Message from Our President
- 16 July 2003
Presentation to Senate Energy Committee - 11 July 2003
Who to Write
Guideline
(Helper) for Entering Your Economic Estimate
Mason Tract Map (PDF - 488kb)
8 July 2003 — MEMBER ALERT: PUBLIC COMMENT MTG. ON JULY 10TH - GRAYLING. More...
16 June 2003 — MEMBER ALERT: OIL/GAS DRILLING IMMINENT ON THE SOUTH BRANCH. More...
North Woods Call Reports: Granholm challenged in bids for Pigeon, AuSable drilling & Granholm: Conservation takes a licking
Detroit Free Press' Eric Sharp: Gas-oil well draws opposition (June 21, 2003)
Detroit News' John Bebow reports:
Michigan
delays drilling for oil, gas near Au Sable (July 16, 2003)
Well
drilling project stirs refuge issues (July 11, 2003)
Au
Sable drilling plan stirs anger (June 29, 2003)
Drilling Rig, Cook Inlet, Alaska, AK United States
© 2000 Airphoto,
Jim
Wark
Fellow Members and Friends of the Au Sable:
Yesterday, the Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ), temporarily suspended the application for a drilling permit for Savoy
Energy, citing four major deficiencies in the application. (Please read the
letter posted here.) While this is good news, and Savoy has some homework to
do to fill in the missing pieces to their application, they have not been permanently
denied the opportunity to drill adjacent the Mason Tract. For us, basically
work is just now beginning again. Bruce Patterson, Chair State Senate Committee
on Tech and Energy, is pushing hard and may seek a joint resolution urging Forest
Service to find another location.
What can you do? We need another round of letters to the U.S. Forest Service's
Michael Weber by July 23. Specifically,
I ask that you document the economic value that you, your friends and family
members bring the Au Sable River watershed (including and especially the Mason
Tract). Please be accurate but thorough. We have prepared a brief guideline
below to help you. It's important that the Forest Service and other parties
involved know what you will spend per trip, meals, gas, lodging, guides etc.
And more importantly, what you might not spend should this well (and other wells
like it) become a noise pollution producer and opt to recreate somewhere else.
Fire off your letter today. If you wish to copy us and send your estimate along, please email our Communications Director, Dan Drislane. Use the subject (so he can route your email) "Mason Tract Economic Estimate".
Thanks for your continuing support!
Best Regards,
Rusty Gates
President
Anglers of the Au Sable
My
name is Rusty Gates. I represent the Anglers of the Au Sable, a nonprofit organization
created in the 1980’s to address a number of threats to the long term health
of the Au Sable River system. Our membership comes largely from the State of
Michigan but includes members from 21 other states and countries. The upper
Au Sable River is a wild trout fishery of international stature, one of the
few resources in our country where trout breed and reproduce naturally. The
Au Sable is recognized under our State’s Natural Rivers Act.
Our members give both their time and their money to support the long term health of the River system. During our brief existence, Anglers has been the catalyst for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars from private sources for stream habitat improvement. These funds support programs to improve the natural conditions for fish breeding and survival. Our actions have been broadly recognized as a major factor in enhancing the upper Au Sable fishery. Unfortunately, at times like this we find ourselves having to resist actions of others which could permanently destroy the long term health of the River system and the unique recreational benefits it provides.
Within the Au Sable River system there is a very special undeveloped area—the Mason Tract. As you know, the original property of the Mason Tract on the South Branch was donated to the people of Michigan by George Mason on the condition that the land would be “preserved” in its natural state, but kept open for recreation. Mr. Mason was an industrialist; yet, he recognized the value of a wilderness area for recreation close to and accessible by the public residing in the large population centers. In his honor, the Mason Chapel, located on the banks of the South Branch, was constructed in 1960 as a shrine commemorating his gift to the people of Michigan.
“Here may the fisherman receive the same inspiration which led George W. Mason, a true sportsman, to bequeath to the public this land this sanctuary beside his beloved river.”
