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Environmental Alerts
Endangered Species Act January 16, 2006 The U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) is one of the most effective wildlife conservation laws in the world. Passed in 1973, the ESA is designed to conserve ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend, and to provide for the conservation of such species. Under the ESA, an “endangered” species is one that is in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future. A “threatened” species is one that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. Species such as the bald eagle, American alligator, and gray whale owe their existence today to the ESA. Two government agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries, share responsibility for implementing the Endangered Species Act. There are currently 1,855 species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. Since the ESA is the nation’s most powerful wildlife conservation tool, it is not without controversy. Some believe the law infringes upon private property rights, and would like to see the ESA weakened. Others would like to see the ESA abolished altogether. On September 29, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 3824, the “Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act,” introduced by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA). Conservationists say the bill will significantly weaken the Endangered Species Act by eliminating habitat protections, repealing protections against hazardous pesticides, politicizing scientific decision making, and requiring taxpayers to pay developers, oil & gas companies, and other industries to comply with the law. On December 15, 2005, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the “Collaboration for Recovery of Endangered Species Act” (S. 2110) in the Senate. Conservationists say the bill continues the push begun in the House to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Debate on this bill is expected to begin when the Senate reconvenes in January. To learn more, stay up-to-date and take action on this matter, see the following web sites: Conservation and Environmental
Government and Education
Other
January 16, 2006 The 19.8 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is one of the last intact ecosystems in the world. The refuge is home to a spectacular diversity of wildlife, including caribou, polar and grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, musk oxen, and 135 bird species. Whether or not to disturb this last great wilderness by drilling for oil is at the heart of debate in the U.S. Congress. On December 21, 2005, the U.S. Senate blocked a vote on a measure that would’ve allowed oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Led by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), oil proponents attached Arctic Refuge drilling language to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill, a must-pass piece of legislation as it funds the salaries of U.S. troops. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) led the filibuster against the bill, and a motion to cut off debate failed by a vote of 56-44. Sixty votes are required to end debate on a bill in the Senate. The Senate went back to the drawing board and voted 48-45 in favor of removing the drilling language. The reconstituted Defense bill, free of Arctic Refuge drilling language, then passed unanimously. In other legislation, the Senate voted 52-47 on November 3 to include Arctic Refuge drilling language in its final version of the budget bill. The House of Representatives, however, removed drilling language from its version of the budget on November 9. When Congress met in December to work out the differences between the two bills, the Senate removed drilling language and approved its budget. Differences still remain between the two bills, and final passage of the budget will be taken up when Congress reconvenes in January. While the two latest attempts to open the Arctic Refuge to oil development failed, the refuge is not permanently protected. An act of Congress is all that is required to open the refuge to drilling. This issue will continue to be in the news as Congress reconvenes in 2006. To learn more, stay up-to-date and take action on this matter, see the links in the April 5, 2005 alert, below.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge April 5, 2005 The 19.8 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is one of the last intact ecosystems in the world. The refuge is home to a spectacular diversity of wildlife, including caribou, polar and grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, musk oxen, and 135 bird species. Whether or not to disturb this last great wilderness by drilling for oil is at the heart of debate in the U.S. Congress. On March 16, 2005, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment to delete a provision in its version of the U.S. budget bill that assumes that preliminary leasing revenues from oil exploration and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be collected in fiscal 2006. The Senate subsequently approved their version of the entire budget bill. This method of authorizing development has been described by some as a "back-door" approach to allow drilling in the refuge without fair and full debate in the Senate (since budget bills can't be filibustered.) The U.S. House of Representatives version of the budget bill did not have comparable provisions. The two bills differ in other ways and will go to a joint conference committee for resolution and then back to the respective houses of Congress for a final vote. Regardless of the disagreement over the legislative approach, the development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains extremely controversial and will be in the news as the budget bill progresses. To learn more, stay up-to-date and take action on this matter, see the following web sites: Conservation and Environmental:
Government Web Sites:
Pro-Development Web Sites:
Environment 2005 Major Issue for 2005. It's clear that energy policy and the prospect of drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be front and center on the Congressional agenda in 2005. To stay up-to-date on these issues, see the web sites of virtually any of the national environment and conservation organizations or the links in the energy related alerts below and check this page throughout the year. Other Issues for 2005. Other continuing regulatory and policy agenda items include the implementation of the Roadless Rule, the Healthy Forest Initiative and the Clear Skies Initiative. To stay up-to-date on these issues, see the links in the August 16, 2004 and March 3, 2004 alerts below and continue to check this page for new alerts. Things you can do. The "big-picture" issues noted above will receive much attention at the national level from advocates on both sides. NANPA members should consider pitching in with a comment or letter to your elected officials and policy makers from time to time. There are also ways that members can get involved with these and other issues at the local level. Here are a few suggestions.
