[chapter-communicator] AUDUBON ADVISORY END OF THE YEAR ISSUE
- From: "Lynn Tennefoss" <ltennefoss@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ltennefoss@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 16:27:00 -0500
It has been a very busy year in the advocacy arena this year, and
below
you'll find our final Audubon Advisory issue of the year -- a
wrap-up of how Audubon priority conservation issues fared in the first
session of the 108th Congress. Many, many thanks for your consistent
participation and commitment, as it truly made a significant
difference this year! And remember, if you are not already receiving
the Audubon Advisory -- our free, twice-monthly legislative update,
please click on this link now to sign-up today:
http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/myregistration.asp
AUDUBON ADVISORY
Audubon's Twice-Monthly Update From Washington, D.C.
END OF THE YEAR ISSUE
December 19, 2003
(Vol. 2003, Issue 25)
CONGRESS & CONSERVATION IN 2003
Earlier this month, the U.S. Congress closed its books and its members
headed home for the rest of the year, officially ending the first
session of the 108th Congress. And what a year it was! Never before
have we witnessed such a myriad of assaults on our nation's
environmental laws - both in the U.S. Congress and in federal
government agencies. Each of our 24 Audubon Advisory issues this
year was packed with action articles on threats to the quality of our
water, air, endangered and threatened birds, other wildlife and our
nation's proud outdoor heritage. Each time you responded by taking
the needed action in defense of our environment - and for that we
can't thank you enough!
So - how did our unified efforts fare this year? In a tremendously
difficult congressional year -- due to a very limited federal budget
and the influence of politically powerful special interests -- we had
a number of victories and significant gains that would not have been
possible without your active participation! Much like in 2002,
Congress adjourned without taking final action on a number of Audubon
priority programs and proposals that impact critical habitat and the
quality of our environment. They will take those issues up when they
return to action in late January, 2004. In the meantime, here's a
look at final actions the U.S. Congress did take in 2003. Be sure to
visit our TAKE ACTION website for more information, as well as to
weigh-in on important public comment periods currently underway this
holiday season! http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/
This is our last Audubon Advisory of the year. The next issue you
will receive will be a January 2004 "Legislative Lookout", where we'll
discuss the issues we'll be facing next year, and the challenges we'll
face, and how we'll need your help to win! Again, many, many thanks
for your support this year, and your inspirational commitment to the
protection of birds and wildlife. We look forward to working with you
in 2004!
Wishing you and your loved ones all the best this holiday season and
for the new year ahead!
VICTORY! ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SAFE FROM DRILLING FOR 2003
Thanks to steadfast opposition from supporters like you, attempts by
pro-drilling special interests to open the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to oil and gas drilling failed in the U.S. Senate by three
votes! This was a remarkable victory given the White House supported
drilling, and many House and Senate leaders from both parties
supported drilling! As you know, this issue is still very much on the
Congressional radar screen, and it's likely we'll see the pro-drillers
try several different avenues to push the measure through. First,
remember the Conference Committee's overall energy bill is still on
the move. In late November, Conference Committee leaders removed the
Arctic drilling provisions from the overall bill as a last-ditch
effort in an attempt to win passage by the U.S. Senate. But even
without drilling provisions, the bill still includes far too many
dangerous and destructive provisions - and there is no guarantee
pro-drilling supporters won't try to stick the Arctic drilling
provisions back in bill come January! Second, it is likely the
pro-drilling special interests will try another push to include
royalties from selling oil and gas development rights in the Refuge in
the nation's budget for fiscal year 2005. For the last several years,
Audubon and our partners in conservation have been successful in
defeating this effort - and only with your help will we be able to do
so again in 2004! Get a head start on the action by visiting our
special website at www.protectthearctic.com and communicating with
your lawmakers on this issue before the start of the new year! It's
not too early to let your lawmakers know how you feel about this
critical issue!
VICTORY! STATEWIDE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
You know that the U.S. Congress allots funding each and every year for
bird, wildlife and habitat conservation programs in this country, but
do you know who is responsible for implementing those programs?
