VWC Newsletter - May 1996
VWC Annual Meeting
When:
Forest Service Announces Decision to Permit Building Thornwood Gas Pipeline
by Ernie DickermanThe Monongahela National Forest has issued, as of April 1, 1996, its official "Notice of Decision" declaring its intent to grant the requested permit to Thornwood Gas, Inc. to build an approximately 32-mile pipeline to connect its existing six gas wells on the Monongahela to an existing private commercial gas pipeline outside the Forest. Construction of this pipeline would enable Thornwood Gas to deliver to market and sell the gas produced from the six existing wells; since being drilled in the 1960's, these wells have been "shut-in," never commercially producing any gas. The agency also indicates in its Environmental Assessment (see pp. 110 & 111) that as many as sixty gas wells may be drilled on the Monongahela, plus an additional two to five gas wells on the Laurel Fork area of the adjoining George Washington National Forest.
The Monongahela Forest in its "Notice of Decision". has relied on its Environmental Assessment (issued in October 1995) to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in justifying its decision to issue the requested pipeline permit. The Monongahela takes the position that its Environmental Assessment adequately presents and considers all environmental factors related to the construction and operation of the proposed gas pipeline. To the contrary, many citizens of West Virginia and Virginia and their conservation organizations declare that a broader, more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is needed under NEPA because of the many biological, ecological, and conservation factors which the Forest Service has refused to give weight to, refused on the grounds that they are irrelevant and therefore not legally required to be taken account of.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) in Charlottesville is planning to appeal this decision to issue the permit to build the pipeline. SELC is a private organization offering its legal services to citizen groups to gain full and effective application of federal and state environmental laws. In this case involving the Forest Service and Thornwood Gas Inc., SELC will be representing a coalition of citizen groups, such as the Sierra Club (Virginia and West Virginia Chapters), The Wilderness Society, Friends of Laurel Fork, Citizens Task Force, and Virginia Wilderness Committee, plus quite likely one or two other West Virginia groups.
The joint position of the Monongahela and the George Washington national Forests is that in deciding whether to grant the requested permit, it need give weight only to the direct effects on the forest of the construction and operation of the pipeline as it is described in the permit application. This means that the Forest Service has nearly ignored what is practically certain to happen to the forest subsequently: permission will be sought to drill many new wells, build roads, clear pipeline right-of-way through the forest, operate motor vehicles throughout the forest, mountain streams alive with trout will be subject to silting, wildlife will be seriously disturbed, and the adjacent 10,000 acre, de facto wilderness of Laurel Fork area on which Thornwood Gas Inc. holds a valid lease will be invaded to build roads, drill wells, and lay pipe. The Forest Service refuses to consider fully any of these future effects of granting the requested permit. These future effects are legally called "indirect effects." To what extent "indirect effects" need to be given weight is a sharp legal question. The citizens' coalition mentioned above and SELC believe they must be fully considered by an Environmental Impact Statement.
There is also the question whether the project as proposed by Thornwood Gas Inc. is economically viable, meaning whether the gas expected to be produced and sold from the six existing wells will cover the costs of the project? Thornwood Gas declares its estimated $4,000,000 cost of building the pipeline will be covered by the estimated gas sales. The study prepared by the professional economist and geologist experienced in oil and gas well projects engaged by the citizens coalitions shows the project as described will not even come close to meeting costs. The Monongahela Forest accepts Thornwood Gas' estimates of costs and revenues. Obviously we citizens do not.
Now, getting down to our citizen concerns, there are two equally important parts. One is the undesirable effects on the 42,000-acre portion of the Monongahela Forest of the proposed pipeline both immediately and in the foreseeable future. The other is the very real threat to the extraordinary natural character of the wild and beautiful Laurel Fork area on the adjacent George Washington Forest by the pipeline which would be laid on the western boundary of the Laurel Fork area, providing quick, convenient access to Laurel Fork for gas development. This four- or five-mile portion of the proposed pipeline on the edge of Laurel Fork winds back and forth between the Monongahela Forest in West Virginia and the George Washington Forest in Virginia; thus two states and two national forests are involved.
