CLEAR July 2012

clear@lists.cheatlakeclear.org

1 participants
15 discussions

Ices Ferry Bridge over Cheat Lake
by Duane 13 Jul '12

13 Jul '12

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/?fromgroups#!msg/monbikeclub/UI21hUNhdI4/… Jul 11Nick Hein Good morning, According to my sources, this is the final week for the old Ice's Ferry bridge. Demolition will start as soon as they complete the (throwaway) road section leading from the West (Morgantown) side approach down to the old bridge so the can drive the demo equipment down to it. Demolition will be an extremely slow and expensive process because it must be done in pieces and without flaking off any of the lead-based paint (?). However, the approaches will be the first things to go and it won't be safe to cross anymore. I asked the DOT what to do until the new bridge is passible and got no answer. I explained that the interstate is the only alternative and asked if I can be assured I won't be arrested for using it. No such luck. Although I'm closing the shop Aug. 1 and leaving town after Labor Day I'll probably still need to get across on a daily basis. I assume that use of I68 will be on a don't ask/don't tell basis - but no one will tell me that. Nick Hein >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< See also photos under the title: Ices Ferry Bridge. -- Last Days http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmbocan/sets/72157626667900836/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Hot Tips for a Cool Summer
by Duane330＠aol.com 05 Jul '12

05 Jul '12

EPA OFFERS HOT TIPS FOR A COOL SUMMER EPA recommends a list of hot tips that can help save money, cut energy costs and protect public health during the summer months, including: Preventing skin cancer and being SunWise: _http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/actionsteps.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/actionsteps.html) Checking the water at the beach.: _http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/whereyoulive_state.cfm_ (http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/whereyoulive_state.cfm) Protecting yourself with insect repellents _http://epa.gov/pesticides/insect/safe.htm_ (http://epa.gov/pesticides/insect/safe.htm) For more tips, go to: _Hot tips for a cool summer_ (http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/d… 0575c8d!OpenDocument) .

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Home | Center for Civic Engagement | West Virginia University
by Duane 05 Jul '12

05 Jul '12

http://cce.wvu.edu/# The link above announces the Emergency Water Collection for those without good water. Water collection in front of the Mountainlair, tomorrow Friday, July 6th, from 8 am to 6 pm. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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LL 2012 RPU Final_Text_V2
by Duane 04 Jul '12

