Update On Enviromental Legislation - Arctic Still At Risk
Rich Winkel
** Topic: Update On Enviromental Legislation - Arctic Still At Risk **
** Written 8:42 PM Sep 20, 1995 by econet in cdp:headlines **
/* Written 8:13 PM Sep 19, 1995 by sf.mod...@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
in sc.action */
/* ---------- "SC Action # 102 Arctic Refuge & Nat" ---------- */
Defending the Environmental Agenda
September 19, 1995
"Money lost, nothing lost
Title lost, something lost
Courage lost, all lost."
--Old German proverb
CONTENTS:
IN THE MAIN RING: Park Closure bill dies; is reincarnated.
Arctic Refuge News
SPECIAL PAYBACK SECTION:
**Sierra Clubber whups Wamp
**Sierrans have recipe for embarrassing Cubin
**Sierrans end short and loveless marriage
IN THE REAL WORLD: What deep pockets you have! Big bad
wolf triggers takings claim
Browner visits Florida with pro-environment
message
IN THE PRESS: Leverage on Senator Campbell's Arctic Vote
OUTRAGE OF YESTERYEAR TODAY: Mining rip-off, legalized
in 1872, goes on.
IN THE MAIN RING: Parks Closure Bill Defeated Then Rises Again
---Arctic Still at Risk
In a bizarre parliamentary trick, proponents of the Park Closure Bill
H.R. 260 by Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO) succeeded today in completely
overriding the democratic process. The bill was soundly defeated
this morning (180 - 231) on the House floor under a "suspension" of
normal rules. But low and behold, just several hours later, Rep. Jim
Hansen (R-UT) inserted it in the Budget Reconciliation bill with help
from Rep. George Miller (D-CA). Now the budget bill contains both
the Park Closure Commission AND Arctic drilling provisions. Another
reason to veto the bill?
The House Resources Committee today rejected an amendment to the
Budget Reconciliation bill by Representative Bruce Vento (D-MN) and
George Miller (D- CA) which sought to strike the provision that
allows oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The
amendment lost 10-26 with five Democrats voting against the
amendment; Ortiz (TX); Dooley (CA); Pickett (VA); Delegate Underwood
(GU); and Delegate Faleomavaega (AS), and only one Republican voting
for it, our hero Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD). We should thank Gilchrest
for his support and applaud his courage.
Tomorrow the Senate Resources Committee will consider the Budget
Reconciliation bill which will also allow drilling in the Arctic
Refuge. We expect Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-AR) to offer an amendment to
strike this language from the bill. Below are excerpts from an
editorial that appeared in the Denver Post on Sept. 16, which may
have helped contribute to Senator Campbell's change of heart (see
SIERRA CLUB Action# 100).
SPECIAL PAYBACK SECTION:
Ever feel like you're putting messages in bottles, throwing them out
to sea, and never really sure they're making a difference? That's
when Sierra Club Field Director, Bob Bingaman stops by and
distributes faxes from the field, and it's obvious that the Sierra
Club's War on the Environment program is working in the real world.
You're out there DOING THINGS, and they're getting noticed, in
newspapers and on the airwaves.
While none of us would readily admit to having a vindictive streak
about some of our public servants, there are a few officeholders who
have raised our ire. This section is dedicated to all of you out
there in the front lines, making your voices heard. Keep it up!
Here are a few examples:
Sierran Whups Wamp
Sierra Club member Paul Hendricks, M.D. started the whole thing when
he wrote a letter to the editor that took Representative Zach Wamp
(R-TN) to task for his "abysmal record" on the environment. Hendricks
charged Wamp with adding "major burdens to the ability of the EPA to
enforce laws which protect our environment and ultimately, our health
and safety."
Hendricks blasted away at Wamp. "It is abundantly clear that Mr. Wamp
doesn't know much about protecting the environment...The 3rd District
deserves better."
