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July 02, 1999
** Special Independence Day Edition **
Friday is the ALL ACTION edition of the SC-ACTION, including actions that you can take on each of the Sierra Club's priority campaigns. The featured campaign this week is the Sierra Club's Global Warming Campaign, but be sure to check out the rest of the campaigns to find out what else you can do to defend the environment. Current action items follow on: Human Rights and the Environment, Sprawl, Wildlands, Clean Water, Ending Commercial Logging, Responsible Trade and Population.
** URGENT ACTION ALERT! ACTION NEEDED: UNFPA **
As you will recall, funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was eliminated this year by Chris Smith (R-NJ) and other family planning opponents in Congress. To ensure that this doesn't happen again we need your help now.
The State Department reauthorization bill, which contains a provision to fund UNFPA next year, is expected to reach the floor of the House July 12th. Family planning opponents are likely to try to eliminate its funding provisions for UNFPA. And while they have not yet tried to attach the Gag Rule, that always remains a possibility.
UNFPA works to ensure that women have access to voluntary family planning, economic opportunities, and education-- all of which allows women to choose the size and spacing of their families. Providing access to safe and affordable family planning services and empowering women and girls helps to stabilize population growth and protect our environment.
Please contact your Representatives through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to oppose any amendment to the State Department reauthorization bill (H.R. 1211) that would eliminate or restrict the US contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) or funding for family planning assistance.
For more information contact Jennifer Kurz at 202.547.1141 or at jennifer.kurz@sierraclub.org.
U.S. Capitol Switchboard - (202) 224-3121
* KEEP READING FOR CRITICAL ACTION ITEMS ON ALL OUR CAMPAIGNS *
2. TAKE ACTION ON WILDLANDS. Help Protect the Wildlife and Wildlands of the Northern Rockies! The Northern Rockies region spans much of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and still hosts all of the animal species present when Lewis and Clark first ventured across this spectacular landscape almost 200 years ago. But significant unprotected gaps remain throughout this distinctive system of parks and wilderness, and development interests continue to threaten the healthy survival of the region's spectacular wildlife. Reps. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) have reintroduced the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (H.R. 488), a bill that would designate up to 18 million new acres of official Wilderness in the Northern Rockies, and create several more million acres of new National Park and Preserve study areas. In addition, the bill would protect crucial "biological corridors" relied upon by the region's vanishing grizzly bear and elk herds, as well as an abundance of other wildlife. Please make sure your Representative knows how important this legislation is, and ask him or her to contact Rep. Shays and be added as a co-sponsor. For more informatio, contact Melinda Pierce at melinda.pierce@sierraclub.org
3. TAKE ACTION ON SPRAWL. The Clinton Administration's Better America Bonds program would help communities preserve open space and clean up abandoned industrial sites. This sprawl-busting program would allow communities to get tax-free, 15-year bonds for actions like land acquisition and clean up. Yesterday in the House, key Democrats, including Matsui (D-CA) and Gephardt (D-M0) introduced legislation to fund the Better America Bonds! They're looking for other Representatives to join them, and this is the time to call yours. Ask him or her to cosponsor this important legislation. For more information contact the Director of Global Warming and Energy Program at (202) 547-1141.
4. TAKE ACTION ON CLEAN WATER: Within the next week EPA may issue draft guidance for issuing Clean Water Act permits to factory farms. This the first detailed action the Clinton Administration is taking under the new plan to protect health and the environment from these facilities. This draft guidance should require permits to include strong, enforceable, measurable, and nationally-consistent conditions to protect our rivers, lakes and streams. Measures to ensure that animal factories more carefully store their waste, apply the manure onto the land properly, locate animal factories away from places that are ecologically sensitive, and measure and report their water quality are all essential features needed in every Clean Water Act permit. Instead, EPA appears to be prepared to allow states to have variable standards (undermining the concept of a national baseline of protection), based on loose and unenforceable "considerations," and include little public comment and accountability. Call the White House comment line and leave a message in support of strong permitting guidance, using the information above. For more information, contact Ed Hopkins at ed.hopkins@sierraclub.org or (202) 547-1141.
