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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
October 16, 2000
"He's for letting the oil companies into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Houston has just become the smoggiest city in the country. And Texas is number one in industrial pollution. We have a very different outlook. And I'll tell you this, I will fight for a clean environment in ways that strengthen our economy." - Vice President Al Gore during the Presidential debate at Wake Forest University
TAKE ACTION: Another Anti-Environmental Rider? Conservation Funding Enacted - but Anti-Environmental Provisions of CARA Still Loom.
Please contact your representatives in Congress and urge them to oppose coastal destruction provisions in the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill.
As the 106th Congress winds down, dedicated conservation funding remains a hot topic. The recently passed Interior appropriations bill provides enhanced funding levels for many important conservation programs (including at least $550 million/year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund) and encourages the Congress to consistently fund these programs for the next six years. The bill also dropped out dangerous provisions in the CARA (Conservation and Reinvestment Act) bill that would have threatened our fragile coasts with increased oil drilling and the construction of destructive infrastructure projects. Still, many supporters of CARA were greatly disappointed by the funding levels included in the Interior bill, which has been seen as a sort of "CARA Lite." While the Interior bill funding does fall far short of our goal of obtaining long-term full funding ($900 million/year) for the LWCF, the Sierra Club was pleased to see the funding initiative go through without the anti-enviornmental provisions of CARA.
Unfortuantley, we haven't seen the last of CARA's bad side. Supporters of CARA in Congress, particualrly those few representing coastal states who stand to gain the most from so-called "coastal impact assistance," are attempting to plug the coastal section of CARA into the bill to fund the Commerce, Justice, and State Departments - known as the CJS Appropriations bill. Clearly there is a need to address the devastating effects of offshore oil production in Louisiana and other states with offshore development. However, the most recent conservation funding proposal could allow hundreds of millions of dollars to be used for projects that actually harm the coastal environment, rather than restore it. This dangerous proposal must not be attached to the CJS bill in its current form.
TAKE ACTION: It is promising that Congress is considering funding critical programs for the protection and restoration of our coastal and marine environment, particularly for those areas damaged by offshore oil production. But such a funding initiative will clearly amount to a loss for our environment if it is designed to allow further coastal degradation.
Decisions regarding the Commerce, Justice, State bill could be made in the next few days. Please contact your Member of Congress and your Senators and urge them to keep anti-environmental "coastal impact assistance" out of the Commerce. Justice, State bill. Tell them to vote "no" on any appropriations bill that would provide money for damaging coastal infrastructure in the guise of "conservation" funding.
"In my own mind, largely as a result of the China vote, I think it is wise for one to step back and ask very serious questions about whether fast-track is still viable as a procedural device, or whether it is a device whose time has come and gone." -- U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, in a Reuters article, 10/8/00, on how she would caution the next president against seeking "fast-track" trade negotiating authority. This represents a major development in our long battle with Congress and the Administration over "fast-track," which limits Congressional oversight over trade policy.
1) FEATURED ITEM: HELP SAVE THE MANATEES!
2) EVEC UPDATES FROM THE FIELD
1) HELP SAVE THE MANATEES!
We have just a few days left to help save the endangered manatees of Florida! These gentle giants are increasingly threatened by motorized watercraft and loss of habitat. In part because of lawsuits filed this year by a number of conservation organizations including the Sierra Club, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) is considering establishing refuges and sanctuaries for manatees, areas set aside with minimal or no human activity allowed. Under the Federal Endangered Species Act, the USFW is charged with protecting and coordinating recovery efforts for endangered species like the manatees.
There are only an estimated 2,400 manatees left in Florida's coastal waters. In 1999, more manatees were killed from human-related causes than ever before. The majority of these animals were killed by watercraft. However, the greatest overall threat to manatee survival is loss of habitat to development. In order for manatees to survive, they need sanctuaries. They need a place to live and breed in peace without dodging propellers and jetskis. Such protected areas would also protect other threatened marine creatures and shorebirds.
The agency is taking public comment on the need to establish refuges for the manatee. The deadline for receiving comments is ****October 16, 2000****** -- that's Monday!
You can help the manatees. Because time is short, *please e-mail or fax* the agency in support of the proposal to designate manatee refuges and sanctuaries. Tell the Service that the future of the manatee depends on a comprehensive system of quiet sanctuaries and refuges throughout their range. Now's our chance, we can't afford to miss this opportunity for stronger manatee protection. Many thanks!