That's right - your state! Your state's Fish & Game Agency or
Department of Natural Resource is responsible for implementing plans
and management strategies for effective wildlife conservation and
restoration efforts. But effective implementation depends on Congress
providing consistent and adequate funding to the states. And one way
Congress does so is through the State Wildlife Grant program. And for
fiscal year 2004, the U.S. Congress increased its support for these
programs by $10 million! State Wildlife Grant funds provide states
with the resources they critically need for effective bird and
wildlife conservation and restoration efforts.
VICTORY! MIGRATORY BIRD PROTECTION
Approximately 5 billion birds of 500 species - including many
endangered bird species -- migrate to North America from their
wintering grounds in Latin America and the Caribbean annually. For
many years, neotropical migratory bird populations have been dwindling
due to the destruction of their wintering habitats. In 2000, Congress
decided to do something about it and passed the Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Act - a 5-year, first of it's kind law that directly
impacts songbirds, focuses on conserving and enhancing these habitats
to help ensure these birds make it back to our backyards each Spring.
For each of the last two years since the program started, Congress has
only secured $3 million for this program. This year, however, Congress
allotted $4 million for fiscal year 2004 - it's first major increase!
This funding goes directly to supporting partnership programs that
conserve and enhance habitat of Neotropical migratory birds, including
many endangered and threatened species, including Kirtland's Warbler,
Bicknell's Thrush, Black-capped Vireo, and a species of great concern,
the Cerulean Warbler. 2004 represents the last year for the program,
so we'll be counting on your help to not only see that Congress
secures the highest funding levels possible for it, but that they
reauthorize it again for another 5-10 years! Stay tuned - much more
to follow!
VICTORY! AGENCIES DROP PLANS TO REMOVE EVEN MORE PROTECTIONS FROM
WETLANDS
On December 16, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced that they were dropping
their plans to remove federal protection for many streams, wetlands,
ponds and other waters that have been protected by the Clean Water Act
for over 30 years! This is in response to the public comment period
held earlier this year where the agencies asked the public to weigh-in
on whether there was any basis for protecting so-called "isolated"
wetlands -- wetlands that have no direct hydrologic connection to
navigable interstate rivers. Even though the term "isolated" is not
included in the Clean Water Act, the Supreme Court created this
arbitrary distinction. From a scientific standpoint, very few
wetlands are truly isolated since they are hydrologically connected to
other wetlands and water bodies and polluting or filling even small
wetlands and headwaters streams has significant downstream impacts.
By EPA's own estimates would have removed protection for over 20% of
the nation's waters and millions of acres of wetlands.
While this is a tremendous victory, our work is not done on this
issue. On the same day that the Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
Rulemaking was announced (January 15, 2003), the Bush Administration
issued a policy guidance instructing EPA and Corps employees to stop
protecting isolated wetlands under the Clean Water Act-removing
protection from over 20% of the United States wetlands. The policy
guidance was effective immediately, so those waters and wetlands are
still threatened by unregulated pollution, filling and destruction.
The public comment period and policy guidance were in response to the
Supreme Court's January, 2001 5-4 decision in the Solid Waste Agency
of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) case, where the court held that
wetlands they termed as "isolated" were no longer protected under the
Clean Water Act based SOLELY on their use by migratory birds. Both
the EPA/Corps proposed plan and the Administration's policy guidance
went far beyond the Supreme Court decision by determining that these
"isolated" wetlands and non-navigable intrastate waters were no longer
protected under the CWA, even though the Supreme Court did not make
that determination. Many thanks for your help, as it was undoubtedly
due to your participation in the public comment period that made this
victory possible!
Meanwhile, in the U.S. Congress, an effort to reaffirm the original
intent of the Clean Water Act is picking up steam! Supporters of bill
numbers H.R.962 in the House,a nd S.473 in the Senate -- the Clean
Water Authority Restoration Act - are working to push the measure
through Congress in 2004. The Act seeks to reaffirm the goal of the
31 year old Clean Water Act, which is to maintain and provide clean,
safe, swimmable and fishable water, reinstate protections for ALL
waters of the United States including "isolated" wetlands that provide
habitat for fish and wildlife, help with flood control, and filter
pollutants from our water, making it safer for birds, wildlife and
most importantly, people. You can expect to read much more on this
issue in the coming year, as we work protect something as important
and fundamental as the quality of our nation's waters!
