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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
February 7, 2001
"The most powerful thing the Sierra Club can do is to educate and create demand within members." --A very wise SC leader
I. During the first two weeks of the Bush administration, Sierra Club spoke out on Norton and Ashcroft.
II. Horseshoe Crab Success
III. Roadless
I. During the first two weeks of the Bush administration, Sierra Club spoke out on Norton and Ashcroft.
The Sierra Club opposed Bush's selection of Gale Norton as Interior Secretary. During the Reagan presidency, Norton served as associate solicitor at the Interior Department under Interior Secretary James Watt. In that capacity she authored and signed legal opinions in support of drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and provided legal advice on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's controversial approval of Two Forks Dam.
Watt later hired Norton as a lawyer for the arch-conservative Mountain States Legal Foundation, which often represents loggers, miners, ranchers and water developers in fights against environmental groups. Norton is also the founder and serves on advisory committee of the Coalition of Republican Environmental Advocates (CREA), which is considered by the Republicans for Environmental Protection (a legitimate GOP environmental group) to be "a transparent attempt to fool voters who care about environmental protection."
The Sierra Club also opposed the appointment of John Ashcroft as Attorney General. Ashcroft has an exceedingly poor environmental voting record and is openly hostile to most environmental laws. Ashcroft voted against additional funding for environmental programs including the Clean Water Action Plan and toxic waste cleanups at Superfund sites. He also voted for a bill to roll back clean water protections, to prevent the EPA from enforcing arsenic standards for drinking water, and to allow mining companies to dump cyanide and other mining waste on large areas of public lands next to mining sites.
II. Horseshoe Crab Success
The National Marine Fisheries Service on Monday banned the harvest of horseshoe crabs in a newly created, 1,500-square-mile sanctuary, just off the Delaware coast. The ban, effective March 7, is intended to protect the population center of one of nature's most ancient mariners. The crabs, more closely related to spiders than to crabs, predate the dinosaur. The crabs also are a vital link in the food chain for millions of migratory shorebirds that stop each spring along Delaware Bay to feed on the eggs of horseshoe crabs. Congratulations to Mike D'Amico and friends! Great work!
III. Roadless
From NW Field Staffer, Kathleen Casey:
(On Tuesday, the administration stated that it would review the roadless plan that President Clinton announced two weeks before he left office. Roadless areas cover roughly 213,000 acres of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Southwest Washington. The roadless-area protection plan includes 2,015,000 acres in Washington and 1,965,000 acres in Oregon.)
Yesterday, Bill and I were interviewed by KIRO news radio and KPLU (local NPR) about the roadless plan. Holly Forrest, our X-traordinary volunteer in Vancouver, had this to say:
"I'm very disappointed," said Holly Forrest, political chairwoman of the club's Loo Wit chapter. "I'm not surprised. The shame is that President Bush is dragging his feet on something the American people have clearly indicated they want."
Barbara Boyle, Sr. Regional Representative in CA, reported three great editorials focused on the administration's announcement. Editorials were printed in the Reno-Gazette Journal, LA Times and San Francisco Chronicle.
I. TAKE ACTION: CALL ON SENATORS TO CO-SPONSOR REAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
II. GOT PCB's???? New York City to GE -- "Clean up Your Mess!" -By Susan Holmes
I. TAKE ACTION: CALL ON SENATORS TO CO-SPONSOR REAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001, S. 27, sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Arizona) and Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) would eliminate soft money contributions to political parties from special interests, thereby reducing pressure from these interests to weaken environmental safeguards.
The McCain-Feingold bill is the first step toward cleaning up the election system and restoring the confidence of the American people in the democratic ideal that every person's voice counts. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that opponents to campaign finance reform will attempt to undermine S. 27 by offering an amendment that would raise the individual contribution limits to candidates, they may also offer a so called "Pay Check Protection" Amendment that is designed to either kill the bill or cripple the rights of working men and women to participate in the political process.
Call your Senators today at (202)224-3121 and urge them to co-sponsor McCain-Feingold and oppose amendments that would weaken the reforms in the bill. Tell them that "After the bitter conclusion to last year's election, many Americans' faith in our democracy has been shaken. The Senate can begin to restore that faith by closing the soft money loophole in our campaign finance laws. We urge you to support this effort by joining Senator McCain, Senator Feingold, and 21 other Senators as a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001 and to oppose amendments that would continue to compromise our election system. Thank you."
