Y'all teased me about how boring my natural gas posts/rants were so I stopped writing about it... but I think you might want to monitor this story and submit comments to DEC.

...the Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed a “Strategic Forest Management Plan” for Zoar Valley and the rest of the 770,000 acres of New York State Forests. These forests are patches of wild land scattered across the state, set aside for their unique natural wonders or for simple reforestation.

This plan was sprung upon us with a bare two months until the Oct. 29 deadline on comments. The plan would industrialize these wild preserves with deep-well gas extraction using hydrofracking and horizontal drilling.

Its 5-acre wellheads, massive truck traffic, maze of roads, insatiable demand for fresh water and inevitable pollution of surface waters with salt, heavy metals and radon has no place in our state, let alone in such vulnerable and revered places as Zoar Valley.

The DEC’s plan proposes not only “fracking” in the forests but using forest resources to support fracking elsewhere. The plan would inject the witch’s brew of waste water from other sites into exhausted state forest gas wells and hope that it would not migrate into our drinking water. It would “steal” fresh water from these forests and turn it into polluted fracking waste.

Also see

The Zoar Valley is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas of Western New York. I have hiked and snowshoed the rim trails of the gigantic gorge, looking down from the cliffs at Cattaraugus Creek, 400 feet below. I've navigated a canoe through the current and rapids on one-way trips from west of Springville to Gowanda. So much to do there, and so much to see - spring wildflowers, waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, virgin and secondary-growth forests, herons, hawks and even an occasional bald eagle - this is a sacred place that must be protected.

Recently, I was shocked to learn of a proposal by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to allow gas drilling in the Zoar Valley State Forest using hydrofracking and horizontal drilling. The controversial fracking process contaminates millions of gallons of fresh water per gas well with toxic chemicals to help release the shale gas, permanently buries most of the water deep underground and has been blamed for contamination of drinking water and human illnesses. We can not let this happen in our beautiful Zoar Valley. Keep in mind too that the Cattaraugus Creek drains into Lake Erie, the source of drinking water in the Buffalo area.

The DEC writes that public comment is encouraged and will be accepted through 4:45 p.m., Friday, October 29, 2010. Please read the articles below, review the information on the DEC website, and submit comments to the DEC by email to State Forest Strategic Plan ( stateforestplan@gw.dec.state.ny.us ). Comments may also be mailed in a letter to Strategic Plan for State Forest Management, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4255.

the unending gallery of hurricane lamps... Jill, Kelly & I went out to dinner at the hamilton club saturday night. i got new tires and I need a new muffler. Hot dog contest photos soon!

Scored a totally awesome lamp shade at A's house today when I dropped nisha off... But it is way too big for the lamp. Darn. In other news, A's little brother backed over an azalea bush in uncle dudley's yard last night. I think she's asking him to replace the azalea, including digging out the old one, and he has to be good to A for a whole year. Not quite sure how his treatment of A fits into the amends...

Order one now! $10

Another hurricane lamp...

Ad

Uncle Dudley has quite a collection of hurricane lamps. The green one is one of a pair that are mine. Bonus classified ad in the weekly rag.

This african grey parrot is 3 months old, affectionate, and for sale at tango's, corner of massachusetts and normal. he's been raised by hand. Michelle is a bird-raising expert. The other parrot is harley, a blue fronted amazon parrot. He's hanging upside down in his cage. I wish I got a shot of the love birds cuddling.

:-(

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 11, 2010             

The Pride Center of WNY Organizes Rally to Decry Carl Paladino’s Homophobic Comments

Buffalo, NY – “I don’t want our children brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option” Carl Paladino. In response, Jorien Brock, Senior Director of the Pride Center of WNY states: “This is exactly the kind of appalling public discourse that perpetuates anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender violence and tells our young LGBT folks that they are alone, do not have other options, and leads them to commit suicide.” Brock continues” And what is this about an option? Aren’t we past the point of even having a discussion about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered folks choosing to be who they are. This is not an option…it IS who we are, and who we are is very good.”

In response to the outrageous and disparaging comments made by Mr. Paladino, The Pride Center is inviting the community to stand by them in a public rally to protest these comments at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 12 in front of Mr. Paladino’s campaign headquarters at 295 Main Street in the City of Buffalo. This will be a peaceful rally to show Mr. Paladino, the people of Western New York and those throughout New York State that he does NOT speak for us.

Mr. Paladino states that “we” should not get him wrong, he does not want to hurt LGBT people?. “This is exactly what he is doing;” states Brock,“This language is hateful and hurtful.” Suicide is the number one cause of death for young LGBT people. More gay youth than any other group take their own lives because they are afraid, they do not feel safe, they do not believe they can grow up to be loved, they feel that society does not and will not accept them for who they are.

The mission of the Pride Center is to work with the community to make Western New York a safe, healthy, and satisfying place for LGBT people to live, work, and establish their families. We want people to know that you are not alone, there are people and resources here to support you, and perpetuating discrimination against LGBT people will not be tolerated.

WWW.PRIDECENTERWNY.ORG

P.S. I still have a bag full of aloe!!