Dear Mr. Gates and Mr. Degen;

Devin Kouts, of the West Virginia Speleological Survey (WVASS), asked me to send you some information on Hellhole, a cave of considerable biological and geological significance.

The WVASS is composed of cavers and non-cavers who want to protect limestone cave areas, known as karst, not only because of the beauty found in caves, but also because karst areas are the highways of the natural water supplies.

In the past, sinkholes and caves have been used as dumping grounds for trash, hazardous waste, sewage and other forms of pollution. People then use underground water supplies as a source for drinking water. Now that karst systems are better understood, in part from the efforts of speleological survey groups such as WVASS, the underground water supplies, and their users, are better protected.

I won't go into too much detail here, as Devin has set up an attractive and easy-to-use website that is far more readable than an e-mail. However, to be brief, Greer Lime Company is applying for a permit to expand their quarry operations in the direction of Hellhole. The West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection’s public comment period ends on October 28, 2000.

The public should be concerned as Hellhole is a hibernation site for approximately 100,000 bats, including two species that are endangered and thus, federally protected. It also provides habitat for 2 rare species of cave millipedes.

Hellhole is a haven for this many bats for a couple of reasons. The structure of the cave is such that it captures and contains the ultra-cold air that bats really need to survive hibernation. The main, and only (as far as we know), cave entrance is higher than the rest of the cave. The colder air sinks into the cave and is trapped there. If Greer Lime Company accidentally causes even a small breach in confines of the cave, the cold air may escape and destroy this prime, and rare, bat hibernaculum.

Hellhole is a bat haven for another reason. Greer Lime Co. leases the land on which the entrance is located. The company does not allow cavers or anybody else into the cave, although bat biologists are allowed occasional visits to study the bat populations. Thus, the bats are undisturbed throughout their hibernation. I, and many others, support the "closed cave" status of Hellhole.

Hellhole is also very geologically significant, and is officially listed as such by the State of West Virginia, but I'll let you read about that on the website.

To tie things together, nobody really knows how far Hellhole cave extends, and in what directions. Cave surveyors, who are experienced at exploring and mapping caves using survey equipment, have not been allowed in Hellhole in recent years. The cave has not been completely surveyed. If Greer Lime Co. is allowed to expand blindly into this area, there is a chance that Hellhole will be breached and this could have a devastating effect on the endangered, and non-endangered, bat populations.

We support Greer Lime Company's right to quarry. They have contributed to the economic well-being of the residents of the area. However, the expansion needs to be done carefully, after a complete in-cave survey has been finished.

I've left the details on the cave, its bat species and populations for you to read on the website. It really is a nice website with some great pictures, so it's pleasant and easy to read. The address to the website is http://www.psc-cavers.org/gvks/ .

Devin has asked me to send you electronic copies of some of the letters mailed to WV Division of Environmental Protection. I will send them in an e-mail to follow. However, you may read some that have been posted on the website.

Thank you for your time,

Pat Bingham

To the editor:

Believe me when I tell you that Randy Dye’s response to the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy on state forest management issues (Highlands Voice vol. 33, no. 9) could have come straight from the Division of Forestry in Montana. All the pieces were there: 1) a reference to the "devastation" of natural forest fires, 2) an assertion that short-term economic goals supercede long-term cultural values, 3) a claim that young forest plantations sequester more carbon than older forests (but see "Science," Sept 2000 [In the October issue of the Voice there is a report on this study from "Science" which refutes the notion that planted trees sequester more carbon than old growth. In fact, it was shown that the opposite is true. Ed.]), 4) an amazing-but-true attitude that "public input" works best after the management decisions have been made, and 5) an interpretation of "demonstration forests" to mean "a demonstration of how to log forests."

Dye also referred to "wrong information" at work in the Kanawha State Forest debates, but failed to indicate what information was flawed. Why? Because he knows he's treading on thin ice. After all, there are no scientifically or socially acceptable reasons to continue degrading our public lands. Dye doesn’t believe that logging degrades forests, and this is where we differ.

Let me also say that the WVHC is changing the debate over conservation of state lands. Although it’s hard to perceive when you’re in the thick of it, it’s happening. And it’s happening elsewhere: in Ohio, Susan Heitker (740/594-6400) is working to protect all state lands with the Buckeye Forest Council. In Montana, we’ve won a recent victory by enforcing state law on state forest management. It seems like some things are the same, no matter what time zone you’re in.

Carry on!

Than Hitt November 7, 2000

Division of Biological Sciences

University of Montana, Missoula

Dave,

I appreciated your responses to Mr. Dye’s letter that were printed in The Highlands Voice. I have a few more to add:

u The ozone layer (not O-zone) is not growing, but is being depleted.

u The depletion of the ozone layer is not the cause of global warming (although I’m pleased to hear he acknowledges global warming), burning of fossil fuels and global deforestation are the leading causes.

u Although only 4% of the nutrients are in the bole, about 70% of the carbon (which is what we mean when we say "organic matter") is in the bole. So by removing boles, you are removing most of the carbon. – there is no such thing as "carbon nitrates."

I find it disconcerting that such a high-ranking forestry official has such misconceptions about the forest carbon cycle and major environmental issues.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeffrey A. Simmons, PhD simmons@wvwc.edu

Assoc. Professor of Environmental Science

Biology Dept.

WV Wesleyan College

Buckhannon, WV 26201-2995

Dear Friends of Coal River,

This week I made a trip to Coal River and Whitesville to the Coal River Mountain Watch meeting.

The devastating damage being done by A. T. Massey, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the West Virginia politicians exceeds my worst fears.

Those of you living outside the Beckley Register-Herald circulation area probably aren’t getting the full impact of Gov. Underwood’s and A. T. Massey’s New plans for the Coal River, Boone and Raleigh Counties.

So, I’m sending you a photo-copy of one of A. T. Massey’s and Gov. Underwood’s latest attack via CCD (Coalfield Community Development) [Yes, this is what the proposed mountain desecration is called! This is one to make note of in your collection of euphemisms! Ed.]. This one is for 1,174.84 acres. [Jack included clippings of the coalfield location maps which were published in the newspaper. Ed.]

Two other "permit applications" appear in the October 11 Register-Herald making a total acreage on the Boone-Raleigh border of nearly 2,500 acres.

To my knowledge NO West Virginia newspaper, newsletter, radio, or TV station has informed us of this horrible crime.

Jack Frazier October 12, 2000

Peterstown