May 1, 2000

Theologians Say Environmentalists Misguided

A broad-based coalition of Jewish, Catholic and Protestant clergy, scholars and people of faith announced the formation of the Interfaith Council for Environmental Stewardship and released the Cornwall Declaration signed by America’s most influential religious leaders. Promoting sound science and concern for humanity, the coalition endorses using our natural resources for the betterment of mankind and standing up against extreme environmentalism that invades theology and many churches today.

Three Million Acres and Counting

So far this year, Clinton has used the Antiquities Act to create six new monuments and expand another, totaling more than 3 million acres. Now Interior Secretary Babbitt is eyeing two more national monument candidates. They are the 80,000-acre Soda Mountain in Oregon and 165,000 acres of ancient Indian ruin in southwest Colorado. Local opposition to the designations has been ignored by the Administration, eliciting heavy criticism from lawmakers. Oregon rancher Fred Otley says; "The public doesn’t understand that the monuments are being set up to close lands to the public."

Locked Up, Locked Out

The U.S. Park Service has announced a ban on recreation use of snowmobiles in most of the national parks in America, claiming they are responsible for a "significant adverse environmental effect." The latest move is part of the Clinton / Gore campaign to eliminate motorized vehicles in national parks. Limits already have been imposed on sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon. Forty-two national parks will feel the impact of the ruling. Only parks in Alaska and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota will be exempt. Thomas Sowell: "What the Sierra Club and their ilk would like is a place where the unwashed masses are kept out and the environmentalists are let in."

Minnows Used for More than Bait

Minnows used to be fish bait, but today environmentalists and government agencies are using them to bring federal land and water use controls to thousands of miles of rivers. Over 900 miles of rivers and streams were listed as critical habitat for two tiny minnows, the spikedace and the loach, in New Mexico and Arizona. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced they are going to list portions of four rivers as critical habitat in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas for the Arkansas River shiner. Dave Hogan, of the sue-happy Center for Biological Diversity calls the listing "a major step toward the protection of these…fish and desert rivers." Critical habitat has limited scope, but if anyone affected has government connection through farm subsidies or other federal programs, Section 7 Consultation of the Endangered Species Act applies requiring them to pay mitigation, produce environmental impact surveys and hire consultants. Call your Congressman and U.S. Senators to stop this invasion of the minnows.

Peregrines Delisted?

Even though it is no longer on the official do-not touch list, Peregrines are still being used to thwart human activity in several states. In Vermont, The Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife posted signs stating that persons are subject to arrest and fines of $1000 for killing, harassing, or disturbing nesting birds where Peregrine falcons nest on a high cliff overlooking Smugglers Gap. As a result, hiking, picnicking and bird watching activities are prohibited until the birds have left the nest. Maybe we should block off downtown Atlanta, GA where a pair of Peregrines have nested atop an office building for the last four years giving up their "protection" in the woods for the bright lights of the city.

Costs of Regulations Since 1st Earth Day

Taxpayers are hit hard by environmental and risk regulations:

· $80 billion a year in 1977 to $267 billion in 2000

· Annual budget of Environmental Protection Agency up from $1.289 billion in 1971 to $7.8 billion in 2000. EPA staff jumps from 5,500 to 18, 375.

· EPA estimates of environmental protection costs between 1971 and 2000 are $3.6 trillion.

· A family of four annually robbed of $3,000 to support environmental programs.