VWC Newsletter - March 1994
Mount Pleasant Hearing Set for Wednesday April 13, 1994
by Ernie Dickerman
The hearing on the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area bill, H.R. 2942, will be held by the House Agriculture Committee at Washington DC on Wednesday, April 13. This hearing is our big opportunity to convince the House Agriculture Committee to report favorably our Mount Pleasant bill. "To report favorably" means that the Committee tells the House of Representatives that the bill is a good one and should be passed by the House. That is what we want and need!How do we get a favorable report from the House Agriculture Committee? We get it by each of us participating in the hearing: participating by writing your own letter to the Committee supporting the bill. More about this below.
As readers of the Virginia Wilderness Committee's Newsletters, you know we have a bill which, if and when enacted by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President, will effectively protect the splendid Mount Pleasant area and permanently preserve its valuable, beautiful, natural characteristics.
Congressman Robert Goodlatte who originated and introduced this Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area bill, H.R. 2942, has agreed in writing to the Amherst County Board of Supervisors (who are unanimously in favor of the bill) and to our President Lynn Cameron to make three changes in the bill as it will be considered by the Agriculture Committee: (1) To add under Purposes of the bill in Sec. 2(1) a phrase to protect and preserve the "natural characteristics" of the area; (2) Under Sec. 4(d), line 16, to replace the word "habitat" with the word "clearings", so that only within the existing wildlife clearings may the Forest Service alter the plant life; and (3) To add a new section prohibiting all mining, including no drilling for oil and gas.
The bill as printed already prohibits any timber harvesting, operation of motor vehicles, building of any new permanent roads, and interfering in any way with the quality and quantity of the water in the streams (which streams as tributaries of the North Fork of Buffalo River provide the pure, abundant source of water for the Amherst County public water system). The use of hand power tools (such as chainsaws and motor-driven weed cutters) to maintain the Appalachian and other trails is permitted. Just as in the Wilderness Act, fire, insects and disease may be controlled.
The size of our Mount Pleasant wilderness proposal was variously estimated between 8,000 and 8,500 acres approximately. H.R. 2942 cites the acreage as 7,580 acres "more or less". In fact, the proposed wilderness boundary and the national scenic area boundary differ only slightly. The difference is not worth starting an argument about.
Now let's talk about your telling the Committee how you feel about protecting the Mount Pleasant area by H.R. 2942. All that is needed is your brief personal letter saying in the opening sentence that you fully support H.R. 2942, the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area bill, and then in a following paragraph(s) give one or two reasons why you want the bill passed--so the Committee knows it is your own letter, not some form letter. Unless you are writing as the official representative of some organization, do NOT mention that you are a member of any organization. What counts with the Committee is that you are a VOTER who wants the bill passed. Address your letter: Chairman Kika de la Garza, House Agriculture Committee, Longworth Office Building, Washington DC 20515. To increase your influence, send a copy of your letter to your own Congressperson (address: (U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515).
President Lynn Cameron will attend the hearing on April 13 and will speak for the Virginia Wilderness Committee. Ernie Dickerman will be there, testifying for the Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club. National organizations, such as National Audubon Society, National Sierra Club, and The Wilderness Society, will also testify in support of the bill, H.R. 2942, to permanently close the Mount Pleasant area to logging, road building, and to any other action by the Forest Service which would damage its natural character.
Almost finally, testifying by letter is something extremely important because (A) plenty of persons testifying in support of the bill will convince the Committee to report it favorably, and (B) the hearing is our first and best opportunity to influence Virginia's Senators John Warner and Charles Robb to work actively to move the bill through the Senate after it has been passed by the House (their staffs will attend the hearing and review all the testimony).
One last word. While letters should be mailed before the hearing date of April 13, actually the record is kept open for 10 days after the hearing (til May 3) for receipt of letters.
SURE, GIVE YOURSELF THE PLEASURE OF TELLING A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO, BY WRITING YOUR LETTER TO THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WITH A COPY MAILED TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AN AMERICAN!