This critical stage in the campaign to protect the Monongahela National Forest and to keep Laurel Fork like it is--wild, wonderful and beautiful--is an effective time to seek the support of decision makers, meaning the following key Members of Congress:
Representatives ( U.S. House of Representative, Washington, DC 20515)
Please ask the Chief of the Forest Service in Washington and the Regional Forester in Milwaukee to instruct the Forest Supervisors of the Monongahela and George Washington National Forests to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (instead of the inadequate Environmental Assessment already issued) on the matter of the permit application of Thornwood Gas Inc. to build a gas pipeline on the two national forests.Forest Service officials give full thought and attention to the desires of Members of Congress. Also, it is politically easy for Members of Congress to ask the Forest Service to prepare an EIS since they can do what the voters ask without making a commitment to being for or against the pipeline. It is especially important for residents of Highland County who want to keep the Laurel Fork area like it is--wild, beautiful and free of the works of man-- to write to Rep. Bob Goodlatte.
Your brief letters now to your Congressman and Senators can be highly effective in ultimately winning this fight. Strike while the iron is hot!
Forest Watch Report
Peters Ridge Timber Sale (Dolly Ann Roadless Area) The Forest Service is proposing this sale in the Dolly Ann Roadless Area just north of Covington. The project involves cutting 137 acres and building 1.6 miles of new road in Dolly Ann, which has not been logged since the Forest Service acquired it in the 1930's. The project area is "older forest stands" described as 76+ years or older, an age class that is in short supply in the GWNF. The goal of the Forest Service is to create six large clearings where soft mast, such as berries, can grow. At present there are no clearings in the project area. After logging the timber, the Forest Service plans to pile the slash to create potential bear dens. The proposal also involves burning 165 acres and creating 2 ponds. All this activity is being proposed in an area that is under Management Area 14, which emphasizes habitat for species, such as bear, that prefer mature forest free from disturbance.Another rationale for the activity is that the area will probably be defoliated by gypsy moths in 5-8 years! If they log the area now, the trees will not die in a decade. Now that's really planning ahead! This action gives the term "preemptive strike" new meaning. The Forest Service has concluded that "this level of harvest, associated road construction, and wildlife habitat improvement work would not substantially alter the undeveloped character of the inventoried roadless area." Although the deadline for comments on this proposal was April 26, the Forest Service is continuing to accept comments until they make a decision later this year.
Please take time to write:
Shenandoah National Park Boundary FreezeAlthough House Bill 1091, which includes a provision to freeze the boundary of Shenandoah National Park, solidly passed the House on Sept. 19, 1995, no companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. Senator Robb has made a strong statement against a boundary freeze. He would like to see the Related Lands Study be completed before any boundary adjustments are made. If you have not done so already, please write Senator Warner (United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510) and ask him not to introduce or support a Park boundary freeze bill. We need to let him know we are keeping an eye on this threat to our magnificent National Park and that we do not want such a precedent set for other National Parks.
New Web Page on Virginia Wilderness
If you have a computer and an Internet connection, be sure to visit the new Virginia Wilderness Web page at the following address:
http://www.lib.jmu.edu/libliaison/camerosl/wild/wild.htm
Developed by Lynn Cameron and three JMU students (Josh Olive, Brian Meehan, and Matt Shinderman) from Dr. Jack Gentile's resource geography class, the Web page provides:
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. 11 E Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (703) 662-7043
SECRETARY Charles Pierce 211 Evening Lane, Winchester, VA 22603 (703) 667-3184
When:
- 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Saturday, June 1, 1996
- Hillandale Park, Shelter 4, Harrisonburg, VA 22801Directions: From I-81, take the Port Republic Road exit. Go west. Cross Rt. 11 and continue west to Rt. 42. Turn south and go about a mile. Turn west to Hillandale Park.
- Laurel Fork/Gas pipleline; Shenandoah National Park; Forest Watch report; Election of officers
Forest Service Announces Decision to Permit Building Thornwood Gas Pipeline
by Ernie DickermanThe Monongahela National Forest has issued, as of April 1, 1996, its official "Notice of Decision" declaring its intent to grant the requested permit to Thornwood Gas, Inc. to build an approximately 32-mile pipeline to connect its existing six gas wells on the Monongahela to an existing private commercial gas pipeline outside the Forest. Construction of this pipeline would enable Thornwood Gas to deliver to market and sell the gas produced from the six existing wells; since being drilled in the 1960's, these wells have been "shut-in," never commercially producing any gas. The agency also indicates in its Environmental Assessment (see pp. 110 & 111) that as many as sixty gas wells may be drilled on the Monongahela, plus an additional two to five gas wells on the Laurel Fork area of the adjoining George Washington National Forest.