Comments should be addressed to: Field Supervisor Dave Hankla Jacksonville Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service email: fw4__es__jacksonville@fws.gov fax: 904-232-2404
2) EVEC UPDATES FROM THE FIELD
* PRESIDENTIAL VIDEO VOTER GUIDES ROLLED OUT IN PHILADELPHIA 10/4/00
Adam Diamond, Pennsylvania EVEC Conservation Organizer and Dan Weiss, national Sierra Club Political Director conducted a roll-out press conference at Bartram's Garden yesterday in Philadelphia for the Presidential Video Voter Guides, which compare the stances of Bush and Gore on protecting clean air and water. With the Philadelphia skyline in the background we showed the ads to three local tv stations, including the local ABC affiliate, the FOX station, and an all local news station, and talked about the EVEC voter guides in the context of Philadelphia/Pennsylvania water and air quality problems. Afterwards, Dan had a telephone interview with WHYY, the local NPR station.
* CARL POPE ADDRESSES NEVADA REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE JOHN ENSIGN ON HIS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. 10/4/00
Sierra Club's Executive Director Carl Pope, stumping with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bernstein on the campus of University of Nevada at Las Vegas, challenged Republican Senate hopeful John Ensign's commitment to stopping nuclear waste imports into Nevada. "If John Ensign is elected to the U.S. Senate, nuclear waste will come to Yucca Mountain," Pope said.
The Environmental Working Group, a research outfit in Washington, D.C., recently ranked Ensign as the leading recipient of anti-environmental PAC money since the 1996 election cycle from industries involved in "dirty air", $623,736, "dirty water," $278,756, "global warming," $571,169, and "public land use," $324,037. The group also ranked Ensign second in money from industries responsible for "toxics," $707,731, trailing only Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who received $766,006. Ensign was listed as the leading recipient of campaign money from the Chemical Manufacturers Association and related PACs with $107,249. He ranked second with $197,715 from the Coalition for Vehicle Choice, $368,546 from the National Association of Manufacturers and $151,794 from the National Mining Association. He also ranked third with $95,991 from the Grocery Manufacturers Association, fifth with $87,000 from the Global Climate Coalition, seventh with $33,247 from the Fertilizer Institute and 13th with $55,500 from the National Endangered Species Act Reauthorization Coalition.
* ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES PROMINENT IN DEBATE IN RACE FOR NEW JERSEY'S 12th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10/8/00
Environmental issues were front and center in Congressional debate on Sunday, October 8, 2000, between Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ12) and former Rep. Dick Zimmer, which took place at Raritan Valley Community College before an audience of approximately 150.
Ten questions from the audience submitted on index cards were selected and read by a representative from the Somerset County League of Women Voters. One of the questions selected came from Sierra Club's Lori Herpen, which focused on Congress's recent vote to reject the EPA's attempt to reduce the amount of arsenic in our drinking water. The question read, "In New Jersey, the level of arsenic in our drinking water is of great concern. What steps will you take to protect our drinking water and our families' health?"
Zimmer reportedly ducked the question. Holt, on the other hand, responded that, "it was an important question, that actually addressed two issues"; anti-environmental riders and the threat of arsenic in our drinking water to NJ residents. Holt commented about the many anti-environmental riders that congress has passed this year, and stressed the fact that he was a leader in passing the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He emphasized that arsenic in NJ's drinking water is a serious problem and health threat and said that he would continue to work to protect our water quality.
Environmental issues and the candidates voting records comprised about 2/3 of the debate. Holt addressed many of the votes on our congressional voting charts in his opening statement.
"I'm looking forward to fishing. That's the ulterior motive in all the environmental protections I've fought for." -- Rep. Bruce Vento (D-MINN) earlier this year to reporters and supporters who asked what he planned to do after his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Vento, one of the environmental movement's greatest champions, died Tuesday, October 10, 2000. He will be deeply missed. Carl Pope's statement on Rep. Vento's passing is included below.
1) FEATURED ITEM: CELEBRATE WILD FOREST PROTECTION ANNIVERSARY! Write a Letter to the Editor
2) FINAL WEEK TO COMMENT: Our Streams and Wetlands Need Protection from Sprawl
3) GLOBAL WARMING AND ENERGY: New Report Warns of More Extreme Weather Events
4) STATEMENT OF SIERRA CLUB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARL POPE ON DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE VENTO (D-Minn.)
1) CELEBRATE WILD FOREST PROTECTION ANNIVERSARY!
Write a Letter to the Editor
This Friday October 13 marks the **one year anniversary** of the President's announcement of the historic plan to protect all the roadless areas in our National Forests. As we approach the one-year anniversary, the Forest Service and the Clinton Administration are deciding whether our last wild forests will be protected from logging and whether or not to protect the Tongass.