Laurel Fork Threatened by Gas Pipeline
by Lynn and Malcolm Cameron
For three decades, the Virginia Wilderness Committee has considered Laurel Fork to be one of the most outstanding natural areas in Virginia. Situated in the high elevations of Highland County, the 10,000-acre Laurel Fork roadless area is the home of over 25 threatened, endangered and sensitive (TES) plant and animal species. In fact it contains the largest concentration of TES species on the George Washington National Forest. It provides unique habitat for the Northern flying squirrel, snowshoe hare, saw-whet owl, water shrew and fisher. Beaver dams and meadows surrounded by red spruce forests are found at the headwaters of the six streams that support breeding populations of native trout. In short Laurel Fork could be described as a paradise for naturalists, fishermen, hikers, and folks seeking solitude and beauty. The Virginia Wilderness Committee first began to seek Congressional wilderness designation for Laurel Fork in the 60's, and it is still one of our top candidates.
In January, the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests jointly sent out a scoping notice proposing to issue a special use permit to Thornwood Gas, Inc. to build a 32-mile gas pipeline beginning near Witmer, WV, running along the western edge of Laurel Fork, and terminating at Old House Run Picnic Area on Route 250 in Pendleton County, WV. According to the scoping notice, the purpose of routing the pipeline along Laurel Fork is to provide access to six existing capped gas wells that have heretofore been unusable. These six wells are located in the interior of the roadless area. Although Thornwood Gas insists they plan no further development, it is obvious that the $4 million pipeline could be justified only by building additional gas wells. The new wells would no doubt be accompanied by roads, electric lines, and extensive excavation through much of the 94% of Laurel Fork now under lease.
The new GWNF Plan has a special management prescription for Laurel Fork which emphasizes maintaining and enhancing the unique biological values and providing primitive, nonmotorized recreation in a remote setting. At the same time, the plan allows for continued leasing of gas reserves. Unfortunately, these opposing values - biodiversity and recreation on the one hand and gas development on the other - are incompatible. The proposed pipeline would have a major negative effect on the wild character of the area. If the pipeline were built, TES species would lose valuable unfragmented habitat. The pipeline would also adversely affect all forms of recreational use that are allowed in the area.
Forty years ago when mineral leases were issued for Laurel Fork, no one involved understood the ecological value and uniqueness of the area. Since then scientists have carefully documented the wealth of biodiversity and rare species found there. Only a strong unified protest and decisive action will save Laurel Fork from this destructive development. Although the deadline for making comments in response to the scoping notice has passed, we can still let the new Forest Service Chief know how we feel. Please write a letter opposing the pipeline to Jack Ward Thomas, Chief, US Forest Service, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
Forest Watch Report
by Lynn Cameron
It seems that the GWNF has planned an all out assault on roadless areas. Since the new GW Forest Plan came out last year, about a half dozen scoping notices that involve actions that will destroy or diminish the wild character of roadless areas have come out. Several of these areas have been proposed for wilderness designation by the VWC. Following is a list of important projects the Forest Watch group is concerned about:
Briery Branch Helicopter Salvage Sale
The George Washington National Forest has issued a letter stating they will NOT move forward with the Briery Branch Helicopter Sale this winter. The GWNF plans to wait and see how much gypsy moth defoliation occurs this summer. Then they will reevaluate the damage and decide whether to proceed with the sale. This is good news for us! Thanks to the diligent efforts of our Forest Watch group, working in conjunction with other environmental groups, the Forest Service received a clear message that a number of citizens do not want this area logged. No doubt the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund's threat to bring a lawsuit to stop the sale helped, too. The sale area lies within the northern part of the Little River Special Management Area, which is one of VWC's top candidates for wilderness designation.
Fivewood Timber Sale
The Sierra Club has filed an appeal on this sale in the Little Allegheny Roadless Area.
Laurel Fork Gas Pipeline
Forest Watch members wrote letters opposing the pipeline in January, 1994.
West Dry Branch
This timber sale would involve logging and roadbuilding in both the Elliott Knob and Crawford Mountain roadless areas. Members of the Forest Watch group will receive information on this project soon.
