VWC Newsletter - April 2005
ONCE MORE INTO THE BREACH, DEAR FRIENDS !
Like a phoenix from the ashes our Virginia Wilderness Bill has risen again. On April 18th Congressman Boucher and Senator Warner introduced a sparkling, new, improved version entitled the "Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005" (HR 1975 & S 942). The reintroduction was to be expected. There was really not time last session to get the 2004 version through all the hoops. But what was largely unanticipated is that the new bill would contain so much new material. Thanks to the great staff work by Mark Miller and the support of Mr. Boucher's office, the Bland County Board of Supervisors has unanimously endorsed more wilderness for Bland, not only the two wilderness study areas recommended by the Forest Service (Garden Mountain and Hunting Camp Creek) but also Lynn Camp Creek, a lovely area a little bit further down the Appalachian Trail. Those of us who have walked and camped in these beautiful forests are ecstatic. If we can fight our way though the Congress, Bland County will become the gateway to wilderness in Virginia.
Congressmen Jim Moran, Tom Davis, Bobby Scott, and Frank Wolf have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. Now is the time to get the other members of the Virginia delegation on board. We hear that Senator Allen may be wavering towards support of the bill, and we would like to pick up more of the House members, especially Congressmen Cantor, Goode, and Drake. Write Senator Allen and your Congressman asking them to sign on. And especially write to Congressman Goodlatte, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and to Senator Saxby Chambliss, Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, to ask them to hold hearings on the legislation:
The Honorable _________________
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable _______________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
VWEC GOES DOWN IN FLAMES
On a less happy note, the dialog between the developers of wind energy in Virginia and representatives of the conservation community has unraveled badly. The Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative began with the high hopes that wind energy advocates, conservationists, and government agencies might be able to craft a plan whereby Virginia could avoid some of the mistakes and battles that have characterized wind development in other states. The VWC has made a substantial contribution to that effort, especially through the work of Don Giecek in the development of a computerized mapping of those areas, such as wilderness and national parks, where industrial-scale wind development is patently inappropriate.
The Environmental Working Group and the rest of the VWEC principals almost agreed on a landscape classification system that embraced most of the aims of Working Group, but the whole process has ground to a halt over the wording of the final report of the EWG. VWEC was unwilling to accept some of the reservations of the EWG on problems such as bird and bat mortality and the fragmentation of habitats. Competing reports have been prepared, thus reducing the effectiveness of the whole initiative. In view of these developments, the Executive Committee has decided not to endorse either report, and to withdraw from further participation.
HELP YOUR FRIENDLY FOREST SERVICE
The Forest Service is in negotiations with a timber company to acquire a significant 1,477 acre tract of land just east of Crawfish Valley in Wythe County. The Black Lick/Char-lo Timberland parcel is 90% surrounded by National Forest. You can see it on the Blacksburg/New River Valley National Geographic Map; it's the private land running up between Browns Peak and Griffith Knob. Its acquisition would consolidate the NF holdings with beneficial effects on fire management, recreation, and watershed restoration. The Trust for Public Lands has taken an option on the property, pending survey and appropriation of money for the purchase. Please write to your Congressman and Senators to ask them to include $1.5 million in the FY06 budget to acquire this gem for all of us. ************************************* Finally, check the date stamp on your label. It shows the date of your latest contribution. Are you up to date?
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435
Field organizer: Don Giecek, 19484 Running Cedar Ln., Maidens, VA 23229 (804-749-1992)
Like a phoenix from the ashes our Virginia Wilderness Bill has risen again. On April 18th Congressman Boucher and Senator Warner introduced a sparkling, new, improved version entitled the "Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005" (HR 1975 & S 942). The reintroduction was to be expected. There was really not time last session to get the 2004 version through all the hoops. But what was largely unanticipated is that the new bill would contain so much new material. Thanks to the great staff work by Mark Miller and the support of Mr. Boucher's office, the Bland County Board of Supervisors has unanimously endorsed more wilderness for Bland, not only the two wilderness study areas recommended by the Forest Service (Garden Mountain and Hunting Camp Creek) but also Lynn Camp Creek, a lovely area a little bit further down the Appalachian Trail. Those of us who have walked and camped in these beautiful forests are ecstatic. If we can fight our way though the Congress, Bland County will become the gateway to wilderness in Virginia.
Congressmen Jim Moran, Tom Davis, Bobby Scott, and Frank Wolf have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. Now is the time to get the other members of the Virginia delegation on board. We hear that Senator Allen may be wavering towards support of the bill, and we would like to pick up more of the House members, especially Congressmen Cantor, Goode, and Drake. Write Senator Allen and your Congressman asking them to sign on. And especially write to Congressman Goodlatte, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and to Senator Saxby Chambliss, Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, to ask them to hold hearings on the legislation:
The Honorable _________________
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable _______________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
VWEC GOES DOWN IN FLAMES
On a less happy note, the dialog between the developers of wind energy in Virginia and representatives of the conservation community has unraveled badly. The Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative began with the high hopes that wind energy advocates, conservationists, and government agencies might be able to craft a plan whereby Virginia could avoid some of the mistakes and battles that have characterized wind development in other states. The VWC has made a substantial contribution to that effort, especially through the work of Don Giecek in the development of a computerized mapping of those areas, such as wilderness and national parks, where industrial-scale wind development is patently inappropriate.
The Environmental Working Group and the rest of the VWEC principals almost agreed on a landscape classification system that embraced most of the aims of Working Group, but the whole process has ground to a halt over the wording of the final report of the EWG. VWEC was unwilling to accept some of the reservations of the EWG on problems such as bird and bat mortality and the fragmentation of habitats. Competing reports have been prepared, thus reducing the effectiveness of the whole initiative. In view of these developments, the Executive Committee has decided not to endorse either report, and to withdraw from further participation.
HELP YOUR FRIENDLY FOREST SERVICE
The Forest Service is in negotiations with a timber company to acquire a significant 1,477 acre tract of land just east of Crawfish Valley in Wythe County. The Black Lick/Char-lo Timberland parcel is 90% surrounded by National Forest. You can see it on the Blacksburg/New River Valley National Geographic Map; it's the private land running up between Browns Peak and Griffith Knob. Its acquisition would consolidate the NF holdings with beneficial effects on fire management, recreation, and watershed restoration. The Trust for Public Lands has taken an option on the property, pending survey and appropriation of money for the purchase. Please write to your Congressman and Senators to ask them to include $1.5 million in the FY06 budget to acquire this gem for all of us. ************************************* Finally, check the date stamp on your label. It shows the date of your latest contribution. Are you up to date?
President: Jim Murray, 1601 Bentivar Farm Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434-973-6693)
Vice-Pres: Mark Miller, 62 Big Hill Rd., Lexington, VA 24450 (540-464-3110)
Treasurer: Juliana Simpson, 11 E. Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-662-7043)
Secretary: Laura Neale, 423 Sheep Creek Lane, Fairfield, VA 24435
Field organizer: Don Giecek, 19484 Running Cedar Ln., Maidens, VA 23229 (804-749-1992)