For more information, contact Deanna White at deanna.white@sierraclub.org or call (202)547-1141.
II. GOT PCB's???? New York City to GE -- "Clean up Your Mess!" -By Susan Holmes
Take 125 Sierra/enviro activists, 50 "Clean Up the Hudson" signs, add four TV camera's, 16 of New York's finest (that's police for you folks from CAFO country), one congressman, one famous author, and Bobby Kennedy and what do you get? An absolutely fantastic press conference and rally designed to get out our message and to make the executives at GE quake in their wingtips!!
With EPA hearings about to force GE to clean up *their* PCBs taking place in NYC, Sierra Club (along with the Riverkeeper and six environmental groups) took over the streets to show support for the EPA's plan to clean up the Hudson. While activists waved signs, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, a very cold George Plimpton, City Council Member Gifford Miller, well-known Hudson advocate Bobby Kennedy and leading enviros spoke to the crowd, slamming GE for "not cleaning up its mess" and "polluting the fish and people with PCBs" and the "airwaves with its propaganda campaign."
Field staffers Emma "do you have a press pack?" McGregor and Patrick "hold your sign high for the TV!" Shannon did an amazing job with media and crowd control. Baret Pinyoun, back at "command central" in Saratoga Springs, worked wonders orchestrating details from there. Field staff Susan "please stay behind the police barricades!" Holmes got to MC the event, while NE Field Director Chris "GE, Clean up Your Mess!" Ballantyne alternated between working the media and annoying the GE executives.
After the rally, the crowd and the media moved to the hearing, where over 250 people showed up and 82 people signed up to speak. Surprise guests included *Senator Bob Kerry* and the little pug dog from Spin City!! Despite a few GE supporters--boo, the crowd was overwhelmingly in favor of clean-up!
NYC Group volunteers including Don Carlson, Frank Eadie, Jack Hoyt and Margaret Hays-Young showed up to testify. Board of Trustees President Michael Loeb did yeoman's duty holding up the "Clean up the Hudson" banner behind the speakers! With great media (still counting) and many activists, lots of fun was had by all (except GE!!)
If you want to get involved in the fun, please visit https://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/action/hudson.asp
HOLD YOUR SENATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR VOTE ON INTERIOR SECRETARY GALE NORTON
I. TAKE ACTION: VOTE FOR REAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
II. 3 PART TAKE ACTION: PROTECT OUR FORESTS FROM PRESIDENT BUSH
III. TAKE ACTION: STOP BUSH'S ATTACKS ON FAMILY PLANNING
IV. TAKE ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING ACTION: MEET WITH YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
V. PROTECT WILDERNESS! INCLUDING ARCTIC REFUGE! COMMENTS TO FWS
VI. EPA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON NEW NATIONAL FERTILIZER RULES. ACT NOW, DEADLINE FEBRUARY 26TH!
HOLD YOUR SENATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR VOTE ON INTERIOR SECRETARY GALE NORTON
Yes, it's true - the U.S. Senate confirmed President Bush's extreme anti-environmental nominee Gail Norton as the next Secretary of the Interior. The vote was 75 to 24. But in the strange world of politics, take heart! The huge public opposition to her nomination confirmed how out of touch her views are with the majority of Americans. Your part in this public outcry - taking the time to make your voice heard - was key! The twenty-four senators who opposed Gale Norton (twice as many who opposed her mentor, James Watt) actually took a powerful step toward making sure that her agenda goes nowhere!
What You Can Do
Go to https://www.sierraclub.org/politics/cabinet/norton_vote.asp to find out how your senator voted. We urge you to contact your senators to express your thanks or disappointment, by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or go to https://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm to get direct contact information including email addresses. (Remember: A "no" vote deserves our thanks!).
Also, we urge you to write a letter to the editor to your local papers requesting that your senators keep a close watch on Gale Norton because of her extreme record.
I. TAKE ACTION: VOTE FOR REAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Senator John McCain is considering a proposal that would increase the amount of money individuals can give to candidates from $1,000 to $3,000. This is the same idea suggested by President Bush who raised record-breaking sums from maximum donors during his campaign. Increasing existing contribution limits by any amount is not reform. American elections are already in the hands and pockets of a wealthy few. Higher limits would just bring more big money into politics and would diminish the influence of average Americans, who do not have the financial means to contribute at such high levels. Let Senator McCain know that $1,000 is enough!