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 Dan French 107 Merry Acres Dr., Madison Heights, VA 24572 (703) 845-1605
TREASURER Julie Simpson P.O. Box 3889, Winchester, VA 22604 (703) 662-7043
SECRETARY R.D. Floyd Rt. 1, Box 510A, Tye River, VA 22922 (804) 263-5003
by Ernie Dickerman
The hearing on the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area bill, H.R. 2942, will be held by the House Agriculture Committee at Washington DC on Wednesday, April 13. This hearing is our big opportunity to convince the House Agriculture Committee to report favorably our Mount Pleasant bill. "To report favorably" means that the Committee tells the House of Representatives that the bill is a good one and should be passed by the House. That is what we want and need!How do we get a favorable report from the House Agriculture Committee? We get it by each of us participating in the hearing: participating by writing your own letter to the Committee supporting the bill. More about this below.
As readers of the Virginia Wilderness Committee's Newsletters, you know we have a bill which, if and when enacted by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President, will effectively protect the splendid Mount Pleasant area and permanently preserve its valuable, beautiful, natural characteristics.
Congressman Robert Goodlatte who originated and introduced this Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area bill, H.R. 2942, has agreed in writing to the Amherst County Board of Supervisors (who are unanimously in favor of the bill) and to our President Lynn Cameron to make three changes in the bill as it will be considered by the Agriculture Committee: (1) To add under Purposes of the bill in Sec. 2(1) a phrase to protect and preserve the "natural characteristics" of the area; (2) Under Sec. 4(d), line 16, to replace the word "habitat" with the word "clearings", so that only within the existing wildlife clearings may the Forest Service alter the plant life; and (3) To add a new section prohibiting all mining, including no drilling for oil and gas.
The bill as printed already prohibits any timber harvesting, operation of motor vehicles, building of any new permanent roads, and interfering in any way with the quality and quantity of the water in the streams (which streams as tributaries of the North Fork of Buffalo River provide the pure, abundant source of water for the Amherst County public water system). The use of hand power tools (such as chainsaws and motor-driven weed cutters) to maintain the Appalachian and other trails is permitted. Just as in the Wilderness Act, fire, insects and disease may be controlled.
The size of our Mount Pleasant wilderness proposal was variously estimated between 8,000 and 8,500 acres approximately. H.R. 2942 cites the acreage as 7,580 acres "more or less". In fact, the proposed wilderness boundary and the national scenic area boundary differ only slightly. The difference is not worth starting an argument about.
Now let's talk about your telling the Committee how you feel about protecting the Mount Pleasant area by H.R. 2942. All that is needed is your brief personal letter saying in the opening sentence that you fully support H.R. 2942, the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area bill, and then in a following paragraph(s) give one or two reasons why you want the bill passed--so the Committee knows it is your own letter, not some form letter. Unless you are writing as the official representative of some organization, do NOT mention that you are a member of any organization. What counts with the Committee is that you are a VOTER who wants the bill passed. Address your letter: Chairman Kika de la Garza, House Agriculture Committee, Longworth Office Building, Washington DC 20515. To increase your influence, send a copy of your letter to your own Congressperson (address: (U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515).
President Lynn Cameron will attend the hearing on April 13 and will speak for the Virginia Wilderness Committee. Ernie Dickerman will be there, testifying for the Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club. National organizations, such as National Audubon Society, National Sierra Club, and The Wilderness Society, will also testify in support of the bill, H.R. 2942, to permanently close the Mount Pleasant area to logging, road building, and to any other action by the Forest Service which would damage its natural character.
Almost finally, testifying by letter is something extremely important because (A) plenty of persons testifying in support of the bill will convince the Committee to report it favorably, and (B) the hearing is our first and best opportunity to influence Virginia's Senators John Warner and Charles Robb to work actively to move the bill through the Senate after it has been passed by the House (their staffs will attend the hearing and review all the testimony).
One last word. While letters should be mailed before the hearing date of April 13, actually the record is kept open for 10 days after the hearing (til May 3) for receipt of letters.
SURE, GIVE YOURSELF THE PLEASURE OF TELLING A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO, BY WRITING YOUR LETTER TO THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WITH A COPY MAILED TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING AN AMERICAN!
