Laptop Battery Facing intense criticism, the federal government announced today that it was withdrawing a proposal for oil and gas drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest in upstate New York.
Michael Francis, a forest specialist for the Wilderness Society, said the White House's position that it supports roadless policy is nothing but a "ruse." "They have no intention of protecting wild forests for future generations, " he said. The Clinton administration planned to protect these forests as part of its sweeping plan to ban new road building and commercial logging in 58.5 million acres of national forests across the country.
Thinkpad The drilling plan, which had been under consideration by the United States Forest Service, would have given leases to private companies for the drilling rights to about 13,000 acres in the Finger Lakes National Forest.
Outdoor enthusiasts can soon use their national park passes to get into America's national forests, too. The move is a dramatic attempt by the U.S. Forest Service to build support for the national forest admission fees that were instituted in 1996. The fees have outraged some hikers.
Microsoft Northwest of Ithaca between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, the national forest includes steep gorges, deep lakes, wineries and small towns in a region heavily dependent on tourism.
The plan took the Forest Service nine years and $12 million to creafte, and began in 1992 as an effort to protect the endangered spotted owl. "It is the Forest Service's best effort to date to lay out a blueprint to manage the forests of the Sierra Nevada, " Mr. Rey, a former timber lobbyist, said. The plan adds safeguards for endangered species and bans logging of most trees larger than 20 inches in diameter.
Laptop Computers The proposal had drawn criticism from New York lawmakers in both parties, who expressed concern that the drilling would disrupt the delicate ecology of the forest and mar its pristine landscape.
Hampton, Campgrounds Dennis Cove Campground Camp here to enjoy the delightful national forest that surrounds this fine campground. It can be busy on weekends, but no busier than other national forest campgrounds. There are fishing and hiking op... Dennis Cove Campground Camp here and enjoy the delightful national forest that surrounds the fine campground. It can be busy on weekends, but no busier than other national forest campgrounds. There are fishing and hiking op...
Laptop Computer Several companies had been seeking to tap the estimated 16 billion cubic feet of gas below the Finger Lakes forest - enough to provide energy for 20 years to the 33,000 residents of Seneca County, where part of the forest lies.
Rain in recent weeks doused most of the blaze. Prescribed burns are used to clear brush from national forests and prevent catastrophic wildfires. Such burns have been suspended in the Osceola, Apalachicola and Ocala national forests. agency team is investigating the Osceola incident, and at least one Forest Service employee is being reassigned. ^------ U.S. //www.southernregion.fs.fed.
Desktop Computer Congress recently approved a one- year moratorium on drilling in the national forest. But the Forest Service - which until today seemed to favor limited drilling - went ahead with an environmental study to determine whether the forest should eventually be opened to gas production.
Notebooks Today's decision was announced in a statement issued by Paul Brewster, supervisor of the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. In the statement, he said, "We looked at the external environment and noted that the current supply of natural gas in the United States was sufficient for the current demand; there was no compelling public need for the natural gas at this time."
Lenovo The National Forest Service left open the possibility that it would consider drilling in the national forest in the Finger Lakes later if the need arose. But Mr. Brewster made it clear that the issue was closed for now, anyway. "It was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in my career," he said.
Hard Drive In a related action today, New York's two senators, Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, introduced legislation that would permanently ban drilling in the Finger Lakes National Forest, the only national forest in New York and the smallest in the country.
Travelstar The issue had placed New York's Republican governor, George E. Pataki, in something of a political bind. Mr. Pataki, who is seeking re-election, was slow to voice his opposition to the drilling proposal, which some took as a sign that he did not want to offend the Bush administration because it had advanced the plan.
Gateway Several environmental lobbyists said they had been counting on the governor to take a forceful position on the issue. During the governor's tenure, he has sought to win the support of environmentalists, and his commitment to conservation is an important piece of his appeal to moderate voters.
Laptop Parts The governor's opposition to the drilling is one in a string of environmental issues on which he has opposed the president, including Mr. Bush's Arctic drilling plan, his reversal of a Clinton administration plan for stricter rules on arsenic in drinking water, and his retreat from a treaty to combat global warming.
Software By Raymond Hernandez
New York Times - 12/20/2001
Topic: Forests & Trees
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