Audubon Ohio News - March 10, 2003
- From: "SINGER, Deborah" <DSINGER@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <audubonoh-news@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 11:16:34 -0500
Audubon Ohio News - March 10, 2003
CONTENTS
1. Wetlands Update
2. Lake Erie Drilling Ban Not a Done Deal
3. DeWine Bills Would Combat Invasive Species
4. B-J Criticizes Bush Administration Global Warming Stance
5. Audubon Camps Gear Up for Summer
6. You Can Be a Star
7. Hey Folks - He's Not One of Ours!
1. WETLANDS UPDATE
The National Audubon Society has endorsed bipartisan legislation =
introduced in Congress that would restore federal protection for =
millions of acres of wetlands. The legislation, known as the Clean =
Water Authority Restoration Act, would close a loophole in federal =
wetlands regulation that resulted from a 2001 Supreme Court decision. =20
The decision said federal officials could not rely on the Migratory Bird =
Treaty Act - or the presence of migratory birds - as the sole factor =
when acting to protect wetlands that are separated from navigable =
waterways or other wetlands. Such "isolated" wetlands provide critical =
nesting and habitat for birds, as well as water purification and flood =
control benefits. The proposed legislation would close the loophole and =
restore federal regulatory authority over these wetlands.
The legislation has not yet been co-sponsored by any member of the Ohio =
congressional delegation.
In a related development, the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. =
Environmental Protection Agency have extended until April 16 the =
deadline to comment on their proposal to write new regulations defining =
the scope of federal wetlands and clean water regulation. The specifics =
of the regulations have not yet been defined; the agencies are presently =
seeking general guidance as to what form the regulations should take. =
Detailed information may be found at =
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2003/January/Day-15/w960.htm.
If the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act were to be enacted and =
signed into law by President Bush, it would supersede any limits that =
these agencies attempt to put on the scope of federal wetlands and clean =
water regulation. Because passage of the Act is by no means assured, =
however, it is important for citizens to let the agencies know that they =
must not adopt rules curtailing such regulation. Audubon members can =
send their comments on the contemplated regulations by mail to Water =
Docket, EPA, Mailcode 4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. Washington, =
D.C. 20460, or by e-mail to CWAwaters@xxxxxxxx
2. LAKE ERIE DRILLING BAN NOT A DONE DEAL
In a previous issue of the Audubon Ohio e-newsletter, we reported that =
Governor Bob Taft had announced an intention to issue an executive order =
banning all drilling for oil and gas in the Ohio portion of Lake Erie. =
The Governor, however, has not yet signed the order in question. =
Moreover, at least some members of the Ohio General Assembly want to =
leave the door open to such drilling.
The Port Clinton News Herald reported on February 28 that a heated =
debate on drilling in Lake Erie erupted in the Ohio House of =
Representatives on February 26. Rep. Chris Redfern (Catawba Island) has =
introduced legislation to ban drilling (H.B. 42). The bill drew =
criticism from Rep. Jim Aslinides (Coshocton), who felt that Redfern was =
exaggerating the danger posed by drilling in the Lake. Rep. Tim =
Grendell (Chesterland) joined the debate, stating that he supported a =
drilling ban in principle so long as it left open the possibility of =
drilling in the event of a national emergency. Rep. Redfern responded =
that he did not know of any emergency that could justify placing the =
waters of Lake Erie in peril.
Audubon Ohio is monitoring the Governor's follow-up on his pledge to ban =
drilling by executive order, and is also monitoring the progress of H.B. =
42.
3. DEWINE BILLS WOULD COMBAT INVASIVE SPECIES
Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine has introduced two bills that would expand federal =
efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species. The National =
Invasive Species Council Act would permanently establish the National =
Invasive Species Council to coordinate federal agency activities to =
develop a national invasive species management plan. The second bill, =
the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2003, first cosponsored by =
Senator DeWine in 2002, would help protect the Great Lakes from the =
destructive forces of non-native aquatic plants and animals.=20
Invasive, non-native species like the northern snakehead fish represent =
one of the most significant threats to our nation's birds and wildlife =
and their habitat. Invasive non-native plants and animals have infested =
more than 100 million acres of the American landscape and cause $130 =
billion worth of damage to the American economy each year. They also =
present one of the most critical threats America's declining bird =
populations; more than one-third of the birds on Audubon's WatchList are =
threatened by invasive species. Migratory shorebirds like the =
Short-billed Dowitcher are experiencing population declines while much =
of their remaining habitat is being lost to invasive species.