Go to McCain's website and vote against bringing more big money into politics. https://www.straighttalkamerica.com/ (The poll is on the right hand side). If you are interesting in writing letters to the editor on campaign finance reform and banning unregulated campaign contributions called soft money, contact Eli Levitt at eli.levitt@sierraclub.org or call at 202-547-1141.
II . TAKE ACTION: TO PROTECT OUR WILDLANDS, NATIONAL FORESTS, & THE ARCTIC
A. Help Protect Our Wild Forests -- Write your Representative Last year thousands of Sierra Club members wrote letters, attended hearings and spoke out to protect our Wild Forests. Because of your good work the Wild Forest Protection Plan was signed and will protect 60 million acres from road construction and commercial logging. Now we need your help to defend Wild Forests from attacks by the Bush Administration. Please take a moment to write your Senators and Representatives and urge them to stand up to attacks on our Wild Forests. You can call your Members of Congress through the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Urge them to oppose all efforts to derail the Wild Forest Protection Plan!
B. Protect and Restore Our National Forests Commercial logging destroys wildlife habitat, degrades recreation opportunities, impacts our clean water sources and wastes taxpayer money. It is time to stop the subsidies of forest destruction and invest in forest restoration. Please write a letter to your local newspaper and urge your friends and neighbors to do the same. You can find a sample letter on the Sierra Club website at www.sierraclub.org/takeaction/logging For more information call Mitzi Emrich at (202) 547-1141.
C. Arctic Refuge and oil drilling story on 60 minutes -- Watch this Sunday. On Sunday, February 4th, "60 Minutes" will broadcast a story on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We haven't seen the story, but rumor has it that it may not be favorable to protecting the Refuge as habitat for caribou, polar bears, musk ox, grizzlies, and migratory birds, but that it may lean in favor of drilling! We hope this isn't true, but watch closely for any inconsistencies -- and if you disagree with how the story was presented, take action. You can: 1) write to 60 minutes, 2) write a letter to the editor of your local paper, or 3) write a letter to your member of Congress, expressing that you want the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to be protected from oil drilling and all development. To get involved in the campaign to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, email julie.hudson@sierraclub.org, with your name, address, phone number, and Club affiliation.
III. TAKE ACTION: STOP PRESIDENT BUSH'S ATTACKS ON FAMILY PLANNING
President Bush Damages International Family Planning Programs Only two days his inaugural address, President George W. Bush reinstated the global gag rule on international family planning. The global gag rule bars international family planning organizations that receive a single dollar of U.S. funds from using their own money to talk about abortion with their patients, provide abortion services, or lobby to change abortion laws in their countries. Under this rule, overseas organizations cannot use their own revenue for these purposes. If they do, they may be barred from receiving U.S. humanitarian aid that goes to help maternal mortality and child survival programs. In reality, U.S. law has prevented U.S. taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions overseas since 1973.
Reinstating the global gag rule will hurt women and the environment. This policy will ultimately impact all efforts to protect the environment. Because rapid population growth exacerbates every environmental problem, it is intimately linked to all our efforts to protect the environment. By limiting access to information and services that help families to decide the timing and spacing of their children, President Bush is making it more difficult to protect the natural resources that are under pressure from the demands of rapidly increasing population.
TAKE ACTION: Let President Bush know that you disagree with the reinstatement of the global gag rule and that you disapprove of this blatant attack on women and the environment. This should not be one of Bush's first acts as President. Contact the White House, the Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, your Senators and Representative to state your disapproval of this action.
President George W. Bush 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20500 202-456-1414 comment line 202-456-2461 fax president@whitehouse.gov
Secretary of State Colin Powell 202-647-4000, 202-261-8577 fax National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice 202-456-9481 U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
For further information: Contact Laurie Mignone, Global Population & Environment Program, laurie.mignone@sierraclub.org.
IV. DISTRICT WORK WEEK STARTS ON FEB. 19TH: TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CURB GLOBAL WARMING
District Work Week for members of Congress is taking place the week of February 19. This is a good opportunity to meet with your representatives to discuss Global Warming and Energy issues.
