Oh Good Grief...

I know Republicans think it is difficult to be elected and then hold on to their seats in northern Virginia but do they have to start crunching granola and hugging trees?

Tree clearing to begin
By AMANDA STEWART
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

~excerpt~
"I can understand the interest in historical accuracy, but I'm not sure they need to go as far as they are," Prince William Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-13th, said Tuesday.

On Monday, Marshall sent letters to Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th District; Rep. Tom Davis R-11th District; Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.; and Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., asking them to intervene.

"I'm hoping something can be done to stop this," Marshall said.

But it may be too late to stop the clearing now, park officials said.

The clearing has been in the park's general management plan for more than 20 years, Sutton said. And the park has completed the environmental studies necessary to proceed, he said.

"There's no reason to stop it now," Sutton said.

The park conducted an environmental assessment project last year and found that the clearing will not significantly impact the environment.

Marshall said he is concerned about the effect the clearing could have on pollution in the area. He said he's also concerned that removing the trees could cause flooding in times of heavy rainfall.

But even if it is too late to save the battlefield's trees, Marshall said he hopes Congress can make changes that will prevent something like this from happening again.

He asked the congressmen to consider new regulations that would require the Park Service to have "independent environmental studies" done before clearing trees on park land and to consult with surrounding counties that might be affected.