5. TAKE ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Help stop a uranium mine in Australia's Kakadu National Park. Kakadu is a World Heritage site recognized for both its rich biological diversity and for its cultural significance to the Aboriginal people who live there. But the conservative government in Australia is proceeding with plans to open a second uranium mine in the heart of Kakadu in a place called Jabiluka. This week, 34 congressional representatives signed a letter urging President Clinton to support listing Kakadu as a World Heritage "In Danger" site. You can join them in their efforts to protect Kakadu by calling or e-mailing U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and urging him to oppose uranium mining in Kakadu. Urge him to support "In Danger" listing. Babbitt's phone number is (202) 208-7351, e-mail is bruce_babbitt@ios.doi.gov. For more information, visit the Sierra Club's Human Rights and the Environment Web site at www.sierraclub.org/human-rights. Or e-mail Sam Parry at sam.parry@sierraclub.org.
6. TAKE ACTION TO END COMMERCIAL LOGGING. Commercial logging on National Forests and other federal public lands damages fish and wildlife habitat, degrades drinking water, destroys recreation opportunities and charges the cost to taxpayers. Now pro-logging forces threaten to dismantle forest protection laws with a rider on the Senate Interior Apropriations bill. CALL YOUR SENATORS AT (202) 224-3121 AND URGE THEM TO PROTECT OUR FORESTS AND REMOVE ALL ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL RIDERS FROM SPENDING BILLS! For more information contact Sean Cosgrove at sean.cosgrove@sierraclub.org
7. TAKE ACTION ON RESPONSIBLE TRADE. The House of Representatives could vote immediately after the July 4 recess on legislation that would devastate Africa's environment. H.R. 434, the African Growth and Opportunity Act -- we call it the "NAFTA for Africa" -- would pry open Africa to increased foreign "investment" from transnational oil, mining and logging companies by threatening to raise tariffs on Africa's exports. But without strong environmental laws, the increased "investment" would destroy more of the natural resources -- the farmland, pure water and forests -- that the vast majority of Africans depend on for survival. Call, write or e-mail your representatives today and urge them to oppose the African Growth and Opportunity Act, "NAFTA for Africa", H.R. 434. For more information, see our Web site at www.sierraclub.org/trade.
8. TAKE ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING - FIGHT THE RIDER FREEZING MILES PER GALLON STANDARDS: Raising miles-per-gallon standards is the biggest single step we can take to curb global warming. It would also slash America's dependence on foreign oil, reduce pressure to drill for oil in sensitive wilderness areas, and strengthen our economy. After years of ducking the issue through anti-environmental riders in the Transportation Appropriations bills, the US Senate will soon vote on a CLEAN CAR RESOLUTION. Senators Gorton, Feinstein, and Bryan will be offering a resolution urging that the anti-environmental CAFE freeze rider be dropped from the Transportation Appropriations bill. Write, phone, or fax your Senators and urge them to support the upcoming Gorton/Feinstein/Bryan CLEAN CAR RESOLUTION!
"Animals and birds are dying because of the wickedness of our people, people who say, 'God doesn't see what we are doing.'" Jeremiah 12:4 (Today's English Version)
1) Colorado Wilderness Update!
2) Peripheral Canal Dries Up
3) STOP the Riders -- Make Your Call Today!
1) COLORADO CITIZENS' WILDERNESS PROPOSAL MAKES BIG SPLASH! There was one very important question being asked by the Gunnison County Commisioners on June 15th, whether to endorse the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal (CWP) or not. The CWP, put together more than 30 years ago by Colorado citizens, recommends wilderness protection of 1.4 million acres of Colorado's Canyon Country. Currently Colorado does have 3.2 million acres of protected wilderness; the kicker is, it's all above 10,000 feet - what we like to refer to as the rock and ice zone. Although these lands are incredibly beautiful and exciting, they only provide habitat for a limited number of species.
The CWP consist mostly of BLM lands (1.1 million acres of BLM and 280,000 acres of adjacent National Forest lands). These lands, on the other hand, consist of pristine limestone canyons, wild desert rivers, imperial windswept mesas, towering ancient petroglyphs, and a rare opportunity for peace and solitude. Clearly in need of protection!
This proposal was put together by Colorado citizens; and on Tuesday, it was clearly supported by Colorado citizens! We began with a rally at the park where we gave the latest scoop on the campaign, signed postcards, and RALLIED FOR WILDERNESS. Geared up and ready to show em what we're made of, about 50 citizens marched to the court house and packed the meeting room to capacity. We had to bring in more chairs and we even had folks STANDING at the back of the room - WOW!