VICTORY! NATIONAL WIDLIFE REFUGES
The National Wildlife Refuge System -- which celebrated its 100th
Anniversary this year -- received a $24 million increase over last
year for refuge operation and maintenance. As you know, the National
Wildlife Refuge System consists of more than 530 refuges that span
across 50 states, host more than 700 bird species, and are the primary
habitat for about 250 threatened and endangered species. These
refuges are critical for protecting our country's diverse bird and
wildlife populations. But in spite of their important role, they find
themselves in dire need of care: many are battling incompatible
activities on and near refuge lands, inadequate water supplies, and
insufficient budgets for operations, maintenance and new land
acquisition. Audubon will look to Congress to continue to do more for
precious bird and wildlife havens for FY04.
And in a cross-cutting effort including Audubon's Public Policy
office, Communications department, state offices, and chapters, a
flurry of activity highlighted the importance of America's Wildlife
Refuge System in the year of its 100th anniversary. In coordination
with the Public Policy office, Audubon magazine included a special
summer issue, "Safe Havens" that highlights the major threats to
wildlife refuges as well as identifies the top ten birding locations
in the System. Audubon's public policy office and communications
department collaborated to bring a pro-refuges message to Delta
airlines' Sky Radio, reaching more than one million passengers. An
Audubon article was featured in the centennial edition of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish and Wildlife News. State offices and
chapters around the country organized events to celebrate the
centennial and encourage new attention to the System's many needs.
Thank you for all you do to support wildlife refuges!
VICTORY! AUDUBON'S LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION PRIORITIES:
This year's Interior Appropriations Bill - the legislation that allots
funding for conservation programs that impact birds, other wildlife
and their habitat -- included $11.5 million for Audubon's Land and
Water Conservation Fund priorities - 10 key bird and wildlife habitats
as nominated by Audubon Chapters and State Offices. List and funding
for each site is below. Rest assured, we'll be back in January to try
for more!
ARIZONA: Tumacacori National Historical Park $1,500,000; CALIFORNIA:
San Diego NWR $2,000,000; FLORIDA: Suwannee Wildlife Corridor
(Okefenokee NWR)$750,000; INDIANA: Patoka River NWR $500,000;
MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT: Silvio O. Conte NWR, $750,000; NEBRASKA:
Boyer Chute NWR, $500,000; OREGON: Pacific Northwest Streams (Suislaw
National Forest), $1,875,000; TEXAS: Balcones Canyonlands National
Wildlife Refuge, $2,000,000; TEXAS: Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR,
$1,000,000, and WEST VIRGINIA: Canaan Valley NWR, $600,000
VICTORY! FIGHTING INVASIVE SPECIES
The U.S. Congress has taken the first steps to tackling the issue of
invasive species -- seemingly harmless, non-native plants or small
animals that ravage native flora and fauna. They no longer face
threats from their natural enemies, so they thrive -- significantly
altering the ecosystem and upsetting the area's ecological balance.
And their impact on birds is devastating: more than one-third of the
birds on Audubon's WatchList are threatened by invasive species.