04 Jul '12

NOTE: CLEAR Letter is below and FirstEnergy Final Report is attached. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CHEAT LAKE ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION ASSOCIATION [CLEAR] DATE: May 15, 2012 Allegheny Energy (aka FirstEnergy) ATTN: Gary R. Haag, P.E. 800 Cabin Hill Drive Greensburg, PA 15601 RE: Comments on “Draft 2012 Recreation Plan Update, Lake Lynn Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2459 – License Article 417.” INTRODUCTION: THE CHEAT LAKE PARK AND TRAIL At a ceremony in 1927, a bronze tablet, embedded in a great rock near the Lake Lynn hydroelectric dam, dedicates the lake and the generating facility to the public “in lasting beauty for recreation and the supplying of essential service.” And, in June of 2000, Allegheny Energy added a 20 acre park and a 4.5 mile hiking and biking trail on the banks of the Cheat Lake for the enjoyment of the general public. See: www.cheatlaketoday.com PROCLAMATION: The Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association [CLEAR] herewith acknowledges and thanks First Energy (formerly Allegheny Energy) and their maintenance contractor PACE Tech, now known as PACE Enterprises, for their accomplishments over the past three years to (1) open the South Trail year round from dawn to dusk and maintain this Trail in excellent condition for hiking, jogging, and bicycling, (2) installing a swimming beach at the Millstone Point accommodating to family swimming and picnicking, (3) installing and demarking the Cheat Haven Hiking Trail within the Cheat Haven Wildlife Viewing Area, and (4) establishing a CLEAR boat dock along the South Trail for public access via boat to the South Trail and to the Cheat Haven Hiking Trail. All these features and improvements have added substantially to the overall recreational benefit of the Cheat Lake Park and Trail, and these have noticeably increased the number of visits to the Park. We look forward to the maintenance and improvement of these new features during the coming years. Duane Nichols, President, Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association. COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT 2012 RECREATION PLAN UPDATE Hiking and Biking Trail. CLEAR believes the hiking and biking trails should be open to the fullest extent 24 hours per day and year round. Closing the South Trail at dusk and opening again at a specific morning time can be problematic for some users. The need for maintenace will continue, in the face of usage as well as due to weather events and land slides. CLEAR is very pleased to have been a part of the effort to establish the Cheat Haven Hiking Trail along with a number of other individuals who wanted to achieve public access to this remote area. Sheepskin Trail. CLEAR supports the continued development of the Sheepskin Trail along the Cheat River down to Pt. Marion, PA, and it's extension on south to join with the Monongahela River Trail, which would provide access to Morgantown and Fairmont. We also support the extension of the Sheepskin Trail north from the Lake Lynn Dam up into the interior of Fayette County, PA. A few more years will be required before these extension will be put into place. Bike Racks, Picnic Tables, Shelter(s). We are pleased that bike racks and picnic tables have been moved around to accommodate locations of greater need. And, the two main shelters serve an important function for those needing shelter from the sunshine or rain. It is important to maintain a bike rack and picnic table at the end of the South Trail and/or near the Cheat Haven Hiking Trail. Observation Platform at End of Trail or Elsewhere. We need at least one observation platform along the South Trail, to overlook the Lake itself. The view from the Trail is generally obscured by trees and other obstacles. CLEAR recommends that an “observation platform” be constructed for use of the general public. Suggested locations for consideration are (1) the end of the South Trail and/or (2) the CLEAR boat dock (near the Cheat Haven Hiking Trail). Three Rest Room Locations. It is important to maintain all the rest room facilities in working order and in a sanitary state. Low Usage Areas. It is desirable to explore additional useage opportunities for the Upper Day Use Picnic Area, for the Warm Hollow and Tower Run Viewing Areas. Privilege Permits. CLEAR supports the plan to no longer issue new privilege permits. In addition to the new rules that have been proposed, it would be appropriate to require that privilege permits be renewed at least every three years for existing permits that are to continue in force. For renewals, applicants should submit a picture of the present permitted site and a statement as to the amount of usage during the past few years and why the permit should be renewed. NOTE. Section 2.5 (Priviledge Permit Areas) is misleading and in need of updating or revision. Boat Docks. Boat docks need to be inspected annually, so as to adhere to rational rules of safety and appearance. Also, the day use boat docks must be kept in good repair. Shoreline Erosion. Shoreline erosion is a significant problem around the Lake, at some locations more so than others. Contributing factors are (1) the raising and lowering of the Lake as part of its hydroelectric generation function, and (2) boat wake from the recreational power boats that use the Lake. The latter factor is very significant during weekends and particularly so on holidays. CLEAR believes that if the Lake water level can be maintained at or below 869 feet (max. is 870) on weekends, the shoreline erosion can be significantly reduced. Water Quality. Water quality has improved due to sanitary treatment systems upstream and the treatment of acid mine draining. However, these issues still remain. There is some sewage that comes into the Cheat River and Cheat Lake, so monitoring for Fecal Coliform and E. Coli are appropriate. Also, there is acid mine water that flushes thru during high water events particularly. Further, there are threats to the Cheat River and to Cheat Lake resulting from the Marcellus shale drilling and hydrofracking operations upstream. One or more solid drilling waste dumps have been proposed for the Cheat River watershed; these would leach heavy metals into the Lake. The Lake is already contaminated with mercury such that an advisory exists restricting the human consumption of fish from the Lake. Fishing Tournaments. Fishing is very popular in Cheat Lake, which has an excellent rating State-wide. Adequate parking is needed to provide for the fishing public at these tournaments. Swimming Area Maintenance and Improvement. The leadership and cooperation exhibited by both AE (FirstEnergy) and PACE Tech during the construction and implementation of the Millstone Point swimming area and the Cheat Haven Hiking Trail were outstanding. And, the necessary man-hours were applied in a prompt, effective, and efficient manner. We need to continue to clear floating debris from the swimming area and clear poison ivy from the shore area. We want to improve the beach with softer sand and to place a continuing emphasis on SAFETY. Signage. Signs on WV 857 for the Cheat Lake Park would be very useful to the public. Web-site. FirstEnergycorp.com (Formerly www.cheatlaketoday.com ). This web-site is not as functional and friendly as the previous one, in my opinion. It is a challenge to locate the Information on Cheat Lake; and it is difficult to browse or find specific information of interest, as revealed by the imbedded web-site sequence below: Home>Environment> Sustainability>Cheat Lake. AKA: cheatlaketoday.com Public Meetings. It is proposed that two informal meetings and one formal Annual Meeting be set each year to address the Cheat Lake environment. One such meeting every three years, as has been in the past, is not adequate to maintain continuity of attention to the various opportunities, issues, and problems relating to First Energy and the general public. Thank you for your considerations and attention to these matters. Respectfully submitted, Original signed by Duane Nichols Duane G. Nichols, President Cheat Lake Environment & Recreation Assn. 330 Dream Catcher Circle Morgantown, WV 26508 304-216-5535, duane330(a)aol.com cc: FERC, CLEAR Board, Mon County Planner Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Cheat Lake Water Report: June 19, 2012
by Duane330＠aol.com 03 Jul '12

03 Jul '12

WATER BACTERIOLOGICAL REPORT Cheat Lake, Monongalia County, WV Samples Collected June 19, 2012 1. Millstone Beach, Cheat Lake: Total Coliforms 133.3, E. Coli 1.0 2. Ruble Run Backwater, near Trail: Total Coliforms 201.4, E. Coli 2.0 3. EKC Camp Cove, near Forks of Cheat Forest: TC 248.9, E. Coli < 1.0 NOTES: Sampling by CLEAR, Water Analysis by WV Department of Health, Charleston, WV. The above results indicate that these locations in Cheat Lake were acceptable for swimming. An advisory is typically posted with the E. Coli reaches 200 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. If the E. Coli reaches say 1000, the Health Department would typically close the beach for swimming. [It is not recommend that the raw water from Cheat Lake be used for drinking water, as the quality various sometimes from one day to the next.] Acknowledgement: Let me take this opportunity to thank Jan Reger-Nash, Donna Weems, and Mike Strager for their assistance on Cheat Lake. On June 26th, six large trees were floated from the main channel of the Lake to near the shoreline, some 14 barrels were retrieved from the Lake, two automobile tires were removed, and various bottles, cans and other items were removed. PACE Enterprises subsequently transported these materials to a landfill. Duane Nichols, Cell Phone: 304-216-5535

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CLEAR July 2012