Liberty Matters News Service
August 28, 2001
The U.S. Army is
poised to hand The Nature Conservancy $1 Million to purchase
conservation easements on private property along the San Pedro River in
Arizona. As a result
of a biological opinion (agreement?) between officials of Fort Huachuca
and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999, base officials agreed
to try to reduce water use it is responsible for off the fort and reduce
on-fort use, as well. The
base’s environmental specialists have identified agriculture as the
biggest water user along the San Pedro River, so those landowners will
be targeted by TNC to agree to reduce or retire their water rights.
The Army spends $6 million annually for environmental issues at
Fort Huachuca. And we
thought they couldn’t afford parts for their tanks.
Another $1.2 million grant from the Timkin-Sturgis Foundation
will help TNC buy the River Fork Ranch in Carson Valley, Nevada.
The ranch fronts on the Carson River and is considered a prime
nesting site for migratory birds. Plans
are to allow cattle ranching to continue (for now).
TNC and partners view “the ranch acquisition as an inspiring
example of ranching and environmental communities working together to
protect some of the West’s last open spaces.”
Army
Aims Funds to Lower Water Use
Largest
Private Gift in Chapter's History Leads to Acquisition of River Fork Ranch in
Carson Valley
Department
of Defense Seeks Exemption From ESA
The U. S. military
doesn’t like asking Fish and Wildlife if and when it can carry out its
missions, so it is seeking an exemption from the Endangered Species Act
through Congress this fall according to information from the Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
A DOD document, “Maritime Sustainability Issues and Action
Plan,” lists five environmental laws, including the ESA, which are
causing the military grief and anguish.
(We feel your pain!) The
confidential document sites “national security or missions
readiness” as basis for the request.
Additionally, they want on DOD land a free ride from critical
habitat designations, blanket “incidental takes” of listed wildlife,
to limit the need for consultation with Fish and Wildlife when DOD
action may affect a listed species, and to allow the DOD to further ESA
goals only when those actions are consistent with DOD’s primary
mission. No one in
authority will confirm the existence of such a plan, but perhaps the
farmers in Klamath should request the same exemptions.
Military
May Seek Exemption from ESA, Fisheries Laws
Lookout,
Here Come the Feds
Property owners on
Cape Lookout, North Carolina are worried that the U.S. Park Service will
seize their vacation homes when their leases expire.
The land was purchased to expand the National Seashore in 1970
and at the time about two dozen homeowners refused to sell to the
government. Although the
people had deeds, the government didn’t acknowledge their validity and
instead, gave the property owners twenty-five year leases.
The leases are now beginning to expire and owners fear the worst.
Some have taken the initiative by filing a lawsuit, asking a
federal judge to order the park service to let them continue to use
their property. Park service officials say the houses could be suitable for a
historic-property leasing program, allowing private individuals to live
in them. The problem is the
leases would be offered nation-wide and there are already 15 requests
from outsiders.
Park Service May Scoop up Beach Houses
The World’s
Largest Tax Collector
The
Washington Times reported last week that the United Nations has
proposed major tax initiatives that include implementing an
International Tax Organization. How
to implement the plan will be the main topic of discussion at the
U.N.’s International Conference on Financing for Development next
March. Through this taxing
organization they propose global taxes on international currency
transactions that include the world trading system and financial
markets, energy, seabed mining, ocean fishing, and satellite launches.
They also want to allow countries to permanently tax emigrants.
In other words, if someone from another county became a U.S.
citizen, their country of origin could also tax them forcing them to pay
double taxes. They also
want to be able to impose an income tax on every person worldwide.
Imagine a faceless, non-elected, all-powerful bureaucrat as a
one-world, global tax collector. It
could happen!
A
One-World Taxing Authority?
CARA Report
Released
Watch
your mailbox for Fred Kelly Grant’s latest report on the Conservation
and Reinvestment Act. CARA,
The Unraveling of a Free Nation is an in-depth look at the many ways
this proposed legislation would destroy property rights in America and
comes complete with specific questions you can ask your congressman.
If you haven’t already reserved your copy, call 1-800-847-0227.