Representatives should be aware that:
-It is more effective to drill under Detroit than under the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
-Making cars and light trucks go further on a gallon of gas is the biggest single step to curb global warming. -Representatives can sign the Sierra Club's Clean Car Letter to express their support for raising CAFE
-The federal governmentshould look to increase funding for clean energy alternatives, and cut funding into fossil-fuel research
-Raising awareness of Global Warming as a serious threat to the environment, both locally and globally.
If you are interested in arranging a district office visit, or if you would like more information, please contact Alex Veitch at alex.veitch@sierraclub.org or at 202-547-1141.
DC staff are available to provide assistance with arranging visits, and will provide talking points and information on the issues. We would like to keep track of which offices are visited, and how the meeting went.
Find out more about steps you can take to help curb global warming at our website: https://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming.
V. PROTECT WILDERNESS! INCLUDING ARCTIC REFUGE! COMMENTS TO FWS
On January 16, 2001, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)released their Draft Wilderness Stewardship Policy. This Stewardship policy is critical to Alaska as most of Refuge Wilderness is located in Alaska. In fact over 30% of Refuge wilderness is located within just ONE Refuge - the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge! Please comment on this policy to ensure that the important protective aspects are retained. Comments must be received by April 19, 2001.
TAKE ACTION: SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:
National Wildlife Refuge System U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serve, Room 670 4401 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203
Wilderness_Policy_Comments@fws.gov
(An online version of this policy is available at https://refuges.fws.gov/manual/draft.html)
SUGGESTED COMMENTS TO INCLUDE: ·Support the humble, respectful and protective stance of policy as indicated by the chosen title of "Wilderness Stewardship" rather than "Wilderness Management". ·Support the concept of restraint (by both managers and visitors) throughout the document. ·Support the policy's recognition of the full range of wilderness values but encourage them to include symbolic and spiritual values as well. ·Support the strong emphasis upon preserving wilderness character. ·Note that natural conditions and processes, not wildlife, must come first in wilderness. ·Support management of Wilderness Study Areas in a manner that protects their wilderness character and prohibits any activities that would diminish their suitability for wilderness designation.
VI. EPA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON NEW NATIONAL FERTILIZER RULES. ACT NOW, DEADLINE FEBRUARY 26TH!
Because of a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club and the Washington Toxics Coalition, EPA is proposing to revise existing regulations and begin to regulate certain fertilizers made from hazardous waste. EPA must receive comments from citizens because the fertilizer industry is poised and ready to fight this stringent regulation of their products. We have until February 26th to influence EPA's decision!
Although EPA has not proposed a total ban on the practice of disposing of hazardous waste by turning it into fertilizer, it has proposed taking important initial steps to address the problem. Tell EPA you SUPPORT the following proposals in the EPA draft rule:
1. Technology - based limits on metals in zinc fertilizers made from hazardous waste.
2. A prohibition on wastes from dioxin polluting industries being used for fertilizer.
3. The elimination of a RCRA loophole that exempts steel mill waste from hazardous waste laws when it is used for fertilizer.
4. The elimination of a RCRA loophole for mining waste when it is used for fertilizer.
5. Full reporting and tracking of the use of hazardous waste in fertilizer, and labeling of such products..
Tell EPA to STRENGTHEN the rule by implementing the following proposals:
1. Move towards a ban of the use of hazardous wastes for manufacturing fertilizers by adopting stringent metals standards for ALL zinc fertilizers.
2. Remove the loopholes that allow hazardous steel mill waste to be turned into zinc fertilizer, and ban its use as fertilizer all together.
3. Ban all dioxin-laden wastes from fertilizer.
4. Remove the exemption for MINING wastes when it is used for micro-nutrient or any fertilizer product.
5. Retain existing hazardous waste management requirements for hazardous wastes being made into fertilizer.
6. Adopt a comprehensive reporting system and labeling requirements so the public knows what hazardous wastes are being made into fertilizer and what toxics are contained in their fertilizer.
The deadline is February 26th, 2001! Please mail or email comments now! All comments must reference docket number F-2000-RZFP-FFFFF.
Mail 3 copies of comments to: RCRA Docket Information Center Office of Solid Waste (5305W) US EPA Headquarters (EPA, HQ) 401 M. St., SW Washington, DC 20460
Email comments to: rcra-docket@epamail.epa.gov.
For more information on the proposed national rules and the suggested comments, please visit https://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/action/fertilizerrules.asp, or contact Dorris Cellerius at dorris@cellarius.net.
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