Audubon launched a major new campaign this year to stop invasive
species, kicked off with the release of an acclaimed new report,
Cooling the Hot Spots, which calls attention to the threat to birds
and the habitat on which they depend. In May, both the U.S. House and
U.S. Senate took action against one of these damaging species by
passing the Nutria Eradication and Control Act, a 5-year project aimed
at removing the nutria from Maryland and Louisiana . The nutria is a
beaver-like rodent native to South America that has devastated
marshes and other habitat critical for the survival of a number of
threatened, endangered, and Audubon WatchList species. The Senate has
also taken action on another invasive species bill, the Noxious Weed
Control Act - a measure that creates a 5-year program, providing up to
$100 million per year to combat and control invasive weeds on public
and private lands. We'll continue to work with Congress to pass this
measure, and continue to tackle the growing problem of invasive
species! To learn more, visit our special website at
www.stopinvasives.org
VICTORY! EVERGLADES RESTORATION
Audubon and our partners succeeded in convincing Congress to add
legislative language to the Interior and Energy and Water spending
bills that ensures that the State of Florida complies with state and
federal water quality standards. This conditioning language was a
direct result of the negative amendments adopted by the Florida State
Legislature that delay by ten years the deadline for enforcing water
quality in the Everglades. In order to restore public confidence in
Everglades restoration, Congress has applied conditions to federal
funding for Everglades restoration that must be met in order for the
funds to be released. The U.S. Congress also maintained its 2000
commitment to restore America's Everglades by allotting over $170
million in federal funding for fiscal year 2004, including $45 million
for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
MAKING GAINS
POPULATION & HABITAT
Congress set its final funding levels for programs and services
included within the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for FY04,
and this includes funding for international family planning programs -
programs that help the environment by helping people. Congress passed
$466 million for international family planning programs -- that's $14
million less than the level passed last year! And while we are
disappointed and committed to reversing this outcome next year,
Congress did fund two additional programs that will provide
significant benefits to protect critical migratory bird and wildlife
habitat overseas.
First, Congress allotted $2.4 billion for FY04 to help reduce HIV/AIDS
infection rates in the developing world, 20% for prevention services.
Without improved access to prevention services, the twin burdens of
sickness and population growth threaten to reverse the economic and
development gains made in developing countries. And when developing
countries falter, pressure increases to expand forest destruction and
mining, which in turn wipes out critical habitat for species such as
the Congo Owl and the great apes. Congress also secured $1 billion
for the Millennium Challenge Corporation -- a new federal agency to
generate economic development in the developing world. Strong
economies are critical to the long-term survival of birds, wildlife
and the habitat they need to survive. When people are prospering, they
think long-term and make investments in environmental protection that
range from sustainable agriculture and forestry to sewage treatment
plants, clean air and national parks. We'll be back in 2004 to see
that Congress increases funding for these programs!
URBAN STORMWATER
On November 12th, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
allotted $958 million dollars over six years for nationwide efforts to
control pollution from roads, buildings, driveways and lawns -
referred to as "urban stormwater." As you know, urban stormwater is
the technical name for rainwater washing over dirty surfaces like
roads and sidewalks, flushing cigarette butts, pieces of paper or
plastic bags, detergents, oils and fertilizers, and drips of
gasoline directly into our streams, rivers and beach areas, after
traveling through stormwater drains. Stormwater runoff causes
impaired water quality and nutrient pollution in the bays or estuaries
that the runoff flows into. Nutrient pollution can result in low
levels of dissolved oxygen that result in fish kills and die-offs of
submerged aquatic plants that are vitally important to the survival of
so many aquatic species and waterfowl. It's a growing problem local
and state governments are beginning to face. Setting aside new federal
dollars for stormwater programs is a big first step! The full Senate
is expected to take up the measure in 2004 - and we'll be counting on
your support to help encourage the Senate to push this through!
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed
legislation help restore the Upper Mississippi River and thereby
restore and protect the declining populations of birds and other
wildlife once abundant in area. The bill funds a multi-year study of
soil erosion and agricultural run-off in the northern basin of the
Mississippi River. The study will identify means of preventing further
buildup of sediments and nutrients that have reduced wetland habitat
on the river and cut off a vital lifeline for a wide variety of fish
and waterfowl. It directs the U.S. Geological Survey to lead the
research, developing a computer network to identify where sediments
and runoff enter the river. The House passed a similar bill in the
107th Congress, however, the Senate failed to take any action. We'll
need your help to ensure the same does not happen in the 108th
Congress!
HIGHLANDS STEWARDSHIP ACT
On November 21, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation
allotting $100 million for land conservation in the Highlands region
of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. The Highlands
Conservation Act, bill number H.R.1964, not only provides critical
habitat for 247 threatened or endangered species, is a vital watershed
that supplies drinking water to 15 million people, but is also a
recreation area that receives 14 million visitors each year. However,
a number of factors, including population growth, land use pattern,
fragmentation of forests threaten the region, specifically the
availability and quality of water, and wildlife habitat. H.R.1964
secures funding to protect and restore the region's resources, working
with state and local experts and agencies. The measure now awaits
Senate action, and we'll be working to ensure they do indeed take
action on this bill in 2004!
