Herald * Unlwn 10 |un» 81

26 opinion

The State We’re In

Development Funds by DavM F. Moore The Formers' Home Administration is its name, and conservation evasion has been its game. But now the word out of Washington is that FmHA has gotten some kind of conservation religion To the degree, reportedly, that it will no longer %train to wiggle out of requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA, in case you’re a stranger to this space, is the law which requires an environmental impact statement (EIS) wherever federal money helps pay for a project which can have impact on the environment. I’m thinking mainly of sewage systems, especially transmission lines, which help to Open still-unsettled rural areas to the "benefits'' of split level development, shopping centers and other kinds of intensive development the FARMERS* HOME ADMINISTRATION has consistently beei|the most hard-nosed federal agency I know of in terms cr trying to circumvent the EIS policy. Just because NEPA is a federal law doesn’t mean that a federal agency won't get as if it can rise above the law! Now . according to word from the Farmland Preservation Institute. FmHA has quietly published in the Federal

Bntish Seagull 387 Summertime ~ by Ima Byrd Head for the sea. the beaches have been swallowed by people Harebodied, white masses of flesh have devoured the sun They stretch out on the sands looking very mi^h like flies caught fast on a massive ream of flypaper. We birds marvel at the sameness syndrome that strikes 999 out of t.ooo humans We are constantly amazed at the fact that every year humans do the same thing. We get a kick out of watching the folk come down to "relax" as they drive miles through traffic jams to get to the sea. There they sit until they get their flesh burned to a crisp, overjoyed that they have something to bring back home. They spend all their money as they willirt'gly fall into the hands of hawkers and dther delightful people. THEY SWALLOW JUNK FOODS, sometimes sleep in mosquito infested places and generally have a "wonderful time” as they unload their savings in a variety of ways. It's summertime, a time to forget the humdrum of work and life for the humdrum of rest and recovery. It's summertime, a time to get sand in the eyes and jelly fish stings on the belly It's summertime, a time to fight for a place on the highway so you can rest up for the fight on the highway to get home It's summertime, a lime to spend with the kids and spouse - so you can once again savor the peaceful return to work. It’s summertime, a time to sleep, oat. sleep, swim, sleep, eat. sleep, swim, sleep ... and whatever else humans do 1 WAS Ft.VINt; OVER THE BEACH at Wildwood the other day looking at the sea of humanity. I suddenly became aware of>a lone man standing by the bulkhead. He icemed to be surveying the people much the way we birds do I rested on the jettystone to watch him. The man was tall with clear blue eyes. He couldn't seem to get his eyes off the people He squinted at them and his fane showed anger and frustration. I moved in closer Thank God I'm not like that!" he said to no one HE WATCHED THE CROWDS AGAIN. Suddenly another man stood up and looked at the man with the blue eyes They stared at each other and in that instant old blue eyes seemed to come to the realization that there was no way to escape the fact thht he was indeed "one of those." There was no way to separate one from the other — he was a part of it all in spite of his isolation. Blue eyes turned away from the crowds and headed back to his car The man on the each seemed to be smiling I shook my little feathered head. "I'm glad I'm a bird," I thought smugly. "We don't have all those psychological hang ups and except for a few salesmen and doctor birds, we don't carry any excess baggage - our flights are always fuel free and comfortable." NEXT WEEK Good Kids

from Farmers Home May De Slowed Now

Register of January 12 its own regulations for carrying out provisions of NEPA. That’s good, for here in America s most densely populated state — where preservation of farmland is growingly recognized as essential — it’s been aggravating to have our best farmland preservation efforts confounded frequently by "improvement" grants with FmHA approval. For these federal pipelines of money have served strongly to encourage development where none would have otherwise happened. COMING AS IT DOES IN THE first days of a new ad-

“1 totired From Politics Foe Reasons Of HooHfi. Tho Votors Go* Skfc Of Mo."

ministration which we’ve yet to fully assess in reference to its environmental views, this new stance by FmHA is a gratifying surprise. I understand that FmHA has now recognized that its official mission to assist rural areas goes hand in hand with protecting the environmental resources upon which these systems are dependent. The agency goes on to identify such basic resources necessary to both farm and rural settlements as including farmlands and forestlands, prime rangelands, wetlands and floodplains. Thenefore, it is now FmHA’s policy NOT to approve or fund proposals that could have direct or indirect impacts to convert or encroach upon such land uses. Those of us concerned with farmland retention have long complained about FmHA’s tendency to overlook environmental impacts regarding projects depending on its assistance came in the areas of residential, industrial, commercial and public facilities. Now they won’t be approved unless they meet pertain stipulated conditions which are aimed at heading off sprawl development. AND IT’S THAT SPRAWL DEVELOPMENT which needs to be curbed if there is going to be any sensible effort to save both cities and farmlands in this state we’re in. It’s in large measure through the careful assessment of secondary impacts of federal grants that this can be avoided. FmHA now proposes to have its director in each state develops state resource management policy which will go a long way toward avoiding such unhappy side^ecta. That process has already occurred in at least one state; Iowa has a strong policy in effect. We have nothing against judicious placement of money for specific purposes, but heretofore the purposes have overridden judgements about the overall impacts. Sewers are necessary, for example, but not when there are alternatives which don’t trigger development of farmlands and other open spaces which are growing so rare in New Jersey. David Moore la executive director of the N.J. Conaervafion Foundation.

