because as usual the key to success in winning wilderness designation for any area is the support or at least acquiescence of the local Congressperson, it is obvious that Rep. Bob Goodlatte (address U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20015) is in extreme need of hearing from each of us living in the 6th Congressional District. Something he does not know yet but he can benefit politically from learning, is that his District is full of voters who believe in treating the environment with care and respect and who expect their Congressman to act accordingly. Give yourself the pleasure of letting him know.
NEW GWNF MANAGEMENT PLAN TO BE APPEALED
by Lynn Cameron
The final 10-year management plan for the George Washington National Forest came out Jan. 21, 1993. Although the new Management Plan is suppposed to focus on the theme of biodiversity, the Plan actually offers weak protection and lots of loopholes.
Of the 27 inventoried roadless areas, only two, Three Ridges and The Priest, were recommended for Wilderness Study. Most of the others were put under designations that will allow heavy forms of game management, such as clearcutting to make large openings, and prescribed burning. In addition, trees in these roadless areas can be "salvaged". Salvage cutting is probably the biggest loophole in the whole plan. Any salvage harvesting done on lands not suitable for timber will be above and beyond the allowable sale quantity (ASQ). Not only dead and dying trees will be salvaged, but also healthy trees, such as poplar, that are not eaten by gypsy moths. The only areas completely protected from salvage cutting are wilderness and wilderness study areas.
The ASQ was increased from 27 million board feet in the draft plan to 33 in the final plan. Since the GW is a below-cost forest, this increase will be very costly to taxpayers. The Forest Service admits that using the new plan, the GW will lose about $7 million in below-cost sales during the next decade. The forest biologist considered 21 mbf to be the maximum sustainable yield for the GW.
Since the new GW Plan does not offer a sensible approach to managing the forest, it is being appealed by the VWC, Sierra Club, and the Wilderness Society. The appeal is being prepared by David Carr of the Southern Environmental Law Center with input and expert testimony from a number of sources.
HELICOPTER SALVAGING ON THE GW
by Lynn Cameron
Officials in two districts of the George Washington National Forest have proposed helicopter salvage sales in roadless areas within the last year. The first of these was in the Big Schloss area in the Lee Disctrict early in 1992. When the public objected loudly to this proposed action, Lee District Ranger John Coleman withdrew the proposal in the Big Schloss, but allowed this new method of extracting timber in another area nearby.
More recently, in November, 1992, Bud Risner of the Dry River District, proposed a helicopter salealong Briery Branch in the Little River Roadless Area. Although there was again a strong public outcry, Risner decided to go ahead with the sale without even doing the required environmental impact statement. VWC was outraged by the proposed helicopter sale and felt that the action would diminish the wild character of the area and jeopardize its future consideration for wilderness designation. In February, the VWC, along with the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society, filed an appeal for the sale.
Forest Service officials have stated that they may harvest by helicopter up to one half mile into the interior of roadless areas. To go farther is not profitable. Not only trees that are dead and dying, but all trees that are profitable to take out, may be cut. In the proposed sale in Little River, the decision memo indicated that in addition to oak and other species preferred by gypsy moth, yellow poplar and ash would also be cut. Gypsy moths do not eat yellow poplar and ash. The intent is to harvest the largest, highest-quality trees in the area.
While the Briery Branch helicopter sale would be profitable to the Forest Service and would not require the construction of new roads, it would in effect result in "highgrading" of the most remote and pristine areas of the forest that have not been accessible up to now. As the new Forest Plan is implemented, the District Rangers will undoubtedly continue to try to use "salvage" as a profitable loophole. The VWC will have to remain vigilant in their efforts to protect the integrity of the few remaining roadless areas on the GW.
BREWERY POLLUTION IMPACT ON PARK REVIEWED
by Charles Pierce
A potential serious pollution threat to Shenandoah National Park and its major wilderness area from operation of a major new brewery in Virginia might be avoided under an alternative being considered by the Coors Brewing Co.
In discussions Coors has been holding with Virginia Air Pollution Control Department and Shenandoah National Park officials, the brewing company representatives have reviewed the possibility of using natural gas to heat the boilers at its proposed 10 million barrels of beer a year brewery at Elkton, VA.
Use of natural gas instead of coal at the proposed brewery could result in considerably lower levels of pollution and impact on Shenandoah National Park, the nation's most polluted national park.