This letter triggered full-blown articles, further highlighting
Wamp's record, and also pointing out that Sierrans had tried with no
success to meet with the Representative (as we always do, giving even
the most recalcitrant a fair chance to meet our demands). However,
Wamp's reasons for supporting the House's Dirty Water bill earlier
this year were lame at best, and he claimed that lately,
environmental regulations had "gone too far." Still, now the
Congressman has heard from us loud and clear, had to answer our
concerns in a public forum and we will be watching carefully for
signs of improvement.
Sierrans have recipe for embarrassing Cubin
Take a little green food coloring, add a dash of Worcestershire sauce
and ketchup. Mix it up in a borrowed water bottle and, presto, you
have the makings of a press conference -- and a very effective one at
that.
Yesterday in Casper, Wyoming, environmentalists gathered to publicize
and protest the voting record of their representative, Barbara Cubin.
Cubin voted in favor of HR 961, a bill that was passed by the House
in May. Dubbed the Dirty Water Act, the bill would turn our nation's
streams, lakes and rivers the color of the concoction at the press
conference.
The conference garnered a great headline in the Casper Star Tribune:
"Groups assail Cubin Clean Water Act vote." Not only that, Sierran
Kirk Koepsel showed up on time and was quoted (on a Monday, no
less!). Koepsel reminded readers that the original Clean Water Act
has "gone a long way toward making people's water clean and
protecting health and safety."
Grasping at straws, Cubin chose to focus on the fact that the "water"
used at the press conference was doctored to display the effects of
industrial pollution. "Their argument is just as phony as the colored
water..It was a shallow exercise in environmental fearmongering."
Sure, it wasn't polluted water, but on the other hand, the designer
liquid didn't have any complicated disposal requirements, and
real-life polluted water does, thanks to existing law. But, Ms.
Cubin, what about your vote?
Sierrans call differences "irreconcilable."
All politics is local, and you can bet that members of Congress read
their local newspapers, regardless of how much time they spend in
Washington, D.C. In other words, the headlines in the Bellingham
Herald, a local paper in the beautiful state of Washington, mean a
lot to Congressman Jack Metcalf.
Well, the headline in yesterday's newspaper meant a lot to us, too
"Honeymoon over; Environmentalists blast Metcalf," declared the
full-length feature piece. "U.S. Rep Jack Metcalf's fragile truce
with local environmental groups ended today. The Cascade Chapter of
the Sierra Club began running radio ads criticizing his votes to stop
enforcement of the Clean Water Act." Metcalf's staff called the ads
"unfair," but the news article went on to detail Metcalf's recent
vote to slash funds for the EPA, which came after our activists
pointed out Metcalf's poor performance on the Clean Water Act.
IN THE REAL WORLD:
WILD WEST: What deep pockets you have, Uncle Sugar
A rancher in Lemhi County, ID where a wolf reintroduced into Idaho
was found shot dead in 1/95, has filed a $20,500 suit against the
federal government, seeking compensation for losses caused by the
federal wolf-relocation project. The US Fish and Wildlife Service in
1/95 introduced 15 wolves into Idaho wilderness areas. In the suit,
rancher Eugene Hussey is asking for $500 as compensation for a calf
found dead near where the wolf was shot, even though the USFWS said
it does not believe the calf was killed by the wolf. Evidence seems
to indicate that the calf may never have stood after it was born and
was dead when the wolf found it. In addition to this questionable
claim he is seeking $10,000 as compensation for the government's
physical taking of his ranch and $10,000 for the government's
regulatory taking of the ranch. Hussey's attorney Maurice Ellsworth:
"The government has imported the wolves and implemented regulations
to protect the wolves, which prohibit him from protecting his own
property." The government has 60 days to file a response.
SUNSHINE STATE: Florida Sierrans gather at the river
In order to revv up activism on behalf of clean water, wetlands and
EPA funds, Carol Browner, EPA head, traveled to Florida's Little
Econlockhatchee River. That river is ailing already, a focus of
development efforts and under intense pressure from run-off. At the
press conference, Browner met a crowd of dedicated environmentalists,
including our own Cecilia Height, a steady WOE warrior. Other groups
were too numerous to mention, but on her trip, Browner also took
pains to reach out to the students of Cheney Elementary School and
their teachers. The children were intensely interested in the issues
Browner raised, and wanted to know what they could do. Apparently,
they were puzzled about the 104th Congress....
