The Niagara Group of the Sierra Club
Minutes of the February 26, 2002 Meeting
Mike Kukla President, Presiding
Location, Amherst Community Center
Business Reports
1. Treasurer Report (Burns)
2. Membership Report (Robins): February Membership: 2317
3. Secretary's Comments (Klein): Minutes will also carry the urls for
subjects covered at the meeting. Members should supply secretary with this is
possible.
4. Guests and member Chuck Rosenburg and Liz Kaszubski, Group Wetlands
Committee, presented a thorough program of the current Issues relative to the
regulation of wetlands in Amherst and the Klydel site in North Tonawanda.
The problems of the subjectivity of many site investigations, difference
between the state and Federal Regulations, some history of the sites and what
aerial photographs can reveal were discussed. How all this applies to the
differences in wetland acreage between DEC, COE and Wetland Consultant firms
was explored. The proposed construction by Ciminelli, et al, west of I-990
was reviewed.
The Group encouraged monitoring the progress of this project and determined
to review some of these problems at the state and national level.
Excellent discussion of wetland issues.
5. Robert Moses Viewmobile (Hufnagel, Beahan, Klein and Kasubski) Sub
Committee reported Meeting and discussions with Niagara Falls Councilman
Dystera, Lou DiSantis city planner and Bob Baxter of the Niagara Heritage
Partnership (www.niagaraheritage.org ). The abandoned section of the Robert
Moses from the Falls to Devils Hole Park has been proposed by the Niagara
Park Administration to be used for a Viewmobile to convey tourists on tours
of the area.
The group decided that the idea would not be acceptable and Larry Beahan will
draft a letter expressing opposition to the idea.
6. Schimminger/Moline Bridge Proposal (Klein, Kaszubski) The Group reviewed
this proposal as not very sensible since it would have much greater impact on
the aquatic environment of the river it would cross, would escalate the cost
of the bridge to a ridiculous extent and joins dozens of other proposed
crossing that are best abandoned. It is suspected the Town of Tonawanda
Crossing was meant as a constituent pleaser rather than a serious proposal.
7. CWM Expansion in Town of Porter (Lamb) Update of the situation and the
status of Niagara Countyâ?Ts Residents for Responsible Government well
structured response to this challenge to the human and environmental spheres
was reported by Lamb. One aspect, the lack of inspection and monitoring by
the regulatory agencies was discussed. Mr. Lamb will continue to monitor the
situation
8. Niagara Power Project Re-Licensing (Kukla) Current knowledge was explored
and the group will research the issues for a more thorough discussion in
March. If you are interested you can begin your research at:
http://www.wnyrelicensing.com. the site also has some links but other views
are possible through your browser.
More Business
1. Recognition of Lee Smith's Gift to the Niagara Group (Kukla) A large
thanks and mention in the next newsletter.
2. Newsletter (Beahan, Klein) Review of the savings and options resulted in a
determination to continue exploration. Klein will contact jobber and pursue
contracting out the work. Mike lamented loss of camaraderie at the mailings.
Jane Jontz agreed to lead a hike or other outing to replace this â?oclub life
aspect.
3. Charles Lamb reaffirmed newsletter Editor. Mike Kukla has a person who
might do the graphics layout. Welcome Charles, and don't forget the board has
offered full support.
Correspondence
1. State Sen. Brown: State EPF (Kukla) Reponses to Group letter of concern
regarding EPF. Senator also is troubled and he assures us of his concern.
2. State Rep. Catherine Young: Allegany Fire Tower (Kukla) She reports that
9/11 has created a change in priorities. She said there isn't much money for
the fire tower project in Allegany State Park.
3. Parks Comm. Castro: Wilson-Tuscarora Golf Course (Kukla, Hufnagel) Jim
Hufnagel was congratulated on his work of using the FOIA lever to pry a
request for a golf course at the site by the Town of Wilson from the OPRHP.
Bernadette Castro assured Jim that they were not currently considering the
golf course and stated that their own experience was that most entities
preferred natural parks.
Upcoming Public Hearings/Meetings
1. Possible Coal-, rather than Gas-, Fired Co-Generation Plant, City of
Buffalo (Kukla) Discussed and to be monitored.
Outings, Event Possibilities
2. Invitation to make Presentation at Nietzche's, the Day after Earth Day-
(Kukla) Jim Hufnagel and the ZPG may volunteer to participate.
3. Inviting Sierra National Speaker on Population Issues (Mendel) Encouraged
by the Group who will support and meet with the speaker. Possible date in
April has been selected SUNYAB and WBFO will be contacted.
4. Sierra Speaker at Pfeiffer Nature Center (Kukla) Will be followed up by
Klein who will discuss with Bonnie Gisel.
5. Phone Volunteers for WNED/WEBR fundraiser
(Robins, Kukla) The possibilities for name recognition was discussed. Klein
mentioned past involvement and advised that to have any real impact about a
dozen or so volunteers were necessary and it had to be prepared in advance.
Group agreed to consider this activity on long term basis.
Respectfully Submitted,
Art "Happy" Klein, Secretary
