The Endicott Enquirer News from the Southern Tier

Letters to the Editor: Why Do We Publish These in the Herald Mail?

National parks are in danger

To the editor:

Do we want to see "Keep Out - Contamination" signs when we visit Grand Canyon National Park?

The Forest Service is being allowed to gamble with this national treasure, and future generations stand to lose. Americans must understand that Vane Minerals' plan to drill for uranium three miles outside the park is just the beginning.

In the past five years, more than 800 claims for uranium, gold and other minerals have been staked within five miles of Grand Canyon National Park. Now that the British- owned company has started to move on their claims, other companies will follow.

Grand Canyon National Park must remain open and protected for all Americans, not sacrificed to profit foreign companies. The House of Representatives passed the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 (H.R. 2262), which will protect all our national parks from toxic mining. Bottom line, the Senate must do the same, because too much is at stake!

Tommy Landers
Environment Maryland
Field Organizer
Baltimore, Md.

The Herald-Mail

I'm sorry Herald Mail, but this letter to the editor has absolutely nothing to do with anything that has been reported on in the community or even located near this area. Now don't get me wrong, I am for keeping the Grand Canyon preserved for everyone, but why do we need to turn the letters to the editor section of the paper into a place where environmental lobbyists can post their material free of charge? The letters to the editor section should be used for relative commentary about what people see going on in the Hagerstown and Washington county community not for publicizing special interest groups agendas. If you want to save the Grand Canyon then that is fine, but either hold an event in Washington County that the Herald Mail can report on or take out an ad in the paper to push this kind of information, don't abuse this section of the paper.