I'm not sure how widely the word about the proposed development of lands adjacent to the old Galeville Airport (Shawangunk NWR) grasslands has gotten out - but here is a head's up so that people who have visited the grasslands or are concerned about grassland species such as Short-eared Owls, N. Harriers, Upland Sandpipers, and the many more can voice their concerns about the Town's plans to develop the land:
Here is a couple of exchanges that could help formulate a response to DEC. The comment period ends Sept.6th - and although DEC says that they will unofficially accept comments until the 10th, don't count on them including late arriving letters or e-mails. Letters or e-mails should go to : Joseph R Murray NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters 21 South Putt Corners Rd New Paltz, NY 12561 (845)256-3054 r3...@gw.dec.state.ny.us <mailto:r3dep%40gw.dec.state.ny.us> [you might cc the Mearns Bird Club to let them know we are behind them] From: mearnsbirdc...@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mearnsbirdc...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ajit Antony Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 11:01 AM To: mearnsbirdc...@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Mearnsbirdclub] Galeville Park development. Steve Schuyler's response. Hi all. Steve Schuyler a Mearns member sent me the e-mail below. It is an excellent letter which includes all the points one should make, and including all the birds important to the Shawangunk NWR I intend using his email as a framework for my e-mail to Mr. Murray. All members of the Mearns club and the Mearns Yahoo Group should e-mail Mr. Murray. The more the better, and share it with other birders/environmentalists too. Ajit Ajit. I wrote the letter below to Mr. Murray. Please feel free to share it as you will, and thank you for notifying me of this issue. Steve Joseph R Murray NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters 21 South Putt Corners Rd New Paltz, NY 12561 (845)256-3054 r3...@gw.dec.state.ny.us <mailto:r3dep%40gw.dec.state.ny.us> Dear Mr. Murray: I wrote the original Audubon Society application for Important Bird Area status, and contributed an article to Audubon Activist about the importance of the former Galeville airport to the many species that either use the site for breeding activities, or utilize it for overwintering. I worked with the then Refuge Manager Libby Herland for inclusion into the US FWS refuge system, and with the office of US Representative Maurice Hinchey to ensure that the site would continue to support the threatened and/or endangered species in the state who rely on the refuge for survival, including those below, all of which are in severe decline: . Northern Harriers; . Short-eared Owl; . Bobolink; . Savannah Sparrow; . American Kestrel, which declined by about 14% as breeding species in the state since the refuge was established; . Eastern Meadowlark, which shows an approximate 37% decline in the state's breeding population since the refuge was established; . Grasshopper Sparrow, never abundant in the state, but which shows a decline as breeders of greater than 50% since the refuge was established; . Upland Sandpiper, which shows a decline of greater than 70% as breeders in the state since the refuge was established; . Henslow's Sparrow, again, never abundant, but which shows a decline of 74% in the state, and is now almost extirpated as breeders in the state, again, since the refuge was established. All of these species have historically bred at or utilized Shawangunk Grasslands, and all of the declines I mentioned above have occurred since the Shawangunk Grasslands unit of the Wallkill River NWR was identified as an Important Bird Area, and since its inclusion in the US FWS national refuge system. It is therefore unconscionable that it is now to be subject to incursion by the Town of Shawangunk, especially in light of your finding that the action will result in a "taking" of some or all of these species, and many others not mentioned. Indeed, since the refuge was established to safeguard the birds who bred (and breed) there, and those who continue to use it as an overwintering site, all are in decline except us, homo sapiens. To allow the "taking" by the Town will only exacerbate and accelerate an already bad situation, and will signal an abdication of your mission, "To conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being." For all of the people of the state, not simply those with a vested interest. I find it interesting that the Town will "mitigate any adverse impacts" resulting from the construction, and the Department's findings that "takings" of endangered and threatened species will be the result of the Town's actions. I would suggest letting the Town build on the 31 acre remote site, and leave the refuge alone; why mitigate? I say avoid the problem; build the park elsewhere. The mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is "working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." I call on the NYS DEC to work with US FWS to preserve the refuge for future generations of New Yorkers and of the wildlife that utilize Shawangunk Grasslands. Without the refuge, many will not go to other places, they will simply cease to exist. And all those declines I mentioned earlier in my letter, they are the result of all the little compromises made by officials whose mission is conservation and preservation of our natural resources. all those compromises, a death of a thousand cuts for countless species who rely on our sense of fairness. Please hold the line against this next invasion of our declining natural resources. I encourage you to deny the Town's application for further development with extreme prejudice. Respectfully, Steve Schuyler __._,_.___ Reply to <mailto:aiant...@earthlink.net?subject=Re%3A%20Galeville%20Park%20developmen t%2E%20Steve%20Schuyler%27s%20response%2E> sender | Reply to <mailto:mearnsbirdc...@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re%3A%20Galeville%20Park%20de velopment%2E%20Steve%20Schuyler%27s%20response%2E> group | Reply <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mearnsbirdclub/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxZ2kxMWV0BF9T Azk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2MTg3MDg4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRtc2dJZAM1MjA0BHNl YwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTM0Njc3MDg0NQ--?act=reply&messageNum=5204> via web post | <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mearnsbirdclub/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmYjhjOWZvBF9T Azk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2MTg3MDg4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNu dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEzNDY3NzA4NDU-> Start a New Topic Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mearnsbirdclub/message/5204;_ylc=X3oDMTM1N3Vw aWFrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2MTg3MDg4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRtc2dJZAM1 MjA0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTM0Njc3MDg0NQR0cGNJZAM1MjA0> (1) Recent Activity: . <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mearnsbirdclub/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJodXRpcDdrBF9 TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2MTg3MDg4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN 2ZmlsZXMEc3RpbWUDMTM0Njc3MDg0NQ--> New Files 3 <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mearnsbirdclub;_ylc=X3oDMTJmODk1ZWcxBF9TAzk3M zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2MTg3MDg4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwB HN0aW1lAzEzNDY3NzA4NDU-> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlaXR1Yzk0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2M Tg3MDg4BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc4NwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTM0Njc3MDg0N Q--> Description: Image removed by sender. 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