Laurel Fork Threatened by Gas Pipeline
by Lynn and Malcolm Cameron
For three decades, the Virginia Wilderness Committee has considered Laurel Fork to be one of the most outstanding natural areas in Virginia. Situated in the high elevations of Highland County, the 10,000-acre Laurel Fork roadless area is the home of over 25 threatened, endangered and sensitive (TES) plant and animal species. In fact it contains the largest concentration of TES species on the George Washington National Forest. It provides unique habitat for the Northern flying squirrel, snowshoe hare, saw-whet owl, water shrew and fisher. Beaver dams and meadows surrounded by red spruce forests are found at the headwaters of the six streams that support breeding populations of native trout. In short Laurel Fork could be described as a paradise for naturalists, fishermen, hikers, and folks seeking solitude and beauty. The Virginia Wilderness Committee first began to seek Congressional wilderness designation for Laurel Fork in the 60's, and it is still one of our top candidates.
In January, the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests jointly sent out a scoping notice proposing to issue a special use permit to Thornwood Gas, Inc. to build a 32-mile gas pipeline beginning near Witmer, WV, running along the western edge of Laurel Fork, and terminating at Old House Run Picnic Area on Route 250 in Pendleton County, WV. According to the scoping notice, the purpose of routing the pipeline along Laurel Fork is to provide access to six existing capped gas wells that have heretofore been unusable. These six wells are located in the interior of the roadless area. Although Thornwood Gas insists they plan no further development, it is obvious that the $4 million pipeline could be justified only by building additional gas wells. The new wells would no doubt be accompanied by roads, electric lines, and extensive excavation through much of the 94% of Laurel Fork now under lease.
The new GWNF Plan has a special management prescription for Laurel Fork which emphasizes maintaining and enhancing the unique biological values and providing primitive, nonmotorized recreation in a remote setting. At the same time, the plan allows for continued leasing of gas reserves. Unfortunately, these opposing values - biodiversity and recreation on the one hand and gas development on the other - are incompatible. The proposed pipeline would have a major negative effect on the wild character of the area. If the pipeline were built, TES species would lose valuable unfragmented habitat. The pipeline would also adversely affect all forms of recreational use that are allowed in the area.
Forty years ago when mineral leases were issued for Laurel Fork, no one involved understood the ecological value and uniqueness of the area. Since then scientists have carefully documented the wealth of biodiversity and rare species found there. Only a strong unified protest and decisive action will save Laurel Fork from this destructive development. Although the deadline for making comments in response to the scoping notice has passed, we can still let the new Forest Service Chief know how we feel. Please write a letter opposing the pipeline to Jack Ward Thomas, Chief, US Forest Service, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
Forest Watch Report
by Lynn Cameron
It seems that the GWNF has planned an all out assault on roadless areas. Since the new GW Forest Plan came out last year, about a half dozen scoping notices that involve actions that will destroy or diminish the wild character of roadless areas have come out. Several of these areas have been proposed for wilderness designation by the VWC. Following is a list of important projects the Forest Watch group is concerned about:
Briery Branch Helicopter Salvage Sale
The George Washington National Forest has issued a letter stating they will NOT move forward with the Briery Branch Helicopter Sale this winter. The GWNF plans to wait and see how much gypsy moth defoliation occurs this summer. Then they will reevaluate the damage and decide whether to proceed with the sale. This is good news for us! Thanks to the diligent efforts of our Forest Watch group, working in conjunction with other environmental groups, the Forest Service received a clear message that a number of citizens do not want this area logged. No doubt the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund's threat to bring a lawsuit to stop the sale helped, too. The sale area lies within the northern part of the Little River Special Management Area, which is one of VWC's top candidates for wilderness designation.
Fivewood Timber Sale
The Sierra Club has filed an appeal on this sale in the Little Allegheny Roadless Area.
Laurel Fork Gas Pipeline
Forest Watch members wrote letters opposing the pipeline in January, 1994.
West Dry Branch
This timber sale would involve logging and roadbuilding in both the Elliott Knob and Crawford Mountain roadless areas. Members of the Forest Watch group will receive information on this project soon.
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 Dan French 107 Merry Acres Dr., Madison Heights, VA 24572 (703) 845-1605
TREASURER Julie Simpson P.O. Box 3889, Winchester, VA 22604 (703) 662-7043
SECRETARY R.D. Floyd Rt. 1, Box 510A, Tye River, VA 22922 (804) 263-5003