To the wading fisherman, the original 1500 acres provided an accessible, natural and unique escape from the humdrum of city life and an opportunity to commune with the residents of the Tract, the black bear, the mink, the deer, the raccoon, the ruffed grouse, and the endless others. Our State expanded the Mason Tract from the original bequest to its current size of 4500 acres. This is a small area by oil and gas field standards, but very meaningful to those of us who love the sound of the whippoorwill. Words do not do it justice. I hope you can take the opportunity to experience what we have taken for granted all these years. It will become clear that the sounds of machinery are not part of this environment and do not belong in this area.
We have grave concerns that drilling a well in this area puts the unique attributes of the Mason Tract at risk and will cause a significant change in the intended use of the area. The property adjacent to the Mason Tract where the well is proposed is managed by the Forest Service as a Semi-Wilderness Area and as an Old Growth Forest. It was our understanding that this property would be managed similar to the Mason Tract. We are not sure that this will happen. Anglers of the Ausable is primarily a fishery oriented organization and we are not expert at the details of Federal forest management. We do know, however, that the historic logging roads were closed years ago by the Forest Service to eliminate motorized vehicle traffic. A single exception was made for the small two track road to provide access for visitors to the Chapel. It now appears that this road will be made available and expanded for another purpose. If there were no Chapel, the road would have been closed and we would not be here today. Will this narrow two track become an industrial highway?
As you would expect, there is no local source of power in this area. In order to extract gas from this area, the Forest Service proposes to allow diesel generators to power extraction equipment. The drone of those diesels will carry to the River. It is absolutely unacceptable and incompatible with a wilderness area. It is mandatory that a detailed environmental impact analysis be undertaken before this major decision to drill is undertaken. If the wilderness aspect of the Tract is not preserved, we will have abrogated our responsibilities in managing the Mason Tract in accordance with its deed restrictions.
We all know our nation has an increasing need for energy. We think our Federal Government needs to consider all options before we irresponsibly destroy an unreplaceable natural resource. These are publically owned lands and the people deserve an explanation why this place must be sacrificed. We urge you, our representatives, to take a strong stand on our behalf in dealing with the Forest Service. They have ignored us in this process and stand arm-in-arm with an energy company ready to chop down 100 year old red pines to create a corridor down the Chapel Road for their diesel generators and equipment. We have tried to give you our reasons for “not here”, no one has ever answered the question, “Why here in this very unique sanctuary?”. It is our hope that our State government can hold the Forest Service accountable for their actions and influence them to seek other solutions and options. We are all the caretakers of the Mason Tract.
MICHAEL J. WEBER
District Ranger
Huron-Manistee National Forests
Email: mjweber@fs.fed.us
Mio Ranger Station
Attn: File Code: 1950/2800
401 N. Court Street
Mio, MI 48647
Telephone 989-826-3252
Fax 989-826-6073 fax
(Mr. Weber is the local man on the scene.)
Other Persons You May Wish to Copy
STEVE CHESTER
Director
Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality
Email: chesters@michigan.gov
P.O. Box 30458
Lansing, MI 48909-7756
HAROLD R. FITCH
Chief, Geological and Land Management Division (GLM)
Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality
Email: fitchh@michigan.gov
P.O. Box 30458
Lansing, MI 48909-7756
Phone: (517) 241-1515
Fax: (517) 241-1601
(Mr. Fitch is person responsible for approving drilling and well permits.)
DANA DEBEL
Environmental Advisor to the Governor
Email: debeld@michigan.gov
Phone: (517) 335-7856
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service urging the agency to consider any and all alternatives to a proposed natural gas and oil drilling exploration site near the border of the Mason Tract, a popular state recreation area near Grayling.
"The Mason Tract represents a special place for Michigan residents, and we need to examine alternative sites for drilling that will allow us to preserve it," Granholm said. "The natural beauty of this area is one of the qualities that helps define Michigan as a unique place to recreate."
"The Mason Tract is a crown jewel of Michigan's great outdoors and must be protected," said State Representative Matt Gillard (D-Alpena). "I look forward to working with the Governor on this issue and will do everything it takes to make sure the concerns of the people of my district are heard and this pristine area is protected."