The Monongahela Forest in its "Notice of Decision". has relied on its Environmental Assessment (issued in October 1995) to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in justifying its decision to issue the requested pipeline permit. The Monongahela takes the position that its Environmental Assessment adequately presents and considers all environmental factors related to the construction and operation of the proposed gas pipeline. To the contrary, many citizens of West Virginia and Virginia and their conservation organizations declare that a broader, more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is needed under NEPA because of the many biological, ecological, and conservation factors which the Forest Service has refused to give weight to, refused on the grounds that they are irrelevant and therefore not legally required to be taken account of.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) in Charlottesville is planning to appeal this decision to issue the permit to build the pipeline. SELC is a private organization offering its legal services to citizen groups to gain full and effective application of federal and state environmental laws. In this case involving the Forest Service and Thornwood Gas Inc., SELC will be representing a coalition of citizen groups, such as the Sierra Club (Virginia and West Virginia Chapters), The Wilderness Society, Friends of Laurel Fork, Citizens Task Force, and Virginia Wilderness Committee, plus quite likely one or two other West Virginia groups.
The joint position of the Monongahela and the George Washington national Forests is that in deciding whether to grant the requested permit, it need give weight only to the direct effects on the forest of the construction and operation of the pipeline as it is described in the permit application. This means that the Forest Service has nearly ignored what is practically certain to happen to the forest subsequently: permission will be sought to drill many new wells, build roads, clear pipeline right-of-way through the forest, operate motor vehicles throughout the forest, mountain streams alive with trout will be subject to silting, wildlife will be seriously disturbed, and the adjacent 10,000 acre, de facto wilderness of Laurel Fork area on which Thornwood Gas Inc. holds a valid lease will be invaded to build roads, drill wells, and lay pipe. The Forest Service refuses to consider fully any of these future effects of granting the requested permit. These future effects are legally called "indirect effects." To what extent "indirect effects" need to be given weight is a sharp legal question. The citizens' coalition mentioned above and SELC believe they must be fully considered by an Environmental Impact Statement.
There is also the question whether the project as proposed by Thornwood Gas Inc. is economically viable, meaning whether the gas expected to be produced and sold from the six existing wells will cover the costs of the project? Thornwood Gas declares its estimated $4,000,000 cost of building the pipeline will be covered by the estimated gas sales. The study prepared by the professional economist and geologist experienced in oil and gas well projects engaged by the citizens coalitions shows the project as described will not even come close to meeting costs. The Monongahela Forest accepts Thornwood Gas' estimates of costs and revenues. Obviously we citizens do not.
Now, getting down to our citizen concerns, there are two equally important parts. One is the undesirable effects on the 42,000-acre portion of the Monongahela Forest of the proposed pipeline both immediately and in the foreseeable future. The other is the very real threat to the extraordinary natural character of the wild and beautiful Laurel Fork area on the adjacent George Washington Forest by the pipeline which would be laid on the western boundary of the Laurel Fork area, providing quick, convenient access to Laurel Fork for gas development. This four- or five-mile portion of the proposed pipeline on the edge of Laurel Fork winds back and forth between the Monongahela Forest in West Virginia and the George Washington Forest in Virginia; thus two states and two national forests are involved.
This critical stage in the campaign to protect the Monongahela National Forest and to keep Laurel Fork like it is--wild, wonderful and beautiful--is an effective time to seek the support of decision makers, meaning the following key Members of Congress:
Representatives ( U.S. House of Representative, Washington, DC 20515)
- West Virginia:
- Rep. Nick Rahall (Pocahontas County)
- Rep. Bob Wise (Pendleton and Randolph Counties)
- Virginia:
- West Virginia:
- Sen. Robert Byrd
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller
- Virginia:
Please ask the Chief of the Forest Service in Washington and the Regional Forester in Milwaukee to instruct the Forest Supervisors of the Monongahela and George Washington National Forests to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement (instead of the inadequate Environmental Assessment already issued) on the matter of the permit application of Thornwood Gas Inc. to build a gas pipeline on the two national forests.Forest Service officials give full thought and attention to the desires of Members of Congress. Also, it is politically easy for Members of Congress to ask the Forest Service to prepare an EIS since they can do what the voters ask without making a commitment to being for or against the pipeline. It is especially important for residents of Highland County who want to keep the Laurel Fork area like it is--wild, beautiful and free of the works of man-- to write to Rep. Bob Goodlatte.
