NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/9653

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-29 | 8.5 KB

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From: SEAC via Jym Dyer <[e-mail]>
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive,alt.activism,talk.environment
Subject: ACTIVISM/INFO: Saving the Eastern Forests, Saving the Monongahela!!
Followup-To: talk.environment
Date: 29 Dec 1992 06:10:11 GMT
Organization: The Naughty Peahen Party Line
Lines: 168
Approved: [e-mail]
Message-ID: <SEAC.28Dec1992.2209@naughty-peahen>
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
Keywords: environment forest

[From SEAC Mailing List]

================================================================
=> From: Michelle Rogow <[e-mail]>
=> Subject: Saving the Eastern Forests, Saving the Monongahela!!

Eastern Forests and Mountains Conservation Project

PO Box 283 ** Swarthmore ** PA ** 19081 ** 215-328-2634

"SAVE EASTERN FORESTS/SAVE THE MONONGAHELA CAMPAIGN"

As many of us go about our lives, trying to be a part of the
process of change or find ways to make a difference, it can
often be difficult to see the fruits of our individual and
collective labor.  The deep environmental and social problems
that permeate throughout our society can leave us feeling
hopeless and powerless.  In recognizing this, Eastern Forests
and Mountains Conservation Project offers the possibility to be
a part of an ongoing campaign that has activated a spectrum of
students, professors, grassroots activists, and local, regional,
and national groups in opposition to a proposed timber sale and
road construction project in the Monongahela National Forest in
West Virginia.  Having stopped the proposal when it was first
presented by the Forest Service about a year ago, we feel that
if it can be stopped this time around the Forest Service will
have no justification for any additional intensive management
plans in the near future -- and that would be history in the
making for eastern forests and forests nationwide.

  A Call to Collective Action

After submitting an administrative appeal last November,
the Forest Service in the Monongahela was forced to redo the
Environmental Assessment for a plan to cut over 1600 acres of
forest (including 1000 acres of clearcutting) and build over 25
miles of roads. In particular, they were forced to reconsider
the potential cumulative impacts of the proposed plans, and
additional destruction was stopped on a forest wide level as
no new plans were put out for about a year.  And after spending
nearly twelve months and tens, if not hundreds, of thousands
of tax dollars redoing the assessment, they still haven't got
it right.

We have been getting high school, college, graduate, law
students, and professors from around the Central Appalachian
region involved to stop the proposed Stillwell Timber Sale.  We
have also been working with individuals and organizations from
all over Pennsylvania, and Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia,
Maryland and groups near the Monongahela in West Virginia who
are actively opposing the plans.  In order to demonstrate to the
Forest Service that there is regional and national attention
focused on the proposed Stillwell sale, we are now asking that
everyone and anyone connected to eastern forests, or forests
nationwide, to become involved with this campaign.

  What You Can Do

1.  First, between now and the beginning of the third week of
November, we are requesting that individuals and groups write
to the Monongahela National Forest Supervisor's office at:

                USDA Building
                200 Sycamore Street
                Elkins, WV 26241

requesting a copy of the Decision Notice/Finding of No
Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) signed October 9, 1992 for
the plans in the Stillwell Opportunity Area.  If you want
to get the DN/FONSI sooner, give them a call at 304-636-1800,
but follow up with a letter to have some written proof of your
request.  You can also ask for the Environmental Assessment
with all appendices if you're interested in getting a more
complete (300 pages) picture of the plan.

2.  Second, we ask that the Monongahela Supervisor's office
receive letters of opposition to the proposal by December 1.
Alhough you're welcome to say whatever you'd like, the topics
mentioned below are a good starting place.  Please mail us a
copy of your letter (see address above), so that we can keep
a list of those individuals and groups opposing the plan.

3.  Third, we are requesting that groups and individuals
(especially from the Central Appalachian region and the East
Coast in general) sign onto the impending appeal.  This is
a relatively simply process where you can let us know that
you'd like to sign on, and we can list you or your group as a
co-appellant.  This is a crucial part of the campaign, as it
lets the Forest Service know that there is broad-based oppostion
to the Stillwell plan, and the destruction of public land.

4.  Fourth, we are asking that all groups and individuals from
around the nation who have not signed on to the appeal to write
to the Eastern Region Supervisor's Office requesting intervening
status.  This provides an additional opportunity for people to
voice opposition to the Forest Service in the Monongahela as
well as to provide support for the work that we have done.
Please post-mark letters no later than December 21 to:

            Eastern Region
            310 West Wisconsin Ave.
            Room 500
            Milwaukee, WI 53203

The Forest Service should then send you a copy of our appeal
and tell you that you have 30 days to respond.  Some issues
you can raise include: cumulative effects, biodiversity, effects
on water and soil quality, the need for old growth, the need for
minimum viable populations of wildlife species, the decline of
neo-tropical migrant songbirds and the environmental evils of
roads, permanent wildlife openings, herbicides and clearcutting.
(And that's just for starters!) Again, we ask that you send both
the letter requesting intervening status, and the comments
themselves to us at the address on the top of page one.  This
will help us make sure that everyone who asks to intervene gets
the opportunity to do so while allowing us to document the
regional and national support for the appeal.

  A Quick Tour Through the DN/FONSI

Some of the issues you will find (appallingly) addressed in the
Decision Notice/ Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) are
listed below.  In your response to the DN/FONIS, feel free to
address other concerns, as the problems are multitudinous!

* Our original appeal was accepted because the Forest Service
hadn't addressed cumulative effects.  Well, this time, at least
they tried.  However, you can mention that in the DN/FONSI they
mention that they have plans for Buckley Mountain and Brushy
Mountain OA?s -- which were part of the original project.
However, they don't analyze the environmental effects of these
future plans in conjunction with the Stillwell plans.  Also, you
will notice that they never come right out and say how much they
are cutting.  Criticize the way in which they compartmentalize
the project into smaller parts, making it more difficult to look
at the whole picture -- and its environmental impact.  [You can
use #2, p8, DN/FONSI.]

* The management prescription for the Stillwell area mandates
that it be managed for "remote habitat for wildlife species
sensitive to human disturbance."  Note that the secondary
emphasis on "a mix of forest products" is in contradiction
to this prescription.  This is a problem for their factor #9
[p9, DN/FONSI.]

* Clearcutting --- it's not controversial just because it's
not aesthetically pleasing.  The environmental effects of
clearcutting are "significant."  You can mention issues such
as water quality, soil compaction, forest fragmentation, etc.
[Use #7, p9, DN/FONSI.]

* Regeneration --- this is what suppossedly happens after
clearcutting.  The claim that there are no "irretrievable
commitments of resources" rests on the assumption that they
will be successful in making the trees grow back.  Two points
here:  1) many regeneration attempts have been shown to be
failures, and 2) you can re-grow trees, but not forests.
[Use #1 and #7, p8, DN/FONSI.]

* Forest fragmentation --- the Forest Service does not have
a clear understanding of the causes and effects of forest
fragmentation.  This is shown in the attempt to (poorly) plan
for old growth [p4 DN/FONSI] -- next to "permanent openings"
and "savannahs."  Furthermore, their cursory review (it's in
the EA) of the decline of neo-tropical migrant songbirds is
unsatisfactory.

THANKS AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!