Last week, despite our best efforts for a number of years, the Department of Environmental Conservation issued the Troy Sand and Gravel a permit to mine in Nassau, New York. This will be an industrial mine in an area of Rensselear County designated Rural Residential where local laws ban large scale mining.

When you read the DAR multi-page "it's okay" verdict it is apparent that DEC has convinced themselves that there will be NO impact to anyone outside of an area of 2,000 feet of the center of the hole. Although the company plans multiple trips every hour of a six day a week operation from dawn until seven at night, nothing is mentioned of the thousands who live within a few mile radius of the mine and tens of thousands who live alongside the transport trail (Routes 66 and Route 43) on the side of the mountain called the Alps and within this lovely lake area (Crystal Lake, Burden Lake, Glass Lake, Crooked Lake) of Rensselear County.

Their report coldly cites ll people who live within the 2,000 feet radius of the center of the mine hole and I wonder if Troy Sand and Gravel has already offered them property compensation because, of course, moving is the only option for those families. (My husband and I live approximately 2 miles from the proposed mine core)

A year ago I was at a meeting of the town of Nassau--one of several. That evening one expert after another stood to speak about the devastation this mine is bound to trigger. Many of us spoke later of the consequences of opening the door to more mine proposals throughout Rensselear County since the desired rock materials cover a large portion of this county.

I sprout from a long line of native New Yorkers. My forefathers arrived Manhattan in the mid-1600s, several generations were and are residents of Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Albany, Rensselear, Dutches County and have fought in every war. I suppose it is just in my genes; I have always loved the beauty and splendor that is New York....from the glitter and raz of Manhattan Island, and the magic hue of the Hudson Valley Region, straight through the upward magisty of the Adirondack region. This was the path of settlement taken by hundreds of families including my own. You and I, and thousands like us, share a history and with it a great love for the people along with the geographical resources this state provides, but unfortunately, because of the determination of this agency, I have come to believe that the DEC has little regard for any part of that which is New York State and now ponder the point of the agency at all?

I have a good friend, an honorable man, who has worked in Rensselear County in the private field of excavation for decades. He tells me not to worry--we won't hear the blasts-or feel the vibrations--won't see any dust-or trucks on our winding curved side road--the wetlands, streams, wells won't be disturbed--or wildlife--or sheep grazing on the hillside of our road, horses won't stir and children awaiting school bus along truck strewn Route 66 will be safe--all the time his eyes hold the solice of sympathy.

Of course, the Troy Sand and Gravel Company must obey the "how to" instructions of the DEC and our local laws....I think, but after seeing the "protection" of the DEC governmental agency, I wonder who in New York State government will have the strength of character to make right a business endeavor that is terribly wrong for this area.

The vast majority of residents in our area feel that the permit issued by DEC is a very big defeat for the New York State environment and should be viewed in awe by all environmental groups across New York State.