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