Additional Advocacy Appeal It’s Time to Act

Contact Your Legislators and State Officials

Now is the time to rally to save the very heart of Sterling Forest .

For the past three years the Sterling Messenger has reported about its role of coordinating a thorough analysis of the impact of development on a 571-acre inholding in the center of Sterling Forest State Park Preserve.

The Sterling Forest Partnership, in concert with a relatively small network of people, has carefully reviewed, analyzed and responded throughout the SEQRA process to date. Many of you came out to speak at public hearings.

Now we need the critical mass -- our grass roots citizens -- to express concern about the negative impacts that this development plan will have on our Park. We need to ask our representatives for the funding necessary to complete a job nearly done, and protect all of Sterling Forest .

Below are talking points. Please contact legislators and state officials on the list provided with a personal message by letter, e-mail, phone or fax. Every voice counts!

Talking points:

• Sterling Forest State Park Preserve stands as a 20,000-acre legacy of state and national significance. This was the result of an unprecedented cooperative effort to raise nearly $80,000,000 in funding from federal, bi-state and private sources to protect the Sterling Forest region. Of this, $17.5 million was federally appropriated.
• The 571-acre inholding in the heart of Sterling Forest State Park Preserve may jeopardize this legacy. Sterling Forest Corporation is seeking permits to build Sterling Forge Estates on a site of bedrock that will require significant blasting for any development. The location of this development parcel poses a threat to Park resources and neighboring water systems. Development will visually mar the Park and the viewshed of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Sterling Ridge Trail (a section of the Highlands Trail).
• Sterling Forest, on the border of New York and New Jersey, is in the center of the Highlands. It is a “green lung” for a rapidly growing metropolitan region, and is a significant part of a watershed that provides drinking water for 2 million people. Additionally, the park land is rich in Native American and Revolutionary War history, and is a protective corridor for the nationally-significant Appalachian Trail. Sterling Forest is extraordinarily rich in natural resources, and has been designated as a State Bird Conservation Area.
• Recent news articles have made public some of NY State concerns about the development project - including the presence of the threatened northern timber rattlesnake. Additionally, residents worry about pollution from storm water runoff; environmentalists are alarmed by its potential impact on the Ramapo River and reservoir systems; scientists are concerned about forest fragmentation and the poor quality of species data found in the applicant’s Draft Supplemental EIS; and Park supporters are concerned about the resulting destruction of habitat and visual beauty within the park preserve.
• The Sterling Forge Estates parcel is the missing puzzle piece in the protection of Sterling Forest. Without its protection, we will face degradation of an extraordinary investment.
• Most of the state officials and legislators listed have played a role in protecting Sterling Forest and we thank them for their leadership. We urge them to work with their colleagues and support the funding necessary to complete a job nearly done.

Contact List:

New York

The Honorable George Pataki
Governor of the State of New York
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
e-mail link: www.state.ny.us/governor/form.htm

Bernadette Castro
Commissioner
Office of NYS Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation
Empire State Plaza – Agency Bldg #1
Albany, NY 12238

Erin M. Crotty
Commissioner
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-1010

Edward A.Diana
County Executive
Orange County Government Center
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 291-2700
Fax: (845) 291-2724
e-mail: ceoffice@co.orange.ny.us

The Honorable Sue Kelly
US Congresswoman, 19th District of New York
Orange County Government Center
255 Main Street 3rd Floor
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone (845) 291-4100
Fax (845) 291-4164
e-mail link: http://www.house.gov/suekelly/contact.htm

The Honorable Nita Lowey
US Congresswoman
Rockland District Office
15 Third St. Suite 2
New City, NY 10956
Phone: (845) 639-3485
Fax: (845) 639-3487
e-mail link: http://www.house.gov/lowey/contact.htm

The Honorable Elliot Engle
US Congressman
261 West Nyack Road
West Nyack, NY 10994
Phone: 845-735-1000
e-mail link only for constituents: http://www.house.gov/writerep/.

The Honorable Maurice Hinchy
US Congressman
City Hall Third Floor
16 James St.
Middletown, NY 10940
Phone: (845) 344-3211
e-mail link only for constituents: http://www.house.gov/hinchey/contact/

The Honorable Charles Schumer
US Senator
Hudson Valley Office:
PO Box A
Red Hook, NY 12571
Phone: 845-758-9741
Fax: 845-758-1043
www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/contact/contact.html

The Honorable Hillary Clinton
US Senator
780 Third Avenue
Suite 2601
New York, NY 10017
Phone : (212) 688-6262
Fax: (212)688-7444
clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html

New Jersey

The Honorable James E. McGreevey
Governor of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609-292-6000
e-mail link: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/govmail.html

Bradley M. Campbell
Commissioner
NJ State Department of Environmental Protection
401 E. State St.
7th Floor, East Wing
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
Phone: 609-292-2885
Fax: 609-292-7695

The Honorable Frank Lautenberg
US Senator
One Gateway Center
Twenty-Third Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (973) 639-8700
1-888-398-1642
Fax: (973) 639-8723
lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

The Honorable Jon Corizone
US Senator
One Gateway Center, 11th Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
(973) 645-3030
FAX:(973) 645-0502
http://corzine.senate.gov/contact.cfm

The Honorable Rodney P. Frelinghuysen
US Congressman
30 Schuyler Place, 2nd Floor
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: 973-984-0711
e-mail: rodney.frelinghuysen@mail.house.gov

Last updated: April 23, 2004