The proposed drilling site is on federally-owned land that is adjacent to the Mason Tract. Savoy Energy, LP has proposed drilling a natural gas well on the federal land within 700 feet of the Mason Tract, a 5,300-acre state recreation area donated to the state by George Mason, a founding member of Trout Unlimited. It is a popular recreation area, especially for fly fishing.
In her letter, the Governor pointed out many concerns she shares with conservationists and outdoors enthusiasts about a drilling operation close to the Mason Tract border. They include:
* Proximity of the drilling well pad to the minimally developed road leading into the Mason Tract;
* Noise from the drilling operation will ruin the serene nature of the area, which is the very reason that many outdoors enthusiasts visit the Mason Tract;
* Placement of the proposed drilling site at a high point in a valley, giving a "megaphone" effect to any noise from drilling activities;
* A drilling pad and facility so close to the Mason Tract would detract from the area's aesthetics and natural beauty.
"Basically, the proposed location for this drilling site is too close to one of the most cherished natural sites in our state," Granholm said. "The U.S. Forest Service has the opportunity now to look for alternate locations for the drilling pad that are further from the Mason Tract and further away from the South Branch of the AuSable River."
George Mason donated the land to the State of Michigan in 1955 with the agreement that the land would be managed as an undeveloped recreation area to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
"For nearly 50 years, the State of Michigan has done right by the Mason Tract and George Mason's vision and passion for it," Granholm said. "It is my hope that the U.S. Forest Service will respect that vision and move the proposed drilling site away from this unique Michigan resource so that we can continue our mission of providing an incredible place for outdoors enthusiasts to enjoy for generations to come."
Here
is a handy spreadsheet
to use to estimate the amount of money you spend annually to recreate in the
upper Au Sable watershed. If you have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer,
you can use this spreadsheet directly. Click on either the thumbnail to the
left or "Click for Excel Spreadsheet." Your browser will then display
a native-format Excel spreadsheet. Use your browser's Save function to save
it to your computer. (The file type should default to Excel.)
Then simply open the file with MS Excel, use the first worksheet titled "Economic Worksheet," the fill out the columns (cells D11 to D33). The spreadheet will calculate the totals in the blue section. There is a sample worksheet titled "Sample" to help you. Save your file and send it to Mr. Weber as an attachment.
If you don't have Microsoft Excel, you have three options:
LINE ITEMS
Total trips to Au Sable per year
Miles from home to Au Sable destination (one-way)
Estimated miles driven in Au Sable area for trip
Estimated miles/gallon for my vehicle (ave. city/hwy)
Average number of persons travelling with me (fractional persons, such as 1.5,
are acceptable)
Average number of days per trip visiting Mason Tract
Total average number of days per trip
Total years visiting Au Sable area
Cost per person per day to dine out (include all meals)
Cost per person per day for groceries purchased in Au Sable area
Cost per person per day for lodging/camp-site
Cost per person per day - fishing guide
Cost per person per day - birding/sightseeing guide
Cost per person per day - hunting guide
Fishing gear/tackle purchases (per person per trip) while in Au Sable area
Fishing gear/tackle purchases (per person per trip) made elsewhere to be used
in Au Sable area
Hunting gear/tackle purchases (per person per trip) while in Au Sable area
Hunting gear/tackle purchases (per person per trip) made elsewhere to be used
in Au Sable area
Miscellaneous gear/tackle purchases (per person per trip) while in Au Sable
area
Miscellaneous gear/tackle purchases (per person per trip) made elsewhere to
be used in Au Sable area
Other expense per person per trip: (enter item here)
Other expense per person per trip:
Other expense per person per trip:
ANNUAL TOTALS:
Trips to Au Sable Area
Person Trips to Au Sable
Travel Costs within Au Sable Area ($)
Round Trip Travel Costs to reach Au Sable Area ($)
Meals and Groceries within Au Sable Area ($)
Lodging ($)
Guides ($)
Gear Purchases within Au Sable Area ($)
Gear Purchases made elsewhere ($)
Other Purchases/Expenses ($)
TOTAL SPENT WHILE IN AU SABLE AREA
TOTAL SPENT TO RECREATE IN AU SABLE AREA
© Copyright , Anglers of the Au Sable, Inc. All rights reserved. Last modified: July 17, 2003