IN THE PRESS -- ARCTIC EDITORIAL HITS CAMPBELL
Here are a few key highlights from the Denver Post editorial from
Sept. 16, 1995.
HEED YOUR CONSCIENCE, SENATOR, AND SAVE ARCTIC WILDLIFE
Ben Campbell, Colorado's junior US senator, may determine whether
America's Arctic wildlife thrive into the next century..... Most
Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources panel no doubt
will vote to open the refuge to development. .... Campbell once had
pledged to help protect the refuge, but more recently has been
inching away from his promises.
At stake is an irreplaceable natural treasure. The refuge, which
arches across Alaska's northern slopes, provides critical wildlife
habitat. .... Additionally, the cultures of Native Americans, which
depend on healthy wildlife herds may be placed at risk. While the
oil industry claims it can move into the fragile zone without causing
damage, the fact is its track record in the rest of Alaska is much
grimmer than the energy companies admit.
If energy independence is the issue, then America should get serious
about conservation. ....there is no reason Congress couldn't tell
automakers to improve their products' fuel efficiency. And each
year, the US wastes more energy through badly insulated windows than
moves through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Coloradans know Campbell
can be unpredictable when it comes to protecting Mother Earth.
Earlier this year, he voted to protect national forests against
excessive logging-- then changed his mind after GOP leaders lobbied
him.
***This time, thought, Campbell ought to side with the environment.
Coloradans should tell Campbell that the country's best long-term
interests are served by keeping the Arctic refuge off-limits to
development.
Campbell also should listen to his own conscience. Deep in his
Northern Cheyenne heart, Campbell must know that it's just plain
wrong to destroy Nature's irreplaceable gifts.
OUTRAGE OF YESTERYEAR TODAY:
If you were galled by the giveaway of a billion
dollars worth of minerals for a measly $275, you've
caught wind of the sweet deal for mining companies
under the 1872 Mining Law.
But you're not as mad as Senator Dale Bumpers,
who again took to the Senate floor to protest the
arcane statute. Bumpers, who for eight years has worked
to overhaul the outdated mining law, was especially
livid this morning. After all, he's worked to abolish
one clause of the old law, the "patenting" system,
which allows companies to buy land (and the minerals
beneath) for as little as $2.50 an acre.
The House voted earlier this year to stop this
silly practice altogether, and Bumpers tried to move a
similar solution through the Senate. However, some
crafty Senate colleagues had another plan. They
proposed that miners should pay fair market value for
the surface of the land. It sounded fair enough to win
the votes to pass the Senate, but their proposal
stipulated fair market value for the surface of the
land only -- never mind the minerals below.
Last night, Bumpers witnessed the House conferees
as they receded (read buckled) to the whims of the
Senate.
The Great Terrain Robbery will continue.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This environmental alert was produced by the Sierra Club
Legislative Office, 408 C Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002,
Tel: (202) 547-1141, Fax: (202) 547-6009. Sierra Club 24-Hour
Legislative Hotline: (202) 675-2394.
The Sierra Club electronic mailing list is for legislative alerts
and other important information. If you want to join our list,
send e-mail to:
majo...@igc.apc.org
with the following command in the body of your e-mail message:
subscribe sc-action
Commands in the "Subject:" line are not processed. If you have
any questions or problems regarding the mailing list, please
send a message to sf.mod...@sierraclub.org.
For more information on becoming a member of the Sierra Club, or
for information our Books and Outings programs, contact our
national headquarters. Sierra Club, 730 Polk Street, San
Francisco, CA 94109. Tel: (415) 776-2211 or e-mail to
infor...@sierraclub.org.
** End of text from cdp:headlines **
***************************************************************************
This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking
service. For more information, send a message to peacen...@igc.apc.org
***************************************************************************