Your brief letters now to your Congressman and Senators can be highly effective in ultimately winning this fight. Strike while the iron is hot!
Forest Watch Report
Peters Ridge Timber Sale (Dolly Ann Roadless Area) The Forest Service is proposing this sale in the Dolly Ann Roadless Area just north of Covington. The project involves cutting 137 acres and building 1.6 miles of new road in Dolly Ann, which has not been logged since the Forest Service acquired it in the 1930's. The project area is "older forest stands" described as 76+ years or older, an age class that is in short supply in the GWNF. The goal of the Forest Service is to create six large clearings where soft mast, such as berries, can grow. At present there are no clearings in the project area. After logging the timber, the Forest Service plans to pile the slash to create potential bear dens. The proposal also involves burning 165 acres and creating 2 ponds. All this activity is being proposed in an area that is under Management Area 14, which emphasizes habitat for species, such as bear, that prefer mature forest free from disturbance.Another rationale for the activity is that the area will probably be defoliated by gypsy moths in 5-8 years! If they log the area now, the trees will not die in a decade. Now that's really planning ahead! This action gives the term "preemptive strike" new meaning. The Forest Service has concluded that "this level of harvest, associated road construction, and wildlife habitat improvement work would not substantially alter the undeveloped character of the inventoried roadless area." Although the deadline for comments on this proposal was April 26, the Forest Service is continuing to accept comments until they make a decision later this year.
Please take time to write:
- Cynthia Snow
James River District Ranger
George Washington National Forest
810A Madison Ave
Covington, VA 24426
- The proposed actions of logging and roadbuilding will degrade the natural character of the Dolly Ann Roadless Area.
- According to the 1st Annual Report of the Cooperative Allegheny Black Bear Study, Sept., 1995, "25 of 27 bear dens were in hollow trees or snags." This indicates that bear probably prefer standing trees over downed logs and piles of slash for denning. Leaving the trees standing will be more beneficial to bear than creating clearings.
- No one can predict what the gypsy moth will do to a given area in 5-8 years. We have already seen population crashes and parasites that have affected predictions.
- If the gypsy moth does come, as predicted, they will create clearings where soft mast can grow, thus making any man-made clearings unnecessary.
Shenandoah National Park Boundary FreezeAlthough House Bill 1091, which includes a provision to freeze the boundary of Shenandoah National Park, solidly passed the House on Sept. 19, 1995, no companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. Senator Robb has made a strong statement against a boundary freeze. He would like to see the Related Lands Study be completed before any boundary adjustments are made. If you have not done so already, please write Senator Warner (United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510) and ask him not to introduce or support a Park boundary freeze bill. We need to let him know we are keeping an eye on this threat to our magnificent National Park and that we do not want such a precedent set for other National Parks.
New Web Page on Virginia Wilderness
If you have a computer and an Internet connection, be sure to visit the new Virginia Wilderness Web page at the following address:
http://www.lib.jmu.edu/libliaison/camerosl/wild/wild.htm
Developed by Lynn Cameron and three JMU students (Josh Olive, Brian Meehan, and Matt Shinderman) from Dr. Jack Gentile's resource geography class, the Web page provides:
- information on the history of Wilderness in Virginia
- descriptions of wilderness areas and proposed wilderness areas,
- VWC newsletters (including this one) and action alerts
- a key to Ernie Dickerman's papers in the JMU Carrier Library Special Collections
- a photo gallery of some wonderful shots of our favorite wild places in Virginia
- answers to common questions about Wilderness
- an essay by Ernie Dickerman entitled "In Celebration of a Quarter Century of Wilderness"
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. 11 E Monmouth, Winchester, VA 22601 (703) 662-7043
SECRETARY Charles Pierce 211 Evening Lane, Winchester, VA 22603 (703) 667-3184