The anniversary provides a great "media hook" and opportunity to place letters to the editor. Letters to the editor can help to influence the Administration to issue a final plan that truly protects all of our last wild forests. Please send a letter to the editor of our local newspaper. If your letter is published, please mail a copy to: Sierra Club Wild Forest Campaign, 408 C St NE, Washington DC 20002. Thank you.
2) FINAL WEEK TO COMMENT: Our Streams and Wetlands Need Protection from Sprawl
Developers are exacerbating sprawl by turning wetlands into strip malls, tract housing and golf courses -- all without any environmental review. Why? They are exploiting a 1998 court ruling that struck down the "Tulloch Rule" and opened a loophole in the Clean Water Act enabling developers and others to do various ditching, draining and excavating projects without public notice or a permit.
Destroying these wetlands and streams harms the quality of our nation's water, aggravates flooding, robs a wide array of birds, fish and wildlife of critical habitat and invites sprawling development in sensitive ecosystems.
You can help protect our streams and wetlands by supporting a rule the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers proposed to limit the destructiveness of this loophole and by urging these agencies to do more to stop sprawl from invading sensitive ecosystems.
TAKE ACTION: The comment period on this rule ends on Oct. 16, 2000, so urgent action is necessary. Please send an email to the Army Corps of Engineers today, or write a personal letter. Visit our web site at www.sierraclub.org/wetlands/tulloch to send that personalized email or find more information.
3) GLOBAL WARMING AND ENERGY: New Report Warns of More Extreme Weather Events
More floods and heavier rain and snow falls, hotter days, warmer nights, more bugs. If this sounds like the kind of climate for you than you're going to love the projected global warming impacts expected during the next century. A study published September 22 in the journal Science reviews observations, impacts and results from 20 global climate models currently in use worldwide. The paper was prepared by climate scientists from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
The earth's average temperature has risen about 1 degree F since the start of the 20th century. The trend is most obvious in higher daily minimum temperatures. During the same period precipitation has increased over land in the mid- to high latitudes and decreased in the tropics. These two temperature and precipitation trends together can lead to changes in extreme weather.
Some changes have already been observed over the last century and are expected to escalate. These changes will make events such as Chicago's 1999 heat wave, which saw the heat index climb to 119 degrees F, more common, and much of the southwest is in the grips of one of the worst droughts ever. Hotter, wetter weather will also bring the spread of infectious and deadly diseases, including malaria, encephalitis, dengue fever, west nile virus and hantavirus.
Growth in both population and wealth, along with demographic shifts to storm-prone areas, has made the United States more vulnerable to weather assaults. Total federal relief payments for weather-caused disasters from 1990 through 1997 hit $12 billion. Costs are expected to soar if extreme weather intensifies over the next century.
4) STATEMENT OF SIERRA CLUB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARL POPE ON DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE VENTO (D-Minn.):
Bruce Vento was a dear personal friend and the best friend a hiker, camper or canoeist could ever have. We will miss him deeply.
Because of Congressman Vento's tireless fight to protect our environment, America's lakes and streams are cleaner, our air more breathable and our land more beautiful.
I cannot think of another person who did more to protect America's National Parks -- protecting our nation's natural heritage was a passionate love for him. Families can canoe and fish on streams that would be polluted if not for Congressman Vento's dedication. Everyone who enjoys the outdoors has him to thank for battling acid rain, fighting for cleaner water, protecting forests and safeguarding pristine lakes and streams. And he never wavered in his leadership for parks and wilderness areas.
For three decades, Congressman Vento worked to clean up Minnesota's streams, lakes and the Great Lakes. An avid fisherman and canoeist, he dearly loved Minnesota's waterways, and he cared personally about keeping our streams and lakes clean and wild for his grandchildren and future generations. He was uncompromising in his insistence that Minnesotans not weaken safeguards for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and he used his political savvy to get the strongest possible protection.
As Chairman of the House Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee, Congressman Vento led some of America's great environmental achievements, such as protecting California's fragile desert from destructive off-road vehicles, mining and military maneuvers. In the House, he was instrumental in passing the Clean Air Act after it was stalled for a decade. And Congressman Vento worked hard to conserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for future generations, protecting this unique, magnificent land from oil and gas exploitation. This was one of his last environmental battles; we hope that his efforts are not lost, and the battle is soon won.
While Rep. Vento's passing brings us deep sadness, we look with respect and admiration at his lasting legacy of environmental protection, which has made America a better place for our families and for our future.
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