Liberty Matters News Service   2/23/98

Senate Hearing on Sovereignty Act

On Feb 12 the Senate subcommittee on Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation held a hearing on HR 901, the American Land Sovereignty Act. The hearing was not widely advertised and was restricted to opponents of the bill. Those called to testify included: Dept of the Interior Solicitor, John Leshy; Deputy Asst. Secretary of State for Environment and Development, Rafe Pomerance; Edward Norton for the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and Theodore Roosevelt IV for the National Parks and Conservation Assoc. Needless to say these folks are not friends of private property or the protection of our national sovereignty. The closing date for written testimony is Feb. 26 1998. To register YOUR comments (and balance the debate) send your testimony to: The Hon. Craig Thomas, Chairman, Subcommittee on Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation, 354 Dirkson Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 or fax to 202-224-0302. Faxback Doc. 241 

The Extortion Species Act

It was reported that Senator Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID), John Chafee (R-RI) and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) negotiated changes to S 1180 (the reauthorization bill for the Endangered Species Act) to make it a candidate for floor action. Senator Kempthorne’s attempt to sell the bill as a landowner’s "bill of rights" has angered much of the property rights movement. According to many, the bill is worse than existing law because it codifies Babbitt’s Habitat Conservation Plans, Safe Harbor Agreements and his "no surprises" policy. Babbitt endorsed S 1180 again this week saying that because it adopts all of his "extra-legal" concepts it will "give more flexibility to private landowners in complying with the ESA." Don’t fall for it! These provisions all require landowners compensate the Secretary of Interior (government) for the privilege to use their own land. It’s called "mitigation." Others call it extortion! Let your Senators know how dangerous S 1180 is and that under no circumstances should they vote for this bill without just compensation. Faxback Doc. 191, 192 

EPA Will Order Safe Drinking Water Reports

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has announced a rule which will require the nation’s 56,000 community water systems (municipal water companies) to issue reports to their customers citing potential contaminants from natural resource uses anywhere in the watershed. The "potential contamination" could be cattle grazing, mining, logging, fertilizers and other productive uses. Environmentalists have been pushing for this rule hoping it will frighten the public and help raise public support for the elimination of the natural resource industries along the watershed. A 45 day comment period will be allowed. Close watch should be kept on this requirement as an unlawful unfunded mandate to municipal systems. Faxback Doc. 239 

Bill Introduced to Require Federal Waste Permits

Representative George Miller (D-CA) introduced a bill in the House that would require agriculture operations to have discharge permits under the Clean Water Act. The bill is being promoted as an effort to prevent large-scale operators from polluting US waterways with animal waste runoff. However, the bill applies to farmers and ranchers with more than 350 dairy cows, 500 cattle, 1000 pigs, 5000 sheep, 27,500 turkeys or 50,000 chickens. Under the bill, producers would have to install sewage treatment facilities and limit the amount of fertilizers used on cropland.

Roadless Hearing This Week

Congressman Helen Chenoweth (R-ID) has scheduled a hearing February 25th in her Forest Subcommittee over the US Forest Service’s recent moratorium on roadless areas. The moratorium stops the building of new roads and closes off many areas that have existing roads. Under the US Constitution, Congress, not the Administrative Agencies, has the sole authority to manage the federal lands. The moratorium is a clear misuse of power and public trust. In a separate action, Chief of the Forest Service, Michael Dombeck announced he plans to use the $218 million requested in the Clinton Administration’s FY ’99 budget proposal to remove and replant up to 3500 miles of roads next year.