Legislature opposes drilling in FLNF
                      The Schuyler County legislature went on record Monday night, July 9, opposing any proposed natural gas or oil drilling in the Finger Lakes
                      National Forest, passing a resolution against such action before an overflow crowd of about 75 in legislative chambers in the county
                      building.
                      The vast majority of the public in attendance opposed the drilling, saying it would have a negative impact on the tourism, winery business
                      and farming, as well as the environment, and that it would take a heavy toll on the rural roads leading to drilling sites.
                      The approved resolution reflected those sentiments, saying the proposed drilling would destroy roads and harm tourism and "strip the
                      forest of its unspoiled natural space."
                      Copies of the resolution will be sent to the area's congressman, Rep. Amo Houghton, and other top officials.
                      Several members of the Finger Lakes Forest Watch Congress - an advocacy group fighting the proposed drilling - attended the legislature
                      meeting and spoke out against the drilling.
                      The National Forest Service, which oversees the 16,000-acre Finger Lakes National Forest, is weighing a proposition to allow drilling  in
                      the forest.
                      About two-thirds of the forest - the only national forest in New York State ‹ lies in Schuyler County's township of Hector.
                      The remainder is in Seneca County.
                      Under the drilling proposal, about 13,000 acres of the forest would be opened up for possible drilling.
                      In the past year, there have been a number of natural gas operations on private land in Schuyler County and nearby Steuben County,
                      because of the increased demand and profitability of natural gas exploration.
                      A decision on the drilling in the forest could come in the next few months.
                      A proposal to allow drilling in the same forest in the 1980s was approved, but no drilling took place.
                      The county legislature's vote for the resolution was five in favor, two opposed with one abstention.
                      Opposing the drilling were legislators Doris Karius, the lone sponsor of the resolution, along with Ruth Young, Pat Hastings, Glenn Larison
                      and Del Bleiler.
                      (Karius, Larison and Bleiler all represent District III, which includes Hector.)
                      Voting against the resolution were legislature chairman Tom Gifford and Jerry Marvel, and Sharon Bingell abstained from voting, saying
                      she needed more information.
                      A motion to table the proposed Karius resolution, brought by Marvel, to allow for more time for legislators to study the issue, lost in a 4-4
                      vote.
                      Bleiler raised the issue of income for the county, which could be realized from any drilling operation.
                      Three percent of monies raised from drilling would be expected to go to local municipalities.