To the Editor:
We sent this letter to Guilderland’s planner, supervisor, and town board on Feb. 16 about logging on property near our home on Armstrong Drive where a development had been planned but the application was withdrawn; to date, nobody has responded:

Thank you for keeping us informed. It’s better we don't freak out when and if the tree-cutting activity restarts.

We were at first optimistic over the withdrawn application but then realized that it only served to allow the tree cutting to continue without a SEQR [State Environmental Quality Review] being filed. Lest we don’t think that this is a totally planned and coordinated effort to circumnavigate the system and our efforts to protect our rights and the rules set by our good government, we are aware of the following:

— The SWPPP [Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan] form was filed by [René] Savoie, the logging contractor, not the owner of the land. Isn’t the Friedlander estate the initiator who holds the ultimate responsibility for the use or misuse of the land? Is this a questionable third party contract?;

— In reviewing the permit and the two maps made public (one provided to The Enterprise and one with the permit) we notice they don’t match up. The Jan. 27 map deleted the ACOE- [Army Corps of Engineers] designated wetland area, drives deeper into the area approaching Armstrong Drive, and alters the timber harvesting area (much of which has already been harvested!).

The map dated Jan. 13 and given to The Enterprise for the public to see shows a much smaller “selective harvesting area” but doesn't show the new access route extending off the existing route, nor does it show the second logging road and timber harvesting area which is closer to the Gun Club entrance …;

— Don't you find it suspicious that ABD Engineering is now working for the logger, landowner and developer?  It is a concern that Trish Gabriel at the DEC [Department of Environmental Conservation] is credited with connecting the three parties of this plan by referring Savoie to the very engineering firm being used by both the developer and the owner. This is an apparent direct violation of the New York State Public Ethics Law for conflicts of interest. Who is she working for and why is she serving to enable the project?;

— Ellen noticed on the original EAF [Environmental Assessment Form], page 11 section E.2.h questions i,ii,iii,and iv all question wetlands and are all checked “yes.” (The original EAF also stated that the trees would be cleared during construction.)

Then on the SWPPP application page 59 #18 “Will future use of this site be an agricultural property as defined by NYS Agriculture and Markets law?” they answered “yes” (not true if planning a strictly residential development).

Also question 41 asks, “Does this project require a US Army Corps of Engineers wetland permit?” They answered “No.” The National Wetlands Inventory designated a pivotal portion of this area as PFOE1 [Palustrine (P), Forested (FO), Broad-leaved Deciduous (1)]…

It’s underwater for extended periods of time and the logger admits it’s not traversable unless frozen. As far as we understand, the Army Corps of Engineers has never been contacted or weighed in on this for a joint application on SWPPP.

This nationally recognized area is so wet that a long line of corduroy logging is planned by the logger (as shown on the permit map) to traverse the wetland and cross a major feeder stream to the Bozenkill. You’ve already seen the corduroy bridge to ford this fast-moving stream.

The Bozenkill is designated R3UBH (Riverine system which includes all wetlands, 3 -subsystem upper perennial characterized by a high gradient and fast water velocity). UB (unconsolidated bottom), H means water regime permanently flooded. It seems this designation was ignored.

It remains clear to me that their intentions are to push the limits of the law if not violate it outright in the name of greed. They will continue to disrespect the regulations and the people empowered to administer or enforce the rules set up to protect the environment and thus the citizens.

You promised us that you would be watching out for us and I really respect that. But without us really watching out for ourselves too, things can get out of hand really fast.

We know you have many concerns regarding how our town will take shape in the future. This project is a disaster in the making. When the bulldozers come to rip out the massive root systems, the holes left behind will instantly fill with water.

Many hundreds of loads of fill will be dumped and compacted before basements, septic systems, and swimming pools will be dug to displace the aquifer. The aquifer will then back up and flood our neighborhood even more than it already does.

From the disturbance of the wetlands and the aquifer beneath, the impact on the Watervliet reservoir not far downstream, the non-existent freshwater supply, the endangered species (northeastern long-eared bat habitat), the misuse of agricultural land and old-growth forest, to the increase in traffic, school classes, need for fire, police, road maintenance, septic and or sewers, it shouldn’t be hard to just say no before the damage puts the project in the courts.

Ellen and Bill Root

Altamont