viewpoint

A Wasteful Nation

By Jane Ann Cunningham Waste Not. Want Not — This maxim was a favOHteof my grandmother’s, and I always feel a twing|.of guilt when 1 fill my'garbage can with newspapers. are a prodigiously wasteful natiom The headlines of "Energy crisis" have abated sofhewhat. but it is still there. What’s being done to solve it? All the billions funneled into the Dept, of Energy have produced little in the way of constructive programs. Some solutions seem so simple that one wonders why more isn’t done about them. THOSE WHO HAVE RIDICULED environmental groups, which for years have been pleading for serious recycling programs, should no^ be joining forces with them. It is up to legislative bodfls — municipal, county, state or federal — to enact laws and put workable programs in use. WITH LANDFILLS BECOMING exhausted, ocean life killed, and the countryside a public trashbin — shouldn't some who are in positions of authority consider recycling as necessary to our future well-being. The energy used to recycle glass, metal and paper is less than making the original product. Methane gas (from garbage) can be used instead of other forms of energy. Why can’t our leaders lead to solve these problems. Will they let it all slide until it is too late? Will they wait until we are unwilling captives of foreign oil barons, with our seas, lakes and rivers sterile, our forests denuded, and our land a garbage dump? I remember another saying we might then realize — Will/ull waate makes woeful want. Jane Cunningham la former publisher of the Herald.

reader 's forum

Imttmra to tho odltor

BOOKCORNE R Rex Stout’s Nero Wolf by Leslie Steyson It was a pleasure for Nero Wolfe fans to watch the tv series. No screeching tires, no dumb bosomy blondes, no infantile conversations — and they actually used words of over six syllables. The bad news is that the show was cancelled. The good news is that many of the 80-some Nero Wolfe mysteries are being repubbshed in paperback. The program was done so well that it is a shame they didn't continue with it. It was a treat for longtime devotees to see the brownstone inside and out. The office, the orchid growing rooms, the front hall seemed to have been accurately constructed from the books’ descriptions. And the cast was perfectly represented. Nero Wolfe readers will always see William Conrad sitting in Wblfe’s chair, muttering “Satisfactory, Archie.” The late Rex Stout began writing these mysteries in the 1930s. While Some of them do refer to passing events — depression, war, and other traumatic national experiences — they are never dated. He manages to incorporate his respect for the use of the English language as well as some of his personal convictions and opinions in his writings. He managed to be very successful without resorting to profanity, explicit sexual scenes or vulgarity. While the ‘best seller' of 5 years ago may be gathering dust on library shelves, the Nero Wolfe books — spanning a period of almost 50 years — are still being enjoyed. I envy those who have yet to be acquainted with Nero, Archie, Theodore, Saul and all the regulars. What a treat they have in store, discovering this eccentric, orchidgrowing gourmet detective. Lealie Steyaon la the paeudonym for a very real area book atore proprietor.

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LANTERN

“V-.* P O Box 4M CotdSpnm.N J.dtaM

Ditch Cleaned Again & Again

by Judy Hanaen The letter writer in the Reader Forum in your June 3 edition asked a question “Why can’t they clean Out Ditch?" 1 would like to answer the question and letter from Mr. Elmer Doyle of Eldora. First of all, the Cape May County Mosquito Commission HAS cleaned the ditch along side of Mr. Doyle’s property many times. We also asaisted Dennis Township with installation of a 24-inch pipe under the road to carry off peak flows and even provided the pipe. We recleaned and dug this ditch several times as well as filled, graded and seeded a low portion of his property adjacent this ditch. THE DITCH AT THIS TIME is in excellent condiUon. The water is running. It does not breed mosquitoes! We have one man. once a week drag the ditch and remove leaves and debris. The pipe has approximately 3 inches of sediment in it which is not causing a problem. The Dennis Township Road Dept, has cleaned it several times. Mr. Doyle is on record complaining to this Commission since June of 1976. We have spent well over $4,000 on his complaints excluding numerous visits by freeholders, myself, foremen and inspectors. He has during this time threatened to have the jobs of two secretaries, two foremen, an equipment operator and myself. He has threatened to go to the newspapers and politicians.

MRJiflyLB IS VERY RUDE and discourteous to employees of the Commission, belittling and threatening them. Freeholder Evans and I visited Mr. Doyle and at no time while I was present did Mr. Evans promise Mr. Doyle anything. Mr. Doyle spent most of his time telling us about Philadelphia politics. Mayor Murphy and Freeholder Evans visited the area and found no problem except for less than 3 inches of sediment in the pipe. Mr. Doyle constantly asks for spray. We have the availability of the State Airs pray Program and when certain criteria are met, we spray. Our helicopter is larvicidiig^ontinually when breeding occurs. The 1M1 season will show heavy mosquito populations, due to certain weather conditions. (Wet this year and dry in I960) I DO NOT BELIEVE in carrying on newspaper campaigns and adding fuel to a Are, but I would like the readers and taxpayers to know that we will continue to do the best job of mosquito control that we can with the resources that we have. We will NOT be intimidated by threats from Mr. Doyle who wants preferential treatment. We do the same job of mosquito control for everyone. Mosquitoes know no boundaries. Judy Hanaen la superintendent of the Cape May County Mosquito Extermination Commission.