In a March 3 letter to the Virginia Department of Air Pollution Control, J.W. Wade, park superintendent, said that "we commend Coors' proposal to rely exclusively on natural gas at the Shenandoah facility. By proceeding with a relatively clean fuel and the best available control technology, Coors will minimize its own regulatory requirements and its facility's emissions.
"By enlarging the natural gas line that would supply the Shenandoah facility, Coors will provide the opportunity for others to use natural gas, perhaps to reduce existing emissions or to facilitate additional development. In this manner, economic growth can help to accomplish the environmental clean-up needed to protect Shenandoah National Park's sensitive resources."
Henry Clark, a Harrisonburg attorney representing Coors, said, "we are very seriously considering going to natural gas."
Environmentalists first began to suspect that the long expected construction of the brewery in the Shenandoah Valley might be approaching reality when a representative of a Denver public relations firm began a series of visits to environmental organizations in the Shenandoah Valley late last year. Coors is headquartered in Golden, Colo.
While denying any knowledge that the construction of the brewery was imminent, the visitor from Denver quizzed environmental representatives about the public perception of Coors and offered significant sums of money ($2,000) to environmental groups as "grants" to help in their efforts to improve the environment.
The permitting process for the brewery is not expected to be completed until Fall and the public will be given an opportunity to comment on the proposed permit, according to State air pollution control officials. If the permit is issued, Coors would have up to 18 months to begin construction of the brewery.
APPALACHIAN CORRIDOR H
by Lynn Cameron
The West Virginia Highway Department has selected a preferred route for Appalachian Corridor H, the proposed billion dollar, 4-lane divided highway that will connect I-79 in WV to I-81 in VA. While the chosen route (Scheme D) for this pork barrel project avoids a number of choice natural areas in WV, it will have substantial negative impact on VA's natural resources. Connecting to I-81 near Strasburg, the proposed route:
- bisects the northern end of the George Washington National Forest, interrupting a migration corridor and cutting through wild turkey and bear habitat.
- requires channelizing of Duck Run, one of the best native trout streams in Frederick County, and adversely impacts Cedar Creek, a popular canoeing stream currently under study for wild and scenic river designation.
- may have an impact on the Karst topography and the limestone springs that feed the streams in the area. Several hatcheries and numerous homes and farms depend on these springs.
- comes dangerously close to two GWNF areas: Vance's Cove, an important wildlife area, and Peregrine Falcon nesting sites that must be maintained in a remote setting.
- impacts habitat of state threatened wood turtle.
- lacks a thorough Environmental Impact Statement for the Virginia section of the recommended route.
On May 20, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will make a decision about whether to accept or reject the route recommended by WV. The road will cost $20 million or more to Virginians, even though VA state agencies and GWNF officials had very little input in the planning and route choice. Since Corridor H is not in the VDOT six-year plan, this money will have to be taken away from other planned road projects and improvements. Virginia has very little to gain from Corridor H and much to lose.
Please write Daphyne Thomas of the Transportation Board and our elected representatives and ask
1. that the Board REJECT WV's preferred route.
2. that a thorough EIS for the section of Corridor H that is in Virginia be done.
3. that the option of improving existing roads be seriously investigated.
Dr. Daphyne Thomas, (Commonwealth Transportation Board member
representing the Stanton VDOT district) Finance Dept, JMU,
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Representative Frank Wolf, U.S. House of Rep., Washington,
D.C., 20515 (ranking minority member of the Transportation
Appropriations Subcommittee.)
Senators John Warner and Charles Robb, U.S. Senate,
Washington,D.C., 20510
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the VWC is open to anyone who believes in the need for preservation of wilderness. To join, send a copy of a recent letter supporting wilderness written to a public official, OR send $5.00 or more per year to the VWC Treasurer, address below. Thank you.
The date opposite your name on the mailing label indicates when (month & year) you last made a contribution to VWC Please check it and if the date is more than one year old a new contribution from you will be warmly welcomed.
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT Lynn Cameron 95 Hope St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(703) 434-1318
VICE PRES Marilyn Lockhart Rt. 1, Box 349, Afton, VA 22920
(703) 456-6981
TREASURER Julie Simpson P.O. Box 3889, Winchester, VA 22601
(703) 662-7043
SECRETARY R.D. Floyd Rt. 1, Box 510A, Tye River, VA 22922
(804) 263-5003