Gunnison County folks spoke out with a non-mistakable YES! WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR WILD PLACES! There was no misunderstanding the message. Carol Radivich, a mother and teacher spoke for the children and let the Commissioners know that if we don't protect it now, we'll lose it for the future, she stated, "the land belongs to the future". On the other side of the fence was our opponent, the ORV community. Ten motorcycle enthusiasts showed, but with every comment they made there were four more factual comments to rebut their words. One elderly gentleman who admitted that he USED to ride motorcycles stated, "at my great age, I can still hike". Again and again citizens stood up and proclaimed the need for protection. The tally of comments were 32 for wilderness and 7 against. It was truly beautiful.
As Jeff Widen, a Sierra Club member and famous local rockclimber, put it "don't pop the cork yet, but get the ice ready." We began making toasts when Commissioner Marlene Zantelle (who was on the fence before the hearing) moved that they draft a resolution to support the CWP; however, due to the fact that this wasn't a working meeting, Chair Frank Field wouldn't let it be voted on. Also, to make it all that more enjoyable, after the hearing Marlene was overheard saying (with a grin on her face), "Well, I guess we have to do this - with this kind of support, what else can we do?" Yahoo! Of the three Commissioners the vote is 2 to 1 in favor of wilderness! June 29th is the big day, the Commissioners will meet again and then we'll be able to celebrate properly. Have a great day.
2) PERIPHERAL CANAL IDEA DRIES UP - WITH HELP FROM SIERRA CLUB! Last Friday's edition of the San Jose Mercury News tells us that, "Gov. Gray Davis and the Clinton administration today will do their best to drive a stake through the heart of one of California's most controversial environmental ideas -- building a 44-mile concrete canal around San Francisco Bay's delta to make it easier to ship water to Southern California.
"The channel, known as the Peripheral Canal, has been at the center of bitter water fights for more than 20 years. Now it is dead until at least 2007 -- coincidentally, when Davis' second term will end if he is re-elected.
"In Golden State politics, there are few ideas more hated by environmentalists, many of whom speak of the canal in the same tones as they do offshore oil rigs and clear-cut redwood forests. Many farmers and urban water agencies, particularly in Southern California but in Silicon Valley as well, favor the canal, saying it could move more and better-quality water through the delta.
"Voters say no. After the idea was proposed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 1982, California voters rejected it with only 38 percent support. That defeat came largely because environmentalists and Northern California leaders accused Los Angeles of a water grab that would wreck the environment of San Francisco Bay. In Santa Clara County, for example, just 11 percent of those voting backed the canal.
"Arguing that plenty of water could be obtained by conservation, recycling and allowing farmers to sell water to cities more easily, they (environmentalists) feared that endangered fish and other animals in the delta would suffer if there was an easy way to ship water south and avoid the delta entirely. By December, the political writing was on the wall.
``It's a victory,'' said Jackie McCort, a Sierra Club spokeswoman. ``It's a nice win, although seven years can pass by very quickly and it could come back to bite us again.''
"California's secretary of resources, Mary Nichols, said that by 2007, if it appears a canal is needed, engineering studies could begin. By then it would be in the lap of a new governor. ``We're not proposing to use a Peripheral Canal as one of our first solutions,'' Nichols said. ``But if we haven't satisfied our objectives, we would consider it seven years from now.'' CalFed's draft environmental impact report is on the Web (https://calfed.ca.gov).
3) RIDER MANIA!! ALL SPENDING BILLS, ALL THE TIME! As you saw in Monday's "ALL RIDER SPECIAL," the Congress is again loading up spending bills with iniquitous anti-environmental riders. Sound familiar? It should! Many of these riders are the perennial flowers of environmental damage that bloomed in spending bills of previous years -- proof that anti-environmental forces can't stand up in the light of day and can only pass legislation through riders that would normally wilt and die under full public scrutiny.
As if the riders aren't bad enough, some members of Congress are using the excuse of budget caps to underfund many important environmental protection efforts and programs, such as land acquisition and fish and wildlife habitat restoration.
Contact your Representatives and Senators early and often.
Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them that you expect them to pass spending bills that fully fund land acquisition and protection efforts and DO NOT include backdoor attempts to gut environmental laws. You can reach your elected representatives by calling the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking for your representatives office.
June 28, 1999
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Star Wars, Episodes I, IV, V and VI
** ALL RIDER SPECIAL ** ALL RIDER SPECIAL ** ALL RIDER SPECIAL **
It's that time of year again, instead of taking the path of fiscal responsibility and public accountability, the Congress is again loading up spending bills with iniquitous anti-environmental riders. Sound familiar? It should! Many of these riders are the perennial flowers of environmental damage that bloomed in spending bills of previous years proof that anti-environmental forces can't stand up in the light of day and can only pass legislation through riders that would normally wilt and die under full public scrutiny.
