Finger Lakes Forest Watch Congress
Phone (607) 256-7624
For Immediate ReleaseóMay 31, 2001
Press Release

The Finger Lakes National Forest in Danger of Natural Gas Drilling Devastation.
Hector, NY, May 31, 2001:  Concerned citizens and students gathered Thursday
at the Forest Serviceís Open House in the Hector Fire Hall to acquire
information regarding a threat to the beauty of Western New York, namely the
Finger Lakes National Forest.  Being New Yorkís only National Forest, this
16,000 acre wilderness between Seneca and Cayuga lakes is a popular recreation
spot for locals and tourists alike.  For this reason, and many others, concerns
were raised regarding the proposal to lease the forest and grant exploitation
rights to industry for natural gas extraction purposes.  The proposal includes
a six mile pipeline, requiring clear-cutting of a path 25-50 feet wide;
construction of 30 foot wide access roads, and drill pads clearing up to 3
acres of land each (Draft Environmental Impact Statement [DEIS], Appendix B
page 28, 2-25, and 3-14, respectively).  The practical concerns of many locals
were of a different (but no less appropriate) sort, briefly:  the possibilities
of groundwater contamination (most rely on wells for water), noise pollution
from the drilling and generators, increased road wear, and the aesthetics of
the drilling rigs affecting recreation. The Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (as cited above) was recently released, outlining the proposed action
and its projected consequences to the forest.   Five alternatives are outlined
in the DEIS, with varying degrees of impact due to drilling; the lesser being
Alternative 4, the no action alternative.  No action would likely enact
directional drilling, in which the gas would be extracted on private land
outside the forest; the profits lying more directly in the hands of citizens,
rather than the gas company and federal government soaking up the majority of
the spoils, as the DEIS proposes.  The public can comment on the proposal until
July 3rd, 2001, after which suggestions must be taken into consideration by the
Forest Service for future proposals which will later be sent for approval.
Approximately 50 residents made comments at the Open House on Thursday, but
more public opinion is sorely needed for the people to be adequately heard, as
this affects all New York State residents, not only because of the preciousness
of our National Forest, but also for the precedents set by this action.  We
want to tell the gas companies that New York Public Lands are for us, and the
species that inhabit them, not for their profiteering.