Trust me: the obstructionist, Green eco-weenies are just getting warmed up!

From: St.Marys Magazine [mailto:barbara@stmarysmagazine.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 12:17 PM To: acarter@goldenislesmagazine.com; alan nesmith; brunswick news; Chris Daniel; Coastal Companion; folkston newspaper (cceditor@windstream.net); Jackson, Gordon; Jill Helton; jim steele; judy@southerndistinction.com; kathleen@thedariennews.net; Nassau County Record; 'Nassau Sun'; News Leader Editor; News Leader Publisher; Patricia Crosby; Paul Hafer; 'Renda Broadcasting'; Sian Perry; tribune online; tv camden; wcganews@yahoo.com Subject: airport relocation press release PRESS CONTACT: BARBARA RYAN 912-729-1103 barbara@stormersmarketing.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... ST. MARYS EARTHKEEPERS PASS RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE ST. MARYS AIRPORT RELOCATION TO SITE 1 (Billyville Rd.) St. Marys, GA—In a Monday night board meeting of the St. Marys EarthKeepers, board members voted to pass a resolution formalizing their position to oppose the proposed relocation of the St. Marys Airport to “Site 1” (Billyville Rd.). In a statement released by the St. Marys EarthKeepers, Alex Kearns, Chair of the organization, said it is important that the public have a full understanding of the potential impact the development of Site 1 will have on our environment and cited specific reasons for establishing a formal position on this controversial subject. Kearns said, "The EarthKeepers' Board, after extensive research, reduced it to three fundamental considerations: Our stated mandate: "To actively inform, encourage and galvanize the residents of St. Marys and surrounding areas regarding matters of effective environmental stewardship.” The existing wetlands ordinances of the City of St. Marys, and The potentially devastating ecological impact of relocating the airport to Site 1 (as cited by The Department of the Interior and others). Upon consideration of these factors, our decision was clear." The resolution reads: WHEREAS the St. Marys EarthKeepers act as a body to protect the environment; and WHEREAS St. Marys City Ordinances state: Sec. 46-200. Title and purpose. (a) Title: This article will be known as Wetlands Protection ordinance of the City of St. Marys, Georgia. (b) Purpose: The wetlands in the City of St. Marys are indispensable and fragile natural resources with significant development constraints due to flooding, erosion, and soils limitations. In their natural state, wetlands serve man and nature. They provide habitat areas for fish, wildlife and vegetation; water quality maintenance and pollution control; flood control; erosion control; natural resource education; scientific study; and open space and recreational opportunities. Nationally, a considerable number of these important resources have been lost or impaired by draining, dredging, filling, excavating, building, pollution and other acts. Piecemeal or cumulative losses will, over time, destroy additional wetlands. Damaging or destroying wetlands threatens public safety and the general welfare of our community. This article is to promote wetland protection, while taking into account varying ecological, economic development, recreational and aesthetic values. Activities that may damage wetlands should be located on upland sites to the greatest degree practicable as determined through a permitting process. (Ord. of 1-9-06(2), Ex. A) http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=12856&sid=10 and: WHEREAS, according to the report submitted to the City by R,H&S (Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc., 10748 Deerwood Park Blvd. South, Jacksonville, FL 32256-0597) Site 1: "Drainage of the Site flows southeastward to the Rose Creek Swamp, which ultimately discharges to the Satilla River. There is a sizable floodplain that crosses the northern and southern portions of the Site, as well as a significant amount of wetlands that are dominated by a seasonally flooded, forested system associated with the drainageways. ...potential disadvantages associated with the selection of this Site as the preferred alternative. Those disadvantages include: - A large portion of the Site has been identified as being within the 100-year Floodplain. - The Site contains a large amount of wetland areas that would potentially be impacted by construction." "Wetlands at the Site (1) as the preferred alternative: numerous runway airfield configurations were developed in an attempt to minimize and avoid unnecessary impacts to the wetlands system. Approximately 40 acres of high quality wetlands, 19 acres of medium quality wetlands and 14 acres of low quality wetlands will need to be filled for development. In addition, secondary impacts will occur as a result of disturbance to wetlands not being filled due to the topping and or removal of trees and other obstructions to meet FAA obstruction clearance requirements. Of the disturbed wetlands (not filled) wetlands, approximately 133 acres will be of high quality, approximately 15 acres will be medium quality, and approximately seven acres will be of low quality." http://www.ci.st-marys.ga.us/pubdocs/studies/Airport%20Study%20Website/frame.htm Final Site Selection. WHEREAS The Department of the Interior has stated that further studies must be undertaken regarding the presence of the Flatwoods Salamander, the Eastern Indigo Snake, the Wood Stork, migratory birds, the rare swallow-tailed kite, Bald Eagles and other fragile species in Site 1; and WHEREAS the Department of the Interior recommends that another site be selected due to "greater wetlands impact than at the other sites"; and WHEREAS such worthy organizations as The Satilla Riverkeepers and the Southern Environmental Law Center are firmly and actively opposing airport relocation to Site 1 and: WHEREAS it has been shown to our satisfaction that the relocation of the St. Marys airport to Site 1 will pose a documented and very real threat to the continued well-being of the species of that area as well as the fragile wetlands; Let it be HEREBY RESOLVED that the board of the St. Marys EarthKeepers unanimously agrees upon and formalizes its position: Against the relocation of the St. Marys Airport to Site 1 (Billyville Rd.) P Consider the environment... don't print this e-mail unless you really need to Barbara Ryan, Publisher St. Marys Magazine 912-729-1103 barbara@stmarysmagazine.com http://www.stmarysmagazine.com/ For those of you who are not yet familair with the anti-capitalist, neo-Marxist, anti-American, worldwide activities of the EarthKeepers, consider this. Their motto is : "Think globally: act locally." You've probably seen that bumper sticker on the back of a Subaru wagon or two. Now you know. And "acting locally" are the St. Marys EarthKeepers under the zealous leadership of their chair, Alex Kearns. Right now, they're going after the airport. Chances are good you might like the fact that they are opposing that which you politically oppose. But how will you feel when the JDA recruits a manufacturer with good, high-paying jobs, and the Green eco-weenies fight to thwart that? Trust me, they will. Like I said before, these people bear watching. "Act locally.." I like that idea. So tell me: do you still think that these people are just a bunch of apolitical little old ladies combatting roadside litter and militating for recycling?