As if the riders aren't bad enough, some members of Congress are using the excuse of budget caps to underfund many important environmental protection efforts and programs, such as land acquisition and fish and wildlife habitat restoration. For example, the Senate Interior spending bill cuts energy conservation efforts by $8 million from last year while boosting fossil fuel funding by $7 million. The Senate panel also cut funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund by $92 million from last year's level. President Clinton's Land Legacy Initiative was woefully underfunded from the $1 billion requested.
TAKE ACTION
It's time to raise a ruckus. Contact your representatives and Senators early and often.
Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them that you expect them to pass spending bills that fully fund land acquisition and protection efforts and DO NOT include backdoor attempts to gut environmental laws. You can reach your elected representatives by calling the Capitol Hill switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking for your representatives office.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Sierra Club at the numbers listed below.
Here's a list of the Top Nine most heinous Senate Interior Appropriations riders facing our public lands as of today. This is the tip of the iceberg -- the Senate has tacked on other riders that could increase global warming, cut energy efficiency measures, and increase lead mining in Missouri, among others. We might see more riders in the House bills this week! You can reference these riders in your message to the Congress:
1) Sec. 117: Allow Grazing Without Environmental Review - This rider would allow the Bureau of Land Management to reauthorize grazing permits without following specific requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Land Policy Management Act or Endangered Species Act.
2) Sec. 320: Delay National Forest Planning - This rider would impose a funding limitation to halt the revision of any forest plans not already undergoing revision until final or interim final planning regulations are adopted. This provision could force pressure on the Forest Service to hastily promulgate new regulations, rather than carefully incorporating recommendations developed by an independent Committee of Scientists. Sec. 321 in the bill would halt funding to carry out strategic planning under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA).
3) Sec 325: Divert Trail Fund for "Forest Health" Logging - This rider allows the roads and trails fund to be used to "improve forest health conditions." Since there are no restrictions limiting the use to non-commercial activities, and logging is considered a "forest health" activity, this trail fund could be used to fund timber sales.
4) Sec. 327: Tongass Red Cedar Rider - This rider seeks to create an incentive to maximize timber harvest on Alaska's Tongass National Forest by leveraging the amount of Western Red Cedar available for export to the lower 48 and internationally against the percentage of the Tongass' allowable sale quantity (ASQ) that is actually sold. Moreover, the rider requires that the sold timber must have at least a 60 percent guaranteed profit margin for the purchaser, continuing to maintain the Tongass's timber program as our National Forest System's largest money loser.
5) Sec. 328: Prevent Grizzly Bear Introduction - This rider would be disastrous for grizzly bear recovery and sets a very dangerous legislative precedent. This language prohibits the Department of the Interior and all other federal agencies from expending funds in any fiscal year to introduce grizzly bears anywhere in Idaho and Montana without express written consent of the governors of those two states.
6) Sec. 329: Undermine Science-based Management of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Lands - This rider attempts to provide the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior broad discretion during FY 2000 to choose whether or not to collect any new, and potentially significant, information concerning wildlife resources on the National Forest System or Bureau of Land Management Lands prior to amending or revising resource management plans, issuing leases, or otherwise authorizing or undertaking management activities. The 1995 salvage logging rider also adopted this approach in some significant ways with harsh results for government accountability and ultimate credibility.
7) Sec. 330: Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Project - This rider will divert funding that is needed to complete the final EIS of a multi-year planning effort. It is another in a long series of congressional attempts to undermine the analysis of the ecological conditions that prevail in the Interior Columbia Basin due to the excessive logging and grazing on federal lands.
8) Sec. 335: Stewardship End Result Contracting Demonstration Project
This rider would permit the Forest Service to contract with private entities to perform services to achieve "land management goals" in National Forests in Idaho and Montana, and in the Umatilla National Forest in Oregon. There are three major drawbacks contained in the language of the FY 1999 law: undefined community roles, the lack of provisions for monitoring and oversight, and the funding mechanism for desired work. This provision was added at the request of Senator Conrad Burns in Subcommittee.
9) Weaken 1872 Mining Law - This rider would weaken the 1872 Mining Law to allow certain mining operations to dump more toxic mining wastes on federal public land. The rider lets mines that have already been approved and all grandfathered "patent" applications (applications to buy federal land for $2.50 to $5.00 an acre) to simply ignore that portion of the law, and to use an unlimited amount of federal public land as a waste dump.
(This list was compiled by Defenders of Wildlife using write-ups received from numerous groups in the conservation community.)
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