Unpatriotic Threat To American Eagle Habitat

New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) plans to install 200 miles of 400-kilovolt 1200 megawatt DC power-transmission lines from the town of Marcy, NY near Utica, to the town of New Windsor in Orange County to supply power to New York City and Long Island.

73 miles of this line would be constructed along the railroad tracks on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River from Hancock, to Port Jervis, NY. This stretch of the river is the principle breeding ground of the American Bald Eagle.

It is recognized that this river route is the cheapest way to build the proposed power line, but certainly isn't the only way. NYRI has explored other options, including placing the power lines along existing highway rights-of-way. This would be, of course, a more appropriate alternative. It would not disrupt the natural habitat of the Bald Eagle, nor mar the beauty of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River corridor.

The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition (UDPC) has retained Attorney Richard J. Lippes in hopes of ending or diverting this project. He is nationally recognized for successful legal advocacy of plaintiffs in high profile and historic environmental and preservation cases, such as Love Canal and Three Mile Island.

The NYRI Power Line Project would turn the river corridor into a construction zone for over 2 years. The noise pollution of dynamite blasting, diesel cranes, and general commotion would displace wildlife, including eagles, perhaps forever. No community would be spared, and the economic damage would be felt for years. The tranquil beauty of pristine rivers would vanish, and so would fishermen, summer tourists and the American eagle.

Even if a few eagles remained, they would most likely perish hitting, or sitting on the finished power lines. Furthermore, it is a known fact that even getting close to electrified lines