DeWine is the Co-Chairman of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force.
4. B-J CRITICIZES BUSH ADMINISTRATION GLOBAL WARMING STANCE
In a March 6 editorial, the Akron Beacon-Journal attacked the Bush =
Administration's policy on global warming. The B-J noted that President =
Bush had promised during the 2000 presidential campaign to address =
carbon dioxide emissions. Since that time, the editorial reports, the =
Bush Administration has pulled out of the 1997 Kyoto treaty on global =
warming, and now proposes a research program that would merely "restudy =
issues most climatologists regard as resolved." The editorial has =
dubbed the Administration's proposed course of action a "climate =
charade." "If the administration were serious about cutting-edge =
research, far more resources would be committed."
Audubon Ohio applauds the B-J's initiative in insisting that the Bush =
Administration take meaningful actions to fulfill the President's =
campaign promises on this important issue.
5. AUDUBON CAMPS GEAR UP FOR SUMMER
With spring around the corner, Audubon naturalists are preparing to hit =
the trails and head into the field to initiate the 2003 season of =
Audubon Camps. Registration for this summer's Audubon Camp programs has =
already begun. Those interested are advised to act now: openings tend =
to fill up rapidly.
Care and dedication go into every aspect of Audubon's programs to ensure =
that campers, whether adults or children, get the most out of their =
summer vacations with Audubon. "Twenty years and thousands of people =
later, I believe as strongly as ever that an experience at camp changes =
people's lives," said Audubon educator and author Pete Salmansohn.
With new programs in store and traditional ones that give Audubon Camps =
their outstanding reputation, a wide variety of offerings are available =
to better suit each camper's personal interests. Audubon encourages =
campers to join them this summer and explore tidal pools along the coast =
of Maine, take a hike in the Green Mountains or the Rockies, seek out =
the natural treasures of Chesapeake Bay, or paddle a glacial lake while =
osprey soar overhead and the enchanted call of the loon can be heard in =
the distance.
To get more information and to sign up, please refer to the Audubon =
Camps contact page - www.audubon.org/educate/cw/.
6. YOU CAN BE A STAR
AUDUBON magazine is seeking Audubon Chapter leaders or members to talk =
to (and possibly to photograph) for two different articles scheduled for =
the June and September 2003 issues. Specifically, we are looking for =
those who have 1) (successfully) built some kind of a pond to
attract wildlife (from a real, good-size pond to a suburban-backyard =
water garden), or 2) are practicing IPM (Integrated Pest Management) in =
their backyards.
The deadline for the pond story (to be included in the June issue) is =
fast approaching while there is more time to gather ideas for the IPM =
story. If you have any suggestions of individuals to contact for either =
topic or any questions about this request, please send them to Jerry =
Goodbody at <JGOODBODY@xxxxxxxxxxx>.
7. HEY FOLKS - HE'S NOT ONE OF OURS!
Cleveland NewsChannel 5 reported on March 5 on a dramatic rescue of a =
self-described birdwatcher who had wandered 200 yards out onto the ice =
at Wildwood State Park without "a boat, a life jacket, a cell phone or =
even gloves." Other park visitors alerted a ranger to the situation. =
The rescue, which reportedly cost more than $3,000, involved units of =
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard, the =
Cleveland Fire Department and the Cleveland Policy Department. =
According to witnesses, the man remained on the ice even after rescuers =
had advised him by bullhorn to get off.
According to one source, the birdwatcher was a college student from =
Poland, and apparently was not an Audubon member.
*****************************************************
AudubonOH-NEWS is sent to Audubon chapter leaders, board members, and =
others interested in Audubon activities in Ohio. If you do not wish to =
receive further editions, it is easy to unsubscribe: simply send an =
e-mail message to audubonoh-news-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx In the subject =
of your e-mail, write UNSUBSCRIBE. We can be reached through e-mail at =
ohio@xxxxxxxxxxx, phone at (614) 224-3303, or mail at 692 N High St Ste =
208, Columbus, OH 43215. =20
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