http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/07/12/1659356-us-judge-blocks-gas-drilling-in-michigan-forest


U.S. District Judge David Lawson of Detroit ruled Thursday the agency had acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in 2005 by giving Savoy Energy LP of Traverse City a permit to drill an exploratory well near the Au Sable River's south branch.

The proposed wellhead would be located in the Huron-Manistee National Forest about three-tenths of a mile from the Mason Tract, a 4,679-acre wilderness area prized by anglers and other outdoor recreationists.

The judge ruled the Forest Service didn't consider how degrading the area could harm tourism, and said the agency did a "woefully inadequate" job of evaluating how the drilling might affect the Kirtland's warbler, an endangered songbird that nests in the area.

Two environmental groups, the Sierra Club and Anglers of the Au Sable, sued the government to halt the drilling. Joining the suit was Tim Mason, whose grandfather, auto executive George Mason, donated the original 1,200 acres to the state upon his death in 1954 and asked that it be maintained as wilderness.

"The ruling supports what my grandfather's vision was. It's a victory," said Mason, a Woodstock, Ill., businessman.


Damn Republicans

GREAT...counter our culture...

counter anything that is good for America...

That also means HIGHER gas prices.

Some people are really good for nothing.

I understand many people are changing their minds about drilling here in America.

If people want us out of the mid east they can't stop us from supporting our own needs too. That's hypocritical.

People may be changing their opinion on drilling America but as long it is NOT IN MY BACK YARD! Just watch.

Should listen to T. Boone Pickets, "We can't drill our way out of this one."

It will be where it will be...

drilling in america is needed but it shouldnt harm the habitat of endangered animals or anyones well being for that matter.

jmo

like 1956 said not in my back yard.

you people should learn to be less dependent on oil and also, if you need the oil and it belongs to someone else and they want to charge you alot for it, you dont have the right to invade their country or try to kill their leaders....
Now if you think a birds life is less important than driving your car..consider this (those of you who profess to be such staunch christians) ...all creatures great and small, the good lord made them all....

We have the technology to be independent without killing the environment! After all we are the most innovative technological nation on earth!
Why waste time and money for something that wont help??

why the hell are we stuck on oil instead of using the alternatives we know are already patented but supressed.I would rather have the wilderness and fresh air then destroy everything in sight .High gas prices are not worth screwing up Earth.

I always knew you were a smart woman.
Good question!!

"Two environmental groups, the Sierra Club and Anglers of the Au Sable, sued the government to halt the drilling. Joining the suit was Tim Mason, whose grandfather, auto executive George Mason, donated the original 1,200 acres to the state upon his death in 1954 and asked that it be maintained as wilderness.

"The ruling supports what my grandfather's vision was. It's a victory," said Mason, a Woodstock, Ill., businessman."
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This is the important part. The land still be in private hands except for the generosity of Mr.Mason, who donated so that the public could enjoy the wild heritage of the area, if it was to be used for drilling, I am sure he would have left it to his family so they would benifit.

George Vanderbilt was at one time one of the richest men in America. When he died his son inherited a lot of his money.

George II had a passion for Horticulture. After visiting WNC as a child with his mother he fell in love with the beauty of our mountains. When his father died he spent a large part of his inheritance and bought a lot of land here.
He built the largest single family residence in America here, modeled after the Chateau's of European Royalty in Europe. It is still the largest single family residence in America, although the biggest part of it was later opened to the public as a tourist attraction. (The Biltmore House)
Because of George's passion for Horticulture and his families logging Business, he hired Gifford Pinchot, the greatest Forestry expert in the world at the time to preserve his land for all time as the natural beauty that it was and is.
Mr Pinchot established the nations first forestry school on the property and it became the first professionally managed forest in the US. Mr Pinchot went on to become the first Chief of the United States Forest Service.
After George Vanderbilt's death his wife sold 87,000 acres to the National Forest service for $5 an acre. Later she sold more and it became the core of the Pisgah National Forest here in Western NC.
It makes a person appreciate Mother Nature and most of us who live here are very protective of it. I tell this to show why I am so passionate about preserving the beauty of nature. George Bush and John McConfused want to open areas like this, the outer Banks, other equally beautiful and pristine areas across the country to more Oil drilling.
More oil drilling, that as the Gov's own study shows, will not benefit Americans at the pump for at least 10 yrs and then only by pennies.

We have the technology to become energy independent without destroying the environment we all enjoy. Lets get with it and then go camping!