March 13, 2001

For Immediate Release
Contact: Rachel Martin, (814) 223-4996

State Senator Spreads Message of Intolerance

Pennsylvania Senator Joseph Scarnati Tells Citizens to "stay out of our area"

Warren, PA ­ Local constituents ask for a public apology after Pennsylvania State Senator Joseph Scarnati recently told citizens of the 25th District who live near the Allegheny National Forest to "send a distinct and heartfelt message to members of the [Allegheny Defense Project] ­ this message should simply be to stay out of our area"

The Allegheny Defense Project, based in Clarion, PA, just south of the national forest, is a grassroots conservation organization working to protect the Allegheny National Forest from commercial logging. The Allegheny Defense Project recently joined several other organizations in an administrative appeal of the East Side logging project in the Allegheny National Forest. Their appeal challenged the U.S. Forest Service's decision to approve the project based on their failure to consider alternative selective cutting methods that better protect water quality, soils, old growth habitat, and endangered species.

Senator Joseph Scarnati¹s comments singling out the conservation organization were published by various local papers over the last few days. In an article published in the Ridgway Record Senator Scarnati claimed that "the groups¹ members live outside the area."

According to Rachel Martin, Outreach Director for the ADP, not only does the organization have members that live and work within the four counties that contain the Allegheny National Forest but half of their board members live there as well. "Even if this wasn¹t the case, this is a national forest and therefore it¹s a national issue. All Americans have the right to participate in the public debate about managing our national forests."

"My family has been in this area since 1792 and I have lived in Forest County all of my life," explained Ryan Talbott, a resident of Barnett Township and a Board member of the Allegheny Defense Project. "I find it insulting that my own state senator would label me an outsider and tell my neighbors that I must leave the area."

According to the Allegheny Defense Project Senator Scarnati¹s comments are hypocritical because his campaign for the State Senate was heavily financed by out of district interests.

"Senator Scarnati spent a remarkable $550,000 in his race for the state senate," explained Martin. "80% of Senator Scarnati¹s campaign contributions came from outside of the 25th District, primarily from state GOP interests ­ not from local interests. But somehow he has the nerve to label us as outsiders."

Janis Trubic, an ADP Board Member and Warren County resident who lives in Sheffield, PA, "The Heart of the Alleghenies", noted that "Senator Scarnati should have something better to do than to attack the citizens who live in his district. Civil, intelligent public debate over our national forests is a healthy process. The Senator should be taking this opportunity to better educate himself about the issues that relate to national forest management. Taunts, name-calling, and cheap shots are inappropriate behavior for a state senator."

Senator Scarnati¹s statements have fueled concern about how local officials have handled public debate about the logging program in the Allegheny National Forest.

"Scarnati's inflammatory language towards his constituents increases the already strident rhetoric being put forth by those who support tax-payer subsidized logging in the Allegheny National Forest," said Joe Martin, a resident of Bradford in McKean County.

In a recent "educational" column in the Forest Press, Douglas Carlson, Conservation District Officer for Forest County writes that "There seems to be no end to this war" while encouraging his readers that "we must cause [the end] ourselves." In his column, according to the Allegheny Defense Project, Carlson preaches intolerance labeling members of the organization as "green crazies" and writing that "we are against the wall and the enemy is itching to pull the trigger."

"Doug Carlson's comments are disturbing because of how closely they parallel Senator Scarnati's rhetoric," explained Talbott. "It is important to note that Douglas Carlson's position is funded in large part by state tax-dollars. His so-called 'educational' column is a requirement of his receiving state funds."

"Just last year, former State Senator Bill Slocum and U.S. Congressman John Peterson co-sponsored an essay contest among area 8th graders in which the winning essay featured a story where the main character kills the environmental activist," explained Jim Kleissler, Forest Watch Director for the ADP. "It is unnerving when my Congressman would participate in endorsing an essay with such violent undertones."

Mr. Kleissler pointed out that U.S. Congressman John Peterson received more contributions from the timber industry than any other federal Congressman over this last election cycle. Scarnati's predecessor, Former State Senator Bill Slocum served a federal prison sentence last year for environmental crimes.

"We were hoping for intelligent leadership with our new state Senator Scarnati, but instead we¹re getting the same radical message of anti-environmentalism and intolerance parroted by convicted State Senator Slocum," stated Allegheny Defense Project board member Bill Belitskus, of Lantz Corners, McKean County, PA. "A public apology from Senator Scarnati would go a long way towards re-framing the public debate and allowing for a healthy dialogue to develop."

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