| Energy Project Endangers National Bird | | | | this area, but on the entire eagle population. Eagles are |
| New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) plans to | | | | not very tolerant of human activity. Human presence |
| install 200 miles of 400-kilovolt 1200 megawatt DC | | | | can stress these birds, particularly nesting eaglets and |
| power-transmission lines from the town of Marcy, NY | | | | can negatively affect their feeding and roosting habits. |
| near Utica, to the town of New Windsor in Orange | | | | Eagle watchers are instructed to be very careful |
| County to supply power to New York City and Long | | | | when observing these majestic creatures. Binoculars |
| Island. | | | | are used at a safe distance. On an interesting note, a |
| 73 miles of this line would be constructed along the | | | | quaint general store in Rowland, Pa. has placed a |
| railroad tracks on the Pennsylvania side of the | | | | telescope in front of a window facing the |
| Delaware River from Hancock, to Port Jervis, NY. This | | | | Lackawaxen River. Customers can view an active |
| stretch of the river is the principle breeding ground of | | | | nest where eagles are raising their young. |
| the American Bald Eagle. | | | | This beautiful area is protected by several acts of |
| It is recognized that this river route is the cheapest | | | | Congress including, the Bald and Golden Eagle |
| way to build the proposed power line, but certainly isn't | | | | Protection Act (BGEPA), the Migratory Bird Treaty |
| the only way. NYRI has explored other options, | | | | Act (MBTA) and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, |
| including placing the power lines along existing highway | | | | which was amended to protect the Upper Delaware |
| rights-of-way. This would be, of course, a more | | | | River in 1978. This proposed construction is in direct |
| appropriate alternative. It would not disrupt the natural | | | | violation of these acts of congress, but NYRI intends |
| habitat of the Bald Eagle, nor mar the beauty of the | | | | to push ahead with their money making scheme. It is |
| Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River | | | | said that they have powerful lobbyists in Washington |
| corridor. | | | | representing them. It seems that nothing can stop profit |
| The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition (UDPC) | | | | privateers from breaking our national laws which are |
| has retained Attorney Richard J. Lippes in hopes of | | | | supposed to protect the environment. |
| ending or diverting this project. He is nationally | | | | Interestingly, the application by NYRI for designation |
| recognized for successful legal advocacy of plaintiffs | | | | under the new Bush energy bill will be pitting the US |
| in high profile and historic environmental and | | | | Department of Energy and US Department of the |
| preservation cases, such as Love Canal and Three | | | | Interior National Park Service against one another. |
| Mile Island. | | | | In addition to the UDPC, many other opposition forces |
| The NYRI Power Line Project would turn the river | | | | have gathered in an attempt to block this destruction |
| corridor into a construction zone for over 2 years. The | | | | of the Upper Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers. |
| noise pollution of dynamite blasting, diesel cranes, and | | | | Besides the support of residents and businesses |
| general commotion would displace wildlife, including | | | | throughout the region, there is also impressive |
| eagles, perhaps forever. No community would be | | | | environmental and political backing: Robert F. Kennedy, |
| spared, and the economic damage would be felt for | | | | Jr. (Pres., The Waterkeeper Alliance), the NRDC |
| years. The tranquil beauty of pristine rivers would | | | | (Natural Resources Defense Council), NY Senators |
| vanish, and so would fishermen, summer tourists and | | | | James L. Seward and Raymond A. Meier, US |
| the American eagle. | | | | Representative Don Sherwood of Pa., Pa. |
| Even if a few eagles remained, they would most likely | | | | Representatives Maurice Hinchey and Jerry Birmelin, |
| perish hitting, or sitting on the finished power lines. | | | | the National Park Service, Sierra Club, American |
| Furthermore, it is a known fact that even getting close | | | | Canoe Association, Environmental Advocates of N.Y. |
| to electrified lines - especially high-voltage lines - is | | | | and many others. |
| dangerous and potentially lethal. | | | | Astonishingly, on May 16, aids at the Washington |
| The NYRI is a privately owned and privately funded | | | | offices of Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum |
| for-profit company. NYRI, which has very big money | | | | said that to their knowledge neither Senator had taken |
| behind it, is represented by the powerful New York | | | | a stand on the issue. |
| law firm of former mayor Rudy Giuliani. | | | | The American Bald Eagle is one of the most |
| Although the NYRI Project keeps an office in Albany, | | | | magnificent creatures on Earth. It should be our |
| N.Y., a Canadian entrepreneur named Richard | | | | responsibility to insure the safety of its habitats and |
| Muddiman is its president. NYRI investors in this one | | | | preserve the areas in which it feeds and breeds. The |
| billion dollar venture remain anonymous. One has to | | | | eagle is the symbol of our very freedom, as |
| wonder if any of these investors are US citizens. The | | | | Americans. We should make sure that future |
| question must be asked why should foreign | | | | generations can watch them as they soar in the sky. |
| businessmen get rich at the expense of our national | | | | The Bald Eagle, which was almost extinct twenty-five |
| bird? Why should anyone? | | | | years ago, has made a triumphant comeback. Will we |
| This project was originally proposed by a company | | | | allow this tragedy to happen again? Threatening the |
| called Pegasus in 2003. NYRI purchased the rights | | | | safety of the habitat of the American Bald Eagle is |
| from them to run utilities along the rail line of Norfolk & | | | | paramount to burning our National Flag. It is unpatriotic |
| Southern. Pegasus was, curiously, also headed by | | | | and unforgivable! This project should be stopped and |
| Canadian Richard A. Muddiman. I believe his nickname | | | | stopped at once. If NYRI gets approval on the state |
| is RAM! | | | | level, there will be little chance of stopping them once |
| The high voltage power lines would be mounted on | | | | they reach Washington. |
| 130 foot high towers and spaced every 800 feet for | | | | The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition (UDPC) |
| 200 miles. It would transform two of the most beautiful | | | | needs your support. Please help by joining and making |
| rivers in the U.S; the Lackawaxen and the Delaware, | | | | a donation online at Click Here or by writing a |
| into an industrial conduit. | | | | tax-deductible check to: UDPC, P.O. Box 252, |
| The NYRI Power Line Project would have a | | | | Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764. |
| devastating impact on not only the scenic beauty of | | | | |