Meanwhile, the Ohio University Student Senate unanimously passed
a
resolution late last week opposing any mining closer to Dysart Woods,
citing "massive student support for preserving Dysart Woods."
Also last week, hundreds of letters were mailed and hand delivered
to Governor George Voinovich and ODMR Chief Lisa Morris asking that
permits #6 and #7 be denied.
Dysart Woods Defender Chad Kister met with Morris and ODMR
supervisors Bill Stirling and Harry Payne on Friday, where he reiterated
the concerns of citizens that Dysart Woods be protected by the watershed
buffer zone submitted by Ohio University and a minimum of two miles
from
the university property.
Stirling said the division had received "hundreds and hundreds
of
letters against permit 6 and 7 and zero in favor of them." "But
he did
not acknowledge any significance in this," Kister said. "Apparently
it is
big money, not democracy that rules our government, at it is at the
risk
of our last ancient forest."
Harry Payne said that the ODNR had said that it needed a million
dollar study before it could ascertain whether mining would damage
Dysart
Woods. Kister asked, "So how can you make a conclusion on Permit
6 or 7
without that million dollar study?" They had no answer.
To get to the ODNR, take I-71 to Morris Road east. Fountain
Square is just passed Northland Mall