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT (NAWCA)
This program, aimed at building public-private partnership to restore
and manage wetlands habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife,
was a prime candidate to have its funding cut significantly in 2003.
However, due in large part to your active participation, Congress
maintained the $38 million funding level for this species saving
program! Since it's creation in 1989, NAWCA has funded over 1,100
projects, covering more than 9 million acres in all 50 states, Canada
and Mexico, making it one of the most successful conservation programs
in our nation's history. As this is a program that must be funded
each and every year, we'll undoubtedly need your help to maintain and
if at all possible increase funding for this program in 2004!
AUDUBONERS WEIGH-IN FAST & FURIOUS
The U.S. Congress wasn't the only shop in Washington, D.C. keeping
Audubon and our partners in conservation busy this year! In 2003, we
called on you to take action in 12 separate public comment periods
where government agencies such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency,
Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Forest Service were looking
to make significant changes to existing federal policies, laws and
regulations impacting birds and critical habitat. In some cases, we
could give you no more than 24 hours to take action - and you did! In
some cases, we could give you no more than 24 hours to take action -
and you did! While we still wait for the official results of a good
number of these comment periods, we know that Auduboners weighed-in on
each and every one - and we thank you for your participation!
BACKROOM DEALS SHORT-CHANGE ENVIRONMENT, GENERAL PUBLIC
While we celebrate our victories, it was also a year where we saw
first-hand the political prowess of a small handful of special
interests. Through their politically powerful allies on Capitol Hill,
a number of environmentally-destructive proposals were passed -
including far too many measures that should have been voted on
individually by the full House and Senate, but were not. Rather, they
were agreed to via backroom deals, and hidden deep in enormous funding
measures. While Audubon and our partners in conservation do our best
to prevent measures like these from passing, we do not always have the
resources to do so. Here's a list of those issues a handful of
lawmakers worked through Congress this year, and that we'll fight to
overturn, or de-fund in the coming year!
· Passed a forest-fire fighting initiative that's big on clear cuts
for timber companies but short on preventing fires near the forest
communities that need the most help.
· A proposal that makes it more difficult for citizens to challenge
road building and logging plans in the Tongass National Forest.
· The elimination of a 14-year moratorium on offshore drilling in the
Bristol Bay in Western Alaska, an area renowned for its magnificent
wildlife, including bald eagles and puffins
· Giving the U.S. Forest Service the authority to release companies
from timber sales contracts, which basically allows timber companies
to rebid on the same logging projects at a lower price.
· Waiving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of
grazing on public lands, and allows logging in the Kootenai and
Flathead National Forests without NEPA or Clean Water Act compliance.
· Granting the U.S. Department of Defense exemptions from adhering to
portions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA.)
· Providing the fist installment in the $181 million Yazoo Pumps
project in Mississippi - a project that will destroy more than 200,000
acres of prime wetlands for the benefit of a handful of special
interests.
· Instructing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use previously
appropriated funds to proceed with construction of water-withdrawal
features for the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration (Irrigation) project
in Arkansas. These actions open the door to construct a pump that
would suck more than 100 billion gallons of water out of the Lower
White River - critical habitat for endangered and threatened species.
· Calling on the Bureau of Reclamation to expedite its modifications
to the Yuma Desalt plant in Arizona - a plant that was shut down in
1992 after only seven months of operation due to excessive cost (some
$200 million) and very limited water.
· Exempting two water projects in New Mexico from adhering to portions
of
the Endangered Species Act for two years.
· Nullifying the outcome of the King Cove Road, Alaska public comment
period held in September by mandating the adoption of a specific
alternative that allows a road to be built through the Izembeck
National Wildlife Refuge.
Rest assured we will be back to fight these and any similar proposals
in 2004 and beyond. In the meantime, we'd like to thank you once
again for all of your hard work and effort! Stay tuned for our special
January Legislative Lookout issue of the Audubon Advisory!
Audubon Advisory
Audubon Public Policy Division
1150 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20036
1-800-659-2622
audubonaction@xxxxxxxxxxx
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