In an end run around Congress, President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) unleashed a plan in the Federal Register May 19, (vol 62, # 96, pgs 27253-27256) to create the American Heritage Rivers Initiative by presidential proclamation. Since Clinton’s announcement in his State of the Union Address that he will designate 10 rivers this year, the CEQ and 13 Federal Agencies have hammered out a new federal land use scheme under the guise of "restoring and protecting America’s Rivers." In an unusual move, they have only allowed a two week window (due by June 9) for public comment, effectively curtailing public input and criticism. This plan has been skillfully constructed to appear as another good deed to save the environment, however the implementation of this program will place an unprecedented federal stranglehold on property owners.

· The initiative proposes to control rivers for "natural, historic, cultural, social, economic and ecological diversity."

· Encourages cooperation and approval by local governments with the lure of major federal grants.

· Nominations of rivers can come from any source in or outside a "River Community" including private citizens, educational and arts organizations, environmental organizations, and elected officials.

· Designation of a river will be permanent and can include the entire watershed, including all tributaries that come off private property.

· 13 Federal Agencies will be involved in the planning, implementation, management and enforcement of the Heritage rivers.

· Together with the agencies, a federally appointed "River Navigator" will control all land use and management activities within the designated area.

· The federal agencies will be granted "flexibility from certain bureaucratic requirements," effectively allowing them to create special privileges for themselves while those affected must abide by their rules.

· Aerial photography and satellite surveillance will be used to police and expand the program.

· Finally, only the president has final approval of the Initiative.

If we allow the incremental implementation of federal land use programs like the American Heritage Rivers Initiatives to continue, we will no longer have a government of, by and for the people. We will have a country run by an elite few who are accountable to no one. This program has nothing to do with preserving America’s rivers, but has everything to do with federal encroachment onto private lands and the destruction of individual liberty .

Your Congressmen are in their home districts this week. They might not even know the president has released this initiative. Tell them you want this program withdrawn. Tell them they need to have the courage to stand and fight for freedom in this country, even if that means challenging the president.

Only you and Congress can stop this by June 9th!