Liberty Matters News Service
June 5, 2001
H.R.
701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, is tentatively set for a
hearing before the House Resources Committee on Wednesday, June 20th.
This is the same bill filed last Congress with a few modest
changes.
It still pumps $45 Billion over the next 15 years into
environmental projects and acquisition of private property.
One change made in the bill requires Congress to approve the
transaction when the power of eminent domain is used to condemn private
property.
This bill will be the demise of private property in this country.
Members of Congress should be asked why they want more land in
the hands of federal bureaucrats. Don’t hesitate, contact
members of the committee and voice your opinion.
Capitol switchboard number is (202) 225-3121 and the House Resources Committee number is (202)
225-2761.
Fatal Flaws II
- by Fred Kelly Grant
Resource
Committee Members
Planting
Evidence
Long
ago, during the “Gold Rush” days, it was common practice for
unscrupulous types to foist a worthless mine onto an unsuspecting
greenhorn by lacing the place with gold nuggets.
It was called “salting the claim.”
Now in California a similar con game may be unfolding, only this
time it may involve “planting toads.”
Newhall Land and Farming Company obtained a permit for erosion
control of about 10 miles of the Santa Clara River to develop 4,300
homes. The property was
considered possible habitat for the arroyo toad, but Newhall Land argued
that since no toads had been discovered the habitat designation should
be lifted and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed.
However, the land company’s permit is now in limbo and subject
to further review after a biologist hired by the Friends of the Santa
Clara River said she discovered a toad on April 18th and
three more last week. “The
toads are buried in the sand where the off-road vehicles go [and are]
running amok on top of them. There
are tracks everywhere,” said Nancy Sandburg.
FWS is planning to look into the situation since the alleged
presence of the toads “takes precedence over everything else.”
The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Santa
Clara have filed suit to have the permit revoked.
Endangered
Toad Found on Newhall Project Site
Bush Shores up Environmental Image
President
Bush is apparently attempting to gain approval of the environmental
faction by voicing support of Clinton’s Sequoia National Monument and
the project to restore the Florida Everglades. During
his visit to Sequoia, Mr. Bush promised to protect “these works of
God.”The President also remarked;
“Our duty is to use the land well and sometimes not use it at
all.”
He re-iterated his pledge to make available $5 billion over five
years to clean up the backlog of maintenance problems in the nation’s
parks and monuments. He then traveled to Florida to tour the Everglades
and emphasize that his administration has included $219 million in the
2002 budget to continue the Clinton era Everglades restoration mandate.
The project is deemed necessary to restore water quality, storage
and flow in an area that, years ago, Congress ordered drained to avoid
flooding to develop farms and encourage urban growth.
Bush Pledges Everglades
Restoration
President Touts
Environmental Agenda
Implementation
of Biodiversity
Rep.
Chris Shays, (R-CT) and 69 cohorts have taken it upon themselves to
implement the Treaty on Biodiversity, even though it was never ratified
by the U. S. Senate.
The 70 east and left coast lawmakers have arrogantly offered up
for sacrifice, the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and
Wyoming to execute the Wildlands Project and the UN/US Man and the
Biosphere Program.
The bill, H.R. 488, The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act
of 2001, will set aside portions of those states to be preserved as an
“enduring resource of wilderness, wild land areas, and biodiversity
for the benefit of the American people.”
There are provisions for biological connecting corridors,
cooperative agreements and land trades and acquisitions.
There will be a National Wildland Recovery System and a National
Wildland Recovery Corps.
The western states have been chosen because the congressional
review of roadless areas within National Forest system lands indicates
they will help “fulfill the role of the United States Forest Service
to ensure a quality National Wilderness Preservation System.”
There may even be room for people: Sec.3. (b) (7) “Purpose of
Designations:
[to] promote scientific research, primitive recreation, solitude,
physical and mental challenge, and inspiration for the benefit of all
the American people.”
And no, the people of the above-named western states were not
consulted.
H.R.
488
Biodiversity Map (pdf)