Publisher's Point Of View
Robert Allan Hooftallen

The internet is my generation's greatest asset. Connection to the World Wide Web really does open the door to everything- commerce, entertainment, health, religion. In one way or the other, I use the internet for all of those things, but what I cherish the most about the internet is that it gives me instant access to information.

And when I lack information, I go to the web to find it. Savvy internet users quickly and easily determine which sites can be trusted as credible sources of information.

When the train crashed here at the end of June, I realized we had a pretty big story on our hands. When I started working on that story, I realized how little I knew about a dozen or more issues that would most certainly come into play through the course of the life of the story. The fact that it set a precedent for similar environmental disasters in the state, made the story even more interesting and fun: everyone who gave a damn for whatever reason was scrambling for information and answers.

I buried myself in it for 24 hours, scouring the web for information on Norfolk Southern and for similar spills that have taken place in Pennsylvania and beyond.

I learned as much in what I didn't find as I did in the information I was able to uncover: our predicament was unique.

It appeared to me over the next week or so that few others had taken the time to do that kind of research and I started to think that the people who mattered would be lulled to sleep by the bureaucratic pace at which the investigation would move.

Until recently, I was still concerned that Cameron County lacked leadership and a clear voice in the events that are taking place in the spill's aftermath. I felt a lot better after last week's meeting at the courthouse.

After listening to the DEP officials on hand, our local legislators (Causer & Scarnati), our commissioners and our local Waterways Conservation Officer, I truly feel a sense of confidence in how things are proceeding.

Commissioner Glen Fiebig, who has not yet said, but who is likely to run for re-election in the spring, has appeared to take the lead role on the county level in playing local government watchdog during the investigation. An excriminal investigator himself, Glen is eager to assist law enforcement and DEP in this stage.

A couple days ago, I spoke privately with him about the situation, hoping to come away with some sense of what the commissioners would like to see come of this situation.

"A lot of what has happened, you can't reverse," he said. "So, we (the commissioners) are trying not to dwell on that... we're thinking about what can be done to help the people of Cameron County because, really, everyone lost something in this."

Fiebig elaborated, noting that "when we see a fishing season go by, we'll have a better idea of what has really been lost relative to our economy. Not a lot of people realize that fishing is a better season for most businesses than hunting season."

Fiebig asked me to remind county residents that the situation is far from over and that at some point, everyone who believes he has been a victim of the spill will need to be heard.

"People need to keep talking about it and stay involved," he said. "We all have a responsibility to keep an eye on how this thing progresses."

Fiebig said that all three commissioners want to "see this thing through," and that it is without question the biggest issue they've faced this term.

With a commissioners race around the corner and watershed specialist Jim Zoschg out of the picture for six months, the team will need additional key players down the road.

One commissioner, Tony Moscato, said he isn't running in 2007. From what I've gathered Commissioner Pat Rodgers has not decided either way and really isn't in a position to do so for personal reasons. I'm guessing Glen will run. When I asked, he didn't commit, but he did say this:

"I'm going to stay involved whether I'm a commissioner or not."

I'd say it if I thought otherwise, so I have to say this: I really believe the commissioners are doing a good job helping the right people understand how the spill has affected life here. And they seem committed to sticking with it.