Proposed power line in Jonas area sparking concerns

The coalition of Allies to Save Jonas Mountain Preserve and Citizens of the West End Opposed to Effort/Jonas/Sun Valley Power Transmission Line, held a meeting open to the public at the Western Pocono Community Library last week.

They are concerned that PPL will fragment the natural forested area for the construction of a new five-mile PPL power line.

On May 28, 2009, PPL Electric Utilities held a public open house meeting at the West End Fire Company announcing its plans for a project in Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley area. According to a circular, "PPL Electric Utilities is planning to strengthen the reliability of the electric delivery system in Monroe County. As a part of this initiative, we have selected a route for a new transmission line in the Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley area."

In a PPL Fact Sheet, it states that it plans to build 5.7 miles of new 138-kilovolt transmission line to connect the new substation on the boundary of the Indian Mountain Lake community to PPL's existing Siegfried to Jackson 138-kilovolt transmission line, anticipating the new steel poles supporting the line to be between 95-105 feet high.

What has members of the coalition up in arms is the proposed PPL power line would cut through the Jonas Mountain Nature Preserve which was established in 2004 when the Pocono Heritage Land Trust, in collaboration with Polk Township, acquired a 75-acre parcel of gently sloping woodland on the southern flank of Jonas Mountain, part of the Pocono Plateau escarpment.

This property was one of three contiguous parcels owned by members of the same family and it was bought first because it was considered to be the most vulnerable to development.

A tract of 213 acres was acquired in 2006 which lies west and north of the 75-acre parcel, extending nearly to the crest of Jonas Mountain.

A third parcel of 123 acres, lies between the two. The three parcels were designated in 2002 as the top priority for open space preservation by a Polk Township advisory committee.

According to those in opposition of the proposed power line, the properties are environmentally significant for several reasons. They include a number of prolific cold water springs that form the headwaters of Jonas Creek, an "exceptional value" trout stream that is a tributary of Pohopoco Creek and the Lehigh River (eight to 10 springs originate on this property.)

The Jonas Mountain Nature Preserve represents one of the largest areas of unfragmented forest in Polk Township. The area provides habitat to four species of special concern and may have more. The property provides habitat for approximately 160 bird species and provides cover an forage for deer, bear and many smaller mammals.

In addition to the natural beauty, the coalition contends this geographic location is historically significant. It includes a number of Indian occupation sites yielding multiple Indian artifacts dating back to at least 500 A.D., a kiln for making tar pitch from the 1700s, a stone shelter from the Civil War and a gold mine from the early 1900s.

The Preserve was more than a decade in the making. Contributions from private individuals, as well as township, county and state taxpayer funds were used to set aside the 288 acres of unfragmented public forest land. It was done because tracts of unfragmented forest areas are rapidly being encroached upon by development.

"This was a step in preserving our Pocono scenic beauty and heritage," said Suzanne Hart, a member of the coalition.

Present at the meeting, Diann E. Dusman, an attorney and senior assistant for the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate, said, "We have a right to clean air. It's an amendment to the Constitution. A lot of cases came up in the courts which said there weren't enough guidelines. That's why we have public utilities guidelines. Our office is involved in ensuring that the consumer receives safe and adequate utility service at reasonable prices."

Also present was Grace Marks, legislative aide to Senator Pat Brown, Senator Dave Argall and Representative Mario Scavello.

"I want to hear what the concerns are, to see if the senators can help," said Marks.

Monroe County Commissioner Theresa Merli was also in attendance.

The coalition says the power line will consist of tall high tension towers and a 100-foot grass, low shrub and brush swath that will sever the Preserve.

Linda Snyder, a member of the Allies to Save Jonas Mountain Nature Preserve, says of the power line rights of way, "despite all the proper efforts to maintain them wisely, they become a welcoming pathway for wildlife-damaging domestic cats and dogs, unwanted and prohibited ATV use, erosion, nest-parasitic cowbirds, non-native starlings that force native birds from nesting cavities and invasive non-native plants in the disturbed soil. The intrusive effects of the corridor cascade to neighboring fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and insects and vegetation thus destroying the essential purpose of the reserve."

In addition, Snyder says that the detrimental change to a forested conservation area by open power line corridors is well researched and documented in forestry and ecological literature.

"Forested conservation land is ever more precious in Monroe County as development continues to change the landscape," said Snyder.

Davia Martinez said, "PPL has heard it all before. They've heard everything except 'No.'"

Lissette Santana, spokesman/spokeswoman for PPL Utilities says that the proposed power line is necessary due to the growth of the area and its development.

"Existing lines are overloaded. Back in January of 2005 we had a major ice storm that put thousands out of power of that area, some for six days. That kind of thing can be prevented with a new power line," Santana said.

When asked why the power line would have to go through the proposed area, Santana said, "We worked with the Pocono Land Trust, community leaders and residents and it was determined that this route worked best for all concerned."

She said an underground line would be double the cost of an above ground line and it would have a more environmental impact than an above ground line.

"An underground line would also require a much wider swath than an above ground line," she said.

PPL plans to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission within the next couple months. Upon approval, PPL hopes to begin construction by the fall of 2010 with completion by fall of 2011.

"The bottom line is that PPL wants to ensure that its customers has a safe, reliable supply of electricity," said Santana.

For further information about this project, visit www.monroepwerproject.com or call toll free 1-800-293-8995.

Snyder and the other members of the coalition believe that the scenic landscape of Monroe County is a backbone of property values and the important tourist industry. They are asking that the public join them in protecting and conserving this public heritage that effects everybody by asking public officials and PPL to look for alternative routes or methods that will not negatively impact the purpose of the Jonas Mountain Preserve and will protect the stream headwaters and preserve the scenic heritage of the County. She suggest you go to the website at www.apwc-pa.org to learn more and to find the list of the officials to contact to voice your objections.

Also, there are petitions you can sign at Jonas Hotel and Jonas Market on Rt. 534 and The Homestead Veterinary Center just off Rt. 534 in Jonas.

"We oppose the power line. We want green energy, either wind, solar or underground lines. This isn't over until the bulldozers come through," said Hart.