Please support new Wilderness Areas in t he ANF

“http://www.pawild.org/

This site has a lot of info about the effort to expand new wilderness areas in the ANF. It includes addresses to legislators, a form letter, etc.

I know the ANF well, and it has some really beautiful places with massive rock outcrops, wild streams, and old growth forests.

Only 2% of the ANF is designated as wilderness, one of the lowest of any national forest in the U.S.

The ANF is the most heavily drilled national forest for oil and gas in the country; with possibly more wells than all other national forests combined.

Because the government doesn't own mineral rights for the vast majority of the forest, the rights are privately owned. With high prices for oil and gas, thousands of new wells are anticipated in the ANF.

I read one estimate that wells, roads, and other machinery may cover up to 200,000 acres of a 500,000 acre forest.

A well in the ANF is not just a well, but also access roads and other machinery. There are thousands of miles of such roads in the ANF.

I am not against logging or drilling, but it is clear a balance has been lost in the ANF. I think some areas should be set aside and preserved for future generations, and 2% of the ANF is not near enough.

Unless you like hiking among oil and gas wells, machinery, and access roads, I encourage you to support additional wilderness areas.

Thank you.”

“tell you what I will plant a tree in the back yard to honor what has been lost.....(PROBLEM SOLVED RIGHT!?)”

“I actually do enjoy hiking among oil and gas wells, machinery, and access roads. Especially machinery, you can get some cool photos.”

“Well I downloaded the draft letter and modified to follow my own view on Wilderness Designation. Now I have to mail it to my Congressman before the new postage rates go up. Thanks for the update.”

“#&%!$ylvania? WGASA.....(LOL)

It okay I will see If Robert Redford can get it...you know he protected a bunch of land from the CLEETONS>...”

“Yeah, cause ya know, wilderness designations are REALLY a BAD thing...”

“UM...you do know the Great theft of the Utah land under CLEENTON siezed something like 75% of the Coal areas out there? Leaving the largest supply in...INDONESIA (HMMM where have we heard Indonesia and Clinton in the same sentence before?)


Except it stopped RIGHT before it hit Robert Redford's property...HMMMMM?”

“Isn't there a coalmining forum for fake backpackers to post to?”

“If you only want your views Tilt, start a "Me Only" forum, and sign up.”

“And yet another thread turns fuego. Thanks guys.”

“I don't think they have a public website, but I'm sure if you write to the Pennsylvania Coal Association they'll send you a sticker for your truck.”

“It's fuego from the git-go zac.

It's about spending our tax dollars by the government.
last edited: 2/12/08 8:18:55 AM”

“No kidding lumberzac. What a waste, sarcasm is all that some people have time for.

Apparently, 2% wilderness is too much.

Prosecutor, thanks for your letter, if you were being sincere.”

“Wow, the people on this site only want THEIR viewpoint expressed.

How boring and mindless.

Maybe YOU were being sarcastic when you spoke of expanding the government's already out of hand control over the populous.”

“Yeah, he was being sincere about writing AGAINST it.”

“www.thecoalminer.com/coaltalk ?”

“never mind just caught the sarcasm.

I need more caffeine today, sheesh.
last edited: 2/12/08 8:28:25 AM”

“Sometimes I wonder why I even bother checking out TT -- after reading the replies to this thread, I wonder even more...”

“I will definitely support the wilderness areas in the ANF! Thanks for bringing this to my and everyone else's attention.”

“ki0eh - try http://www.democraticwarrior.com/forum/ and get all the one sided discussion you crave.”

“Boo hoo. People are upset that Wilderness designations mean they can't rape and pillage via strip mining?

I guess you guys consider a suitable backpacking experience as walking to the KOA shower and dropping the soap.”

“Thanks to everyone for their support.

I note this isn't a democrat/republican issue.

One of the biggest champions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (through which federal lands become wilderness) was Congressman John P. Saylor, a conservative Republican.

Saylor also supported the National Scenic Trails Act.

The John P. Saylor Trail was named in his honor.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/saylor.aspx

It is an easy and enjoyable trail to hike.”

“Right on, jmitch!”

“It's still a political issue, no matter how conservative, liberal, libertarian, librarian, martian, canadian, or crustacean the politicians sponsoring it may be.”

“Thanks for the thread, Mitch.

I must see some of these places.”

“Thanks for posting this jmitch.”

“Last time I was in the Apalachicola Natl Forest I saw nary a drilling rig.”

“this is a nonpartisan backpacking back country issue that is important to hikers.”