Welcome to SAVETHEPARK.org (Laura Dempsey founder of Save the Park leading a hike through Van Campens Glen on June 5th) (above photo Sr. Miriam MacGillis founder of Genesis farm at our unity rally)
Our mission is to keep the public aware of the proposed Susquehanna to Roseland Transmission Line project affecting the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Save the Park is the proud recipient of a $2500 grant from the Highlands Coalition. This will help us further our goal in community awareness and the devastating effects the power line expansion project will have on this environmentally sensitive area as well as the Highlands region.
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River and PSE&G on the New Jersey side have proposed to expand a power transmission line that currently crosses the three Parks.
This information is from the National Park's Environmental Impact Statement and how it can affect all of us.
The priceless view of the Delaware and the Appalachian trail would be permanently impacted by the new transmission lines and the associated access roads.
Our wildlife and their habitats will have direct impacts along the Right of Way and the proposed access roads.
The expanded transmission lines would affect the visitor's experience which could result in visitor's choosing to go some where else instead of the Delaware Water Gap and Appalachian Trail. This could have adverse impacts on the economic impacts of the local community.
Tree clearing and blasting would have be an impact to visitors and the visibility of the new towers above the tree line would also have an affect on on visitors in the long term. There will be tens of thousands of trees cut down.
Closures to roads and the river and trails are likely for safety, lost use of these roads could be permanent.
Over all negative impacts to visitors using the trails, river, picnic areas, bird watching, camping and hunting would be expected. Migratory birds will be effected by these power lines, PSE&G's Berger report on impacts states this clearly.
Transporting large heavy construction equipment as well as the new towers on park and public roads is a safety concern.
Impacts would result from the widening the one lane road leading to Worthington State Forest.
Save the Park hosts free tours of your National Park and here are some of the events so far this year.
-May 1st event, hosted by Save the Park was a huge success. Thank you for your support.
-May 22nd Secret Treasures tour Historic Millbrook Village.
- June 5th Tour of Van Campens Glen led by founder Laura Dempsey.
-August National Park hearings Save the Park collected over 200 letters from members across the United States.
- October 2nd and 3rd, Millbrook Village, information about the area and how the S-R transmission lines will effect that area.
-October 23rd Unity Rally between P.A. and N.J. at the Portland Walking Bridge.
Save the Park is a member of the Highlands Coalition and together with Stop the Lines we will protect our National Park!!
We were happy to have the Sierra club, Shawnee Preservation Society, Millbrook Historical Society, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sussex County, Stillwater Historic Society, members of Environmental commissions, including Genesis Farm and many more.
Friends it is never to late to save a sacred and cherished land. Each and everyone of us can spread the word about this horrendous project. Together we are growing stronger and more united every day.
Stop the Lines has a 500 strong membership, Save the Park is growing bigger every day, joining with many other organizations we will be in the thousands.
Wow what an awesome event at the Portland Walking Bridge Rally! Over 100 people showed up to hear ten speakers across the two states. P.A & N.J stand united. There is no stopping these organizations - Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis fouonder of Genesis Farm, Elliott Ruga from New Jersey Highlands Coalition, Laura Dempsey founder of Save the Park, Nancy Shukaitis founder of the Delaware Conservation Society, Don Miles from the Lehigh Valley chapter of the Sierra Club, Fred Stine from the Delaware River Keeper Network, Martha Carbone president of the Shawnee Preservation Society, Dave Slaperud founder of Stop the Lines, Anna Maria Caldara Save the Park, Christine Guhl National Sierra Club. These were the speakers at our unity rally, what a great job they did. (below a photo of Don Miles, attorney and chairperson for the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Sierra Club)
Many of you who have attended on Saturday have called the area "pristine, prehistoric, or a step back in time".
May 22nd we had a very successful bus tour "Secret Treasures" of historical Old Mine road, Millbrook Village and Stillwater.
Thanks to all of you for showing up, we had a full bus of fifty people.
The tour was so successful we will be having another one of Stillwater and possibly the P.A. side if the river.
Save the Park is now an intervenor, along with the New Jersey Highlands Coalition against the Tennessee Gas Pipeline proposal through our National Park. The proposal is asking for a 25 foot new loop going through the Delaware River near Milford Beach and a 100 foot wide construction area.
This is only a few miles up the river from the S-R transmission line expansion proposal.
Save the Park has already submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking for a full Environmental Impact Statement to be done.
We will keep you posted on further information as it comes in. Remember the Delaware River is designated "Wild and Scenic and it must be preserved.
view of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area from Millbrook road.
existing tower is 80 feet in height, existing Right of Way is 150 feet. Water below is located at Watergate Recreation area. The applicant is requesting a permit for an extended Right or Way to place 200 foot towers with 500 kilo volt lines in. This will impact the view shed along the DWGNRA and the Appalachian National trail.
we will be posting more photos as we develop our web site.
Columbia Portland Bridge looking west toward the Gap photo by George Drayney
Poster above by George Draney, photos taken inside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Carving above by Laura Dempsey, inspiration Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Photo above, Delaware River , Poxomo Island. by Laura Dempsey
Save the Park cares about wildlife and its habitat.
We cannot afford tens of thousands of trees being torn down in your National Park. Join us on October 23rd , Portland Bridge.
Below are photos of the Unity Rally at the Portland Walking Bridge - Nancy Shukaitis founder of the Delaware Conservation Society and the leader for stopping the Tocks Island Dam project in the 1970's , also photos of Save the Park founder, Laura Dempsey, and member LaVonne Heydel, photo of Laura Dempsey with Sr. Miriam MacGillis, Genesis Farm. Also photos of Anna Maria Caldara, Save the Park member , Elliott Ruga of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, and Christine Guhl of the National Sierra Club, and Dave Slaperud co founder of Stop the Lines. Also featured below are Fred Stine of the Delaware River Keeper Network. And Dennis Briede of the Ridge and Valley Conservation.
photos by Elliot Ruga and Sister Trinie Pangelenan of Genesis Farm.
Below you will find another excellent photograph from George Draney, professional photographer. George is adamantly opposed to the transmission line because it will destroy the aesthetics of this pristine area. Thank you George!
