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Au Sable River Under Attack!
Sportsmen act now! The U.S. Forest Service is reviewing a permit for exploratory oil and gas drilling UNDER the Mason Tract on the South Branch of the Au Sable River! It's not to late to stop this nonsense, but we must act together and act fast! Please take just a few seconds to write to the powers-that-be and tell them how you feel. Your voice has the power to honor George Mason's vision and preserve our resources for generations to come.
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Here's the scoop...
It's been pretty tough getting thorough and accurate information about what's going on, but here's what we've gathered so far. We're sure you all ready know that the Mason Tract comprises 14 miles of the South Branch of the Au Sable river, and that it was donated to the people of the State of Michigan by George Mason in 1954. The land is now owned by the state and preserved in it's undeveloped wilderness condition as was Mr. Masons intent. For some strange reason, the mineral rights to the Mason Tract were leased to the Forest Service in 2000, with the stipulation that there would be no surface occupancy of the land. Savoy Energy, L.P. of Traverse City, MI has proposed a 10,000' exploratory gas and oil well on the federal land adjacent to the Mason Tract, and has so far been granted permission by the U.S. Forest Service. Since no one is allowed to develop or drill on the Mason Tract, Savoy Energy has selected a site a mere 700' from the border of the Tract, and will slant drill a 10,000' well UNDER the Tract for gas and oil that may or may not be there. If this sounds like an end-run around the State and the wishes of Mr. Mason it's because it is!
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So why is this bad?
First off, it needs to be stressed that this is not one of those tiny little pumps you see scattered around fields in northern Michigan. This is a MAJOR DRILLING OPERATION. Savoy Energy will completely level 3 acres of pristine wilderness. Before they can do that, they will convert a mile of forest 2-track into a large gravel road capable of handling the massive construction equipment necessary for the operation. After the site is leveled, they'll set-up a huge drilling rig powered by noisy diesel generators, and dig a large lined pit to hold the solid and liquid waste from the well. They'll also be building approx. 2 miles of pipeline through the woods to transport the oil/gas. It's obvious that the drilling operation will cause a huge disruption to the surrounding wilderness and convert a forest into an eye-sore. Besides the commotion, the destruction of the river and land surrounding it by either surface or ground water contamination is a very real possibility. The drilling site is less than a 1/2 mile from the banks of the river, and in close proximity to 3 creeks. A surface accident could send oil and waste spilling down the creeks into one of the nations finest trout streams. As we're sure you've noticed, a huge portion of the local population is dependent on the river and the tourism it generates for their livelihood. So just how does this well benefit the people of the State of Michigan? Simple... it doesn't, and it spit's in the face of Mr. Mason's generosity.
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But what can I do?
As cliche as it may sound, we all have a voice and a right to be heard. By voicing our opposition together, we send a powerful message that this sort of abuse of our resources will not be tolerated. We ask every sportsmen to spend just a few minutes and do two simple things. The first is to write a letter to the agencies that can stop this in it's tracks. To this end, we are providing 3 pre-written letters that you may send as-is or modify freely, and of course you can write your own. The letters are available to download and print, or send them on-line. Better yet, do both! The second thing you can do is write, call, or e-mail everyone you know who would find this as offensive as we do and ask them to write in as well.
Write a letter. Spread the word. Make a difference!
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Print and mail your letters
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E-mail the USFS
E-mail the DEQ
E-mail the Governor
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And finally...
The very appropriate words on the sign at the Mason Tract.
"Sportsman, slow your pace... Ahead lies the fabled land of the south branch. Here generations of fisherman have cast a fly on one of the great trout streams of America. Hunters too, have roamed these hills in the solitude so bountifully offered. The land is rich in tradition and stands ready to renew your soul. Tread lightly as you pass and leave no mark. Go forward in the spirit of George W. Mason whose generous gift has made this forever possible."
Our sincerest thanks,
the Quest Team
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