MBC President Doug Rogers recently received the following email from Augusta Bird Club President, Peter Van Acker ([email protected]) and asked me to post it here…
I am Peter Van Acker, President of the Augusta Bird Club. You may have heard about the proposed $50 million settlement (DOJ, Virginia, and DuPont) to correct harm to the South River caused by mercury from DuPont manufacturing in the 1930’s. The agreement will include several components. One component is to compensate for the birds, fish, reptiles and mammals harmed by mercury; one tactic is to purchase land in mercury-free areas and setting it aside as wildlife natural areas. This will be especially beneficial to both migratory and resident birds.
I am writing to solicit your support and attendance by you or a representative of your organization at a meeting on January 10 at the Waynesboro Library from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Perhaps you would consider sharing this information with other members of your organization as well. The purpose of the meeting is to explain the plan and to hear public comments. I have been told that attendance by representatives of the birding community will reinforce the importance of that component of the plan. There are competing priorities for restoration funds. Your attendance will promote the importance of steps to ensure healthy bird populations well into the future and will effect birds far beyond Waynesboro. (After the meeting, I’ll take you to Basic Beer and buy the first round.) FYI: I plan to post this information on the shenval site after Christmas.
Thanks for considering this request. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Peter
Here is a link to the draft restoration plan and environmental assessment (RP/EA):
https://www.fws.gov/northeast/virginiafield/pdf/DuPont-Waynesboro-Draft-RPEA.pdf
Here is a link to an article in the News Virginian:
