[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16018]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             CLOSE FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST TO DRILLING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2001

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to proposals to 
drill for natural gas within the Finger Lakes National Forest located 
in Hector, New York between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. This proposed 
drilling will have catastrophic effects on wildlife, recreation in the 
area, and tourism vital to the region's economy.
  The Finger Lakes National Forest is the smallest national forest in 
the country and draws 46,000 recreational visitors each year who hunt, 
fish, camp, and hike on the 16,000-plus acre reserve. Any drilling in 
national parks, including the proposed drilling in the Finger Lakes 
National Forest which would utilize 130 foot rigs and pipelines, will 
cause irreparable damage to the landscape and environment.
  Recently, my office has been flooded with letters from concerned 
neighbors across Upstate New York. I have referred their correspondence 
to Dale Bosworth, Chief of the United States Forest Service, to be 
included as part of the record on this issue.
  In addition, I have expressed my concern to Congressman Callahan, 
Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development. I encourage Mr. Callahan and my fellow Appropriations 
Committee colleagues to support language recently added to an 
accompanying Senate Appropriations bill that would ban all oil and 
natural gas exploration in the forest. Our House Energy and Water 
Development conferees have the ability to retain the Senate version's 
language when the spending package is considered in conference later 
this year.
  My father, former Rep. William F. Walsh, represented this area in 
Congress in the 1970's. During that time, he fought hard to ensure this 
pristine wilderness area would be protected for future generations. In 
our current attempts to construct a sound and responsible national 
energy policy, it is my hope that this body recognizes the need for 
continued environmental stewardship to protect these national treasures 
for the generations that follow.
  I urge my fellow members to support my call to ban drilling in the 
Finger Lakes National Forest.

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