1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to urge your immediate federal intervention to halt the potential destruction of an irreplaceable American chestnut grove in Mason County, West Virginia. Located at the former Clements State Tree Nursery, this site holds approximately 200 mature American chestnuts dating back to the 1970s, grown from wild blight survivors. Following the catastrophic blight that eradicated billions of keystone trees across Appalachia, this grove serves as a living genetic archive essential to ongoing national efforts to restore the American chestnut species. Advocates warn that these trees face imminent clearing as early as November 1, 2026, to accommodate a massive data-center development (Project Tamarack / Monarch Compute Campus). While project developers have publicly stated the nursery is not part of their parcel, no official boundary maps or environmental impact assessments have been released to substantiate this claim or ensure the grove’s safety. Economic and technological growth must not come at the expense of our nation's rarest ecological heritage. I respectfully ask that your office: * Demand immediate transparency by requesting that developers and state agencies publish verified parcel boundaries and site plans before ground is broken. * Call for a temporary halt on any clearing activities until conservation experts, including the West Virginia Division of Forestry and The American Chestnut Foundation, can independently evaluate the site. * Engage federal environmental and conservation authorities to help negotiate a preservation or buffer agreement that accommodates development while safeguarding this critical genetic repository. Thank you for defending our region's natural heritage.