Senate ALERT PART I
– Invasive Species in Transportation Bill
Friends,
Good Job! -
by those who fax’ed opposition to “invasive” species
regulation in the House version of the Transportation Act (SAFETEA). You
won, and it’s gone!
Unfortunately it’s gone to the conferees,
where the bad language remains in the Senate version.
All, Please act now to kill it in conference this week.
Send 4 quick identical faxes to Sen. Inhofe with visible
“cc” to your
Senