Liberty Matters News Service

May 21, 2003  

Washington Post TNC Series Hits a Nerve

The Washington Post's in-depth investigation of questionable land deals made by the giant green Nature Conservancy has kicked up a lot of dust. Joe Stevens and David Ottaway gathered reams of material and conducted exhaustive interviews that revealed the Conservancy may have been playing fast and loose with IRS rules governing the activities of charitable organizations. As a result of the articles, the Conservancy has suspended all "conservation buyer" transactions pending a review by the charity's board of directors. The series caught the attention of Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) who intend to grill the "charity" about its practice of selling land to its trustees at reduced prices, but requiring sizeable donations from them as part of the deal. "Taxpayers have the right to know how the Nature Conservancy conducts its business," said Sen. Grassley. The organization has hired a high-powered Washington D. C. public relations firm to shore up its image in an attempt to stave off the Hill probe and has retained an outside law firm to handle any fallout. Additionally, Landmark Legal Foundation is looking into grants TNC obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA awarded the Conservancy over $10 million between 1993 and 2002 and the "Agency did not competitively bid the grants ... nor were there outside review panels to determine the merit of the applications and there was no … system to oversee the proper management of these grants. The EPA needs to determine whether taxpayer funds were used properly by the Nature Conservancy," said Landmark President Mark Levin. The Washington Post has invited readers to comment on the series and to share information about the organization at TNC@washpost.com .
Nature Conservancy Suspends Land Sales
Charity Hiring Lawyers To Try To Prevent Hill Probe
Landmark Calls For Probe Into EPA Grants To TNC

GAO Reports on Environmental Obstructionist Tactics

Despite their claims to the contrary, a GAO report indicates environmental groups delayed "52% of appealable thinning projects proposed near communities in 2001 and 2002, resulting in thousands of acres of national forests burned and cost to taxpayers in the billions." The Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, Oregon Natural Resources Council and the Forest Conservation Council were among the worst to file frivolous administrative appeals. House Resource Committee Chairman, Richard Pombo (R-CA), expressed outrage at the findings: "This finding is nothing short of appalling [in light of last year's catastrophic fires]," he said. "I hope this study serves as a wake-up call to the American people that radical environmental rhetoric serves a political purpose, not an environmental cause," he continued. Environmentalists still contend they are not responsible for obstructing justice. Brian Segee of the Center for Biological Diversity claims the GAO report indicates that out of 762 fuel treatment projects only 180 decisions were appealed, a measly 24%. However, only 305 decisions were subject to challenge, making the figure 59%. Sierra Club spokesman, Rob Smith said the vast majority of projects go forward without challenge with the exception of "those with large elements of commercial timber sales." Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) said the environmentalists' arguments are bogus. "They are creating the impression that the total number of appeals is low by relying on a whole category of cases where they cannot legally appeal."
Radical Appeals Add Fuel To Forest Fires
Both Sides Hail Wildfire Report

Judge Vacates Critical Habitat for Snake

U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was wrong to designate 400,000 acres of prime property as critical habitat for the Alameda whipsnake and scolded the federal agency for attempting an "unlawful land grab." The judge said the agency did not provide adequate evidence of the need for habitat designation and did not conduct an adequate economic analysis. The Pacific Legal Foundation represented the Home Builders Association of Northern California and the California Chamber of Commerce, among others, in the suit against the government, claiming there was no proof the snake occupied all that land and the environmental restrictions and associated costs put the planned affordable housing development out of reach of many Bay Area families. Greg Loarie, Earth-Justice attorney, called the ruling a major setback and said, "[T]he Court's decision is really a victory for luxury homes and country club golf courses."
Judge Lifts Restrictions On Snake Habitat

Christie Whitman Resigns EPA Post

Environmental Protection Agency chief, Christie Whitman, Tuesday informed President Bush she will vacate her position at EPA, effective June 27th. Mrs. Whitman often came under fire from environmentalists who accused her of rolling back too many environmental protections favored by past administrations and also from conservatives who found her too liberal for their tastes. Soon after her appointment, Friends of the Earth urged her to resign charging that her credibility had been compromised. But Whitman stood steadfastly with Bush, even when their own disagreements over the international global warming treaty became public. In her letter to the president, Whitman said; "As rewarding as the past two-and-a-half years have been for me professionally, it is time to return to my home and husband in New Jersey, which I love just as you do your home state of Texas."