Eagle Insurance

Energy project endangers national bird

New York Regional Interconnect Inc. (NYRI) plans to install 200 miles of 400 kilovolt transmission lines in 1200 megawatts of electricity from the city of DC Marcy, NY near Utica, Town of New Windsor in the County of Orange food in New York City and Long Island.

73 miles of this line would be built along the railway side of Pennsylvania to the Delaware River from Hancock to Port Jervis, NY. This stretch of river is the principle of raising the floor of the American Bald Eagle.

It is recognized that this waterway is the best way to build the proposed power line, but is certainly not the only way. NYRI has explored other options, including the power lines along existing road rights of way. This would, of course, an alternative more appropriate. It would not disturb the natural habitat of the Bald Eagle, or to tarnish the beauty of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River corridor.

The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition (UDPC) has retained Attorney Richard J. Lippes hoping to stop or divert the project. He is nationally recognized for effective legal defense of plaintiffs in high profile and historic preservation and environmental cases, such as Love Canal and Three Mile Island.

The NYRI Power Line Project would make the river corridor in a construction area of more than 2 years. The noise pollution from blasting, diesel cranes, and the general commotion would displace wildlife, including eagles, perhaps forever. No community will be spared, and the economic damage would be felt for years. The simple beauty of pristine rivers disappear, and it would tourists were fishermen, and American Eagle.

Even if a few eagles remained, they would perish more likely to hit or sit on power lines over. In addition, it is a known fact that even approaching electrified lines - especially high-voltage lines - is dangerous and potentially deadly.

The NYRI is a private enterprise and private funding for the nonprofit corporation. NYRI, which has very big money behind it, is represented by the powerful law firm in New York's former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Although the NYRI project maintains an office in Albany, NY, a Canadian entrepreneur named Richard Muddiman is the president. NYRI investors in this company one billion dollars to remain anonymous. One wonders if one of these investors are U.S. citizens. The question must be asked why foreign businessmen to enrich themselves at the expense of our national bird? Why should we?

This project was originally proposed by a company called Pegasus in 2003. NYRI acquired the rights to them to run services along the railway line of the Norfolk & Southern. Pegasus was, curiously, also headed by Canadian Richard A. Muddiman. I think his nickname is RAM!

The power lines would be mounted on towers 130 feet high and spaced 800 feet to 200 miles. It would transform two of the most beautiful rivers in the United States, the Lackawaxen and Delaware, a leading industry.

The NYRI Power Line Project would have a devastating impact on not only the beautiful landscapes of this region but to the entire population of eagles. Eagles are not very tolerant of human activity. Human presence can stress these birds, particularly nesting eaglets and may affect their feeding and sleep patterns. Eagle observers are asked to be very careful when observing these majestic creatures. Binoculars are used at a safe distance. On an interesting note, a general store in picturesque Rowland, Pa. placed a telescope in front of a window overlooking the Lackawaxen River. Customers can view an active nest where eagles are raising their young.

This beautiful area is protected by several acts of Congress, including Ba.