There are many ways members can make a difference with your photography as well as by your thoughtful participation in these planning processes. The NANPA Environment Committee encourages members to do so.
8th World Wilderness
Congress The 8th World Wilderness Congress (WWC) will be held in Anchorage, Alaska from September 30 to October 6, 2005. The WWC is held every three to four years. It is the longest-running public, international environmental forum. The theme of the 8th WWC is "Wilderness, Wildlands and People – A Partnership for the Planet." One of the programs at the WWC will be Conservation Photography - Images With Passion and Purpose. NANPA member Cristina Mittermeier is the contact person for this program. Several NANPA members and internationally-known photographers have already committed to making presentations or leading workshops. The conservation photography program starts a day early, on September 29th and extends until October 6th. The program will include presentations and breakout sessions, field workshops, slide shows and book and print signings. Please consider supporting or attending this major conservation photography forum.
Environmental Issues 2004 NANPA recognizes the importance of the environment to the future of nature photography. We express that in our Mission Statement and in our Environmental Statement. So it goes without saying that we are also a pro-environment and conservation organization. As noted in the Environmental Statement, we encourage members to be "... active and informed citizens in matters of public policy that affect land use and environmental protection." The Environment Committee has compiled a list of web sites that provide additional information about candidates and platforms. NANPA members who want more information may find this list to be helpful in learning more about party platforms and the environment and conservation record and policy positions of national candidates. This brief list is a starting point. Do your own research and make your own decisions.
Roadless Rule Update On July 12, 2004 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a revised "Roadless Rule" and an interim directive that will be in effect until the Roadless Rule becomes final. The interim directive and the proposed rule were published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2004. Comments on the proposed rule may be submitted until September 14, 2004. The USDA web page with information about the Roadless Rule is at http://roadless.fs.fed.us/. Most environmental and conservation organizations have information about the Roadless Rule on their web sites. For starters, see the Heritage Forest Campaign and the Natural Resources Defense Council. You might also want to read an MSNBC article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5350753/ and a thought provoking article on the Cato Institute web site at http://www.cato.org/dailys/07-21-04.html.
The Future of the Energy Bill UPDATE: The Senate leadership did not accept the new energy bill (S 2095) so the bill will not proceed to hearings. It is also unlikely that there will be an energy bill in the House of Representatives this year. ORIGINAL ALERT: A new Energy Bill has been introduced in the Senate. It is S 2095 and was introduced by Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico. See information on this bill on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources web site. The bill can also be reviewed and tracked at the THOMAS - U.S. Congress on the Internet site. The specific web page for the bill is Senate Bill 2095 (S 2095). As of March 1, 2004, the bill does not include a proposal to explore for or develop oil and gas resources in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It does include language about the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPRA) and several other provisions affecting oil and gas development in Alaska and the lower 48 states, including the continental shelf. This bill is in its very early stages. As more information, such as summaries of the bill or a House version of the bill become available, we will update this alert. Summary of Other
Environmental Issues The status of some on-going issues and a couple emerging issues are summarized below.
NOTE: The 2003 Energy Bill did not pass the Congress. The bill was thought to have enough bi-partisan support to pass. In the end it became quite controversial due to numerous provisions that were considered by many as concessions to industry or as “pork barrel” provisions designed to benefit a relatively small constituency. Proposed exploration and drilling for oil in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska was not included in the version of bill that was subjected to a vote. See the alert on the Future of the Energy Bill, above. The 2003 Energy Bill is under
consideration by a House/Senate Conference Committee. It's different from the
2002 bill. The House and Senate bills initially had no language authorizing
exploration or drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). However,
the House of Representatives leadership and the President are still pushing for
drilling in ANWR and the House will try to add it in conference. The consensus
among the Congressional staff members and lobbyists is that drilling in ANWR
will not pass. There are not enough votes in the Senate, roughly 48, versus the
60 required to cut off a filibuster opposing drilling in ANWR.
