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 Citizen's and Environmental friends 

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 Thursday December 31, 2009

CARE Letter to the Editor

Martinsburg Journal

My name is Eric Sandstrom. I live in the community of Gerrardstown.  I love this area.  I am really dismayed at the virtual erection of a "brick wall" around the issue of North Mountain Shale, LLC.  I never imagined that we would be faced with this kind of environmental hostility in Gerrardstown.  Throughout the panhandle we have history.  George Washington came through here, The Civil War came through here, and families homesteaded here.  Gerrardstown is one of those few continuously inhabited towns from the late 18th century.  Towns like Gerrardstown are extremely rare.  Fortunately, this was recognized by some thoughtful people, and the Historical Society is full of information about Gerrardstown; there was even a book published about it. We are a designated Historic District, and the George Washington Trail that winds through the area comes right through Gerrardstown.  The thing is, that's why people come to live in a place like this.  It's why I did, anyway.  What really impressed me about Berkeley County in 1992 was the sense of community.  When we moved in, our neighbors brought cakes and pies to welcome us!  Community is precious and we should not take it for granted.  My point of view: it's more than a little bit short sighted to start digging up North Mountain; it could be evidence of blindness!  Mining interests aside, who is it that's been living here in stewardship of the land for the last 200 and some odd years?  The people of Berkeley County.  Shouldn't we have some sort of say about a mining operation that is first of all going to give us nothing, and then dirty up the air and the water, cause erosion problems, traffic problems, totally mess up the character of our little town, and is not even from West Virginia?  Who says you can do that?  It seems there's up for sale and then.. there's up for sale.  This is not coal country, USA.  In fact, we have a chance to become the land of nice properties and houses and even eco-tourism, USA.  We have the best of the best.  You wouldn't believe the number of bikes that come through here on any Saturday during the summer months.  I know; I hear them!  But that's good, and it helps the economy.  They stop by the Corner Store, and lots of other businesses in the panhandle.  But we seem to have arrived at some sort of political predicament where Governor Manchin appears to have his hands tied, and it doesn't matter what geologist you talk to or what they say, because you can't walk around inside a mountain; but wait a minute...does anybody really think that popping that mountain open like a water balloon is not going to have a major effect on wells around here?  Let's have some common sense!  West Virginians are usually long on common sense.  The rest of our legislators have been sitting on their hands too, from Jonathan Miller to Shelly Moore Capito.  Why won't anybody help us?  Now, I will say kudos to the Berkeley County Commission for doing a great thing and passing that resolution last summer.  Thank-you.  Now, I'll borrow an old phrase and say that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this particular project on this particular parcel of land, at this particular point in time is a bad idea.  It needs to fall off the launch pad.  We need more community involvement; intense community involvement and real pressure, or our best hopes for Berkeley County in the future are going to be shattered.  Hindsight is 20/20 they say.  Let's have some foresight.  If mountaineers are free, let's act free and get the special interests off our backs.  I strongly suggest that anyone reading this who has access to a computer go to www.northmountain.org and find out what is really going on here.  We need your help.

 Thank-you,

 Eric Sandstrom,  Gerrardstown 

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Friday August 28, 2009

My neighbors and I in Gerrardstown, WV could not agree more about the caution- Buyer Beware! We were fooled into buying homes at scenic and historic Gerrardstown, WV home of over 90 National Registered historic properties and site of a pristine and scenic residential location.  But if you live in West VA- you apparently always have to worry about the next mining operation moving in.

We are saddened and discouraged that a huge strip mine operation is being proposed to mine shale from majestic North Mountain that over looks our historic village. Even the fact that the heavily ‘ popular tourist traversed’ George Washington Heritage Trail meanders through our scenic location – appears to have little weight to stop this devastating project. Surely visitors to West VA will remark on the inappropriate location of a strip mine at this visible location.

The frustration and disappointment we feel at the impending health issues and loss of property values associated with an expansive mining operation at our completely residential location is overwhelming.

When our WV State Historic Preservation Officer, Susan Pierce determines, there are so-called “No Adverse Effects” and this can be mitigated by planting some trees, we can only shake our heads in disbelief. Could it be that the state will allow an out -of -state mining operator to bull doze down thousands of trees and scrape off the face of the mountain on a 900’ high vertical strip mine overlooking our homes & schools and we will be lucky to get some tree saplings planted in their wake?

Our community has worked hard to be an asset to WV, but when the decision makers and our Governor do not care, it is a lost cause.

Yes- Buyer Beware! West Virginia is For Sale, but not for families trying to make their dreams come true.

Sincerely,

Kelly Miller

Gerrardtown WV  

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