Post by Sharon Faulkner on Oct 18, 2006 15:43:00 GMT -5
8-Rivers Safe Development Task Force
To All cavers with an interest in West Virginia caves:
A bad situation has been developing over the past year that threatens a favorite WV caving area - Pocahontas County. County commissioners and developers want to build a 1.5MM GPD sewage plant on a karst floodplain at Slatyfork, WV. They plan to start condemnation/eminent domain of land located on the 8 generation Sharp Farm at the bottom of the valley. The site is located in a floodplain and contains numerous sinkholes, springs and "boilholes" - where water boils up out of the ground during high flow conditions.
The Big Spring Fork - which is the stream that drains the local watershed - sinks and rises at several locations upstream. This stream is normally dry during the summer/fall directly adjacent to the site and finally rises as a spring complex - several small feeder springs and a large spring pool - just downstream of the site. This is strong indication that the underground conduit is located directly under the proposed facility! The effluent line from the plant is to be routed directly through the resurgence spring pool!
We believe there is a significant risk of stream flooding, or worse yet, sinkhole/void collapse on this site creating unnecessary risk of physical damage to the facility, caves, springs and the potential contamination of the caves and groundwater beneath the site and the Elk River downstream with untreated sewage.
In addition to the risks on site, the raw sewage supply line/collection system to the plant is proposed to come down the mountain from Snowshoe/Silver Creek Ski Resorts (5 miles away) and other existing/future housing developments. A pumping station is sited near a significant wild cave (Sharps Cave). If there is ANY power outage or failure of the PVC supply line, the raw sewage overflow/spill will flow directly into the cave. This presents a new and significant risk to groundwater / caves in the valley.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
An independent organization has been established to fight this outrageous development. It is called 8-RIVERS SAFE DEVELOPMENT Task Force, and it is headed by cavers. The name comes from Pocahontas County as the headwaters of 8 significant rivers. We believe it is better to prevent collapse, contamination, and flooding upstream than to pay for expensive cleanup downstream. The organization will be a non-profit corporation, actually a coalition of organizations and individuals everywhere who value caves and do not want to see unsafe development.
WE ARE MOUNTING A CHALLENGE IMMEDIATELY
8-Rivers Safe Development task force has retained an attorney and
authorized him to proceed to seek injunctive relief from the seizure, and a mandamus action to require the county commissioners to obey the law. We demand that a technically competent geotechnical investigation of the site be performed (non karst consultants OKd the site, mostly by windshield survey). The commissioners are rushing to make this a done deal. Why? Could they be accepting financial consideration from developers? Is this a political move to get this unpopular decision signed, sealed, and delivered before the election? We do not know their motives, but they have refused to listen to reasonable and expert advice. We must stop them!
WE NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTION QUICKLY TO GET STARTED
Our attorney realizes a certain public benefit in this case, so has relaxed his normal fee to assist. We must raise $5,000 by next Tuesday October 24, 2006, and probably another $5,000 to $10,000 before this is over. If you are in a position to be a guarantor (lender), we would name you Caver of the Year! We have $1,100 pledged. If you can send $1000, $100, or any amount we will name you Caver of the Hour! PLEASE HELP.
Send contributions to:
8-Rivers Safe Development Task Force
P.O. Box1037
Scott Depot, WV 25560
A partial list of 8-Rivers organizers: George Phillips, Bob Handley, Carl Pierce, George Deike, Bill Liebman, Barry Baumgardner, Roger Brucker, Hilary Lambert.
(Please spread this far and wide!)
To All cavers with an interest in West Virginia caves:
A bad situation has been developing over the past year that threatens a favorite WV caving area - Pocahontas County. County commissioners and developers want to build a 1.5MM GPD sewage plant on a karst floodplain at Slatyfork, WV. They plan to start condemnation/eminent domain of land located on the 8 generation Sharp Farm at the bottom of the valley. The site is located in a floodplain and contains numerous sinkholes, springs and "boilholes" - where water boils up out of the ground during high flow conditions.
The Big Spring Fork - which is the stream that drains the local watershed - sinks and rises at several locations upstream. This stream is normally dry during the summer/fall directly adjacent to the site and finally rises as a spring complex - several small feeder springs and a large spring pool - just downstream of the site. This is strong indication that the underground conduit is located directly under the proposed facility! The effluent line from the plant is to be routed directly through the resurgence spring pool!
We believe there is a significant risk of stream flooding, or worse yet, sinkhole/void collapse on this site creating unnecessary risk of physical damage to the facility, caves, springs and the potential contamination of the caves and groundwater beneath the site and the Elk River downstream with untreated sewage.
In addition to the risks on site, the raw sewage supply line/collection system to the plant is proposed to come down the mountain from Snowshoe/Silver Creek Ski Resorts (5 miles away) and other existing/future housing developments. A pumping station is sited near a significant wild cave (Sharps Cave). If there is ANY power outage or failure of the PVC supply line, the raw sewage overflow/spill will flow directly into the cave. This presents a new and significant risk to groundwater / caves in the valley.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
An independent organization has been established to fight this outrageous development. It is called 8-RIVERS SAFE DEVELOPMENT Task Force, and it is headed by cavers. The name comes from Pocahontas County as the headwaters of 8 significant rivers. We believe it is better to prevent collapse, contamination, and flooding upstream than to pay for expensive cleanup downstream. The organization will be a non-profit corporation, actually a coalition of organizations and individuals everywhere who value caves and do not want to see unsafe development.
WE ARE MOUNTING A CHALLENGE IMMEDIATELY
8-Rivers Safe Development task force has retained an attorney and
authorized him to proceed to seek injunctive relief from the seizure, and a mandamus action to require the county commissioners to obey the law. We demand that a technically competent geotechnical investigation of the site be performed (non karst consultants OKd the site, mostly by windshield survey). The commissioners are rushing to make this a done deal. Why? Could they be accepting financial consideration from developers? Is this a political move to get this unpopular decision signed, sealed, and delivered before the election? We do not know their motives, but they have refused to listen to reasonable and expert advice. We must stop them!
WE NEED YOUR CONTRIBUTION QUICKLY TO GET STARTED
Our attorney realizes a certain public benefit in this case, so has relaxed his normal fee to assist. We must raise $5,000 by next Tuesday October 24, 2006, and probably another $5,000 to $10,000 before this is over. If you are in a position to be a guarantor (lender), we would name you Caver of the Year! We have $1,100 pledged. If you can send $1000, $100, or any amount we will name you Caver of the Hour! PLEASE HELP.
Send contributions to:
8-Rivers Safe Development Task Force
P.O. Box1037
Scott Depot, WV 25560
A partial list of 8-Rivers organizers: George Phillips, Bob Handley, Carl Pierce, George Deike, Bill Liebman, Barry Baumgardner, Roger Brucker, Hilary Lambert.
(Please spread this far and wide!)