The Roadless Rule,
Healthy Forest Initiative and Clear Skies Initiative Clear Skies Initiative
- The Administration’s Clear Skies Initiative has been announced. It
incorporates changes to the USEPA’s air pollution control program under the
Clean Air Act. Opponents say that the regulatory relief and market-based
solutions in the Clear Skies Initiative are a “giveaway” to major air polluters
and political contributors.
2003 Appropriations
Bill May Nullify Environmental Protection Provisions NOTE: The attempts by some Congressmen to nullify
environmental protection provisions were for the most part, defeated. · The League of Conservation Voters · The Natural Resources Defense Council · The Save Our Environment site · You may also want to visit the web site of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and look at the conference report on H.J. Res. 2. · If you are really into in-depth research, see the summary and actual text of the bill at the Thomas web site. Just put “H.J. Res. 2” in the Bill search blank and click “search”.
Court Upholds
Roadless Area Conservation Rule A decision on December 12, 2002 by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals lifted a preliminary injunction that stayed the implementation of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The stay was issued in response to a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Forest Service rule. This suit was filed in Idaho and was led by Boise Cascade. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule (a group of rules, actually) is designed to establish procedures for designating up to 58.5 million acres of national forest land as roadless, thus protecting them from development and essentially creating wilderness protection for the forest. This court decision removes the injunction and allows the U.S. Forest Service to implement the rule and the changes and clarifications to the rule that are currently pending. For more information, see the following web sites. · The Heritage Forests Campaign web site at http://www.ourforests.org/ . · The U.S. Forest Service site at http://roadless.fs.fed.us/ . · And the Wilderness Society at http://www.wilderness.org/ .
Air Pollution in the
National Parks The National Parks Conservation
Association (NPCA) has issued a report titled "Code
Red: America's Five Most Polluted National Parks." The report
highlights the general problem of air pollution in the United States as
indicated by data collected in the National Parks. The report features the five
most polluted parks: Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, Mammoth Cave, Sequoia
and King's Canyon and Acadia National Parks. The report also identifies the
sources and types of air pollution and the aesthetic, human health and
environmental damage done by air pollution. The most problematic sources are
fossil fuel fired power plants and vehicular emissions. Most importantly, the
report makes recommendations for action to be taken by Federal, State and Local
authorities. The report relies, in part, on data and conclusions compiled by
the National Park Service in their report "Air Quality in the
National Parks, 2nd Edition."
Energy
Conference Committee Takes No Action on Drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge The House/Senate Energy Conference Committee did not take action on the issue of exploration and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge before the fall/election recess. It is unlikely that there will be any action during the lame duck session in 2002.
Denali Wolf Crisis In March of 2001, three of Denali
National Park's
wolves died after being drugged for radio collaring by National Park Service
researchers. Unfortunately, the alpha female of the Sanctuary pack, along with
the alpha male of the Toklat wolves, failed to recover from the drug used in
darting them. A pup from the Otter Creek pack also died from the procedure.
Galapagos Alert Tui de Roy, a NANPA member who grew
up on the Galapagos
Islands, has been informing the world of recent events that are
endangering the local wildlife and threatening the Charles Darwin Foundation
and residence located there. Local fishermen are demanding an increase in the
quota of lobsters which can be harvested within the boundaries of Galapagos
National Park. The fishermen turned violent and unruly last week and have
ransacked the Charles Darwin Center and the National Park Headquarters on
Isabela Island even going so far as to destroy the home of the National Park
representative living there.
The preceding information is provided to you as an information service from NANPA in maintaining its responsibility to keep you informed about issues and events related to nature photography, the environment, and the Association. It is not NANPA's responsibility or intent tell you how to vote, what to think, where to go, or what you should do. And to that end NANPA does not endorse or promote such issues or events. This information is provided for informational purposes only. If NANPA takes a specific stand on any issue, it will be stated. If you would like more information on any issue, contact the NANPA office. Site Index Search Disclaimers Contact Us  North American Nature Photography Association 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2840, USA Phone: 303-422-8527 Fax: 303-422-8894 E-mail: info@nanpa.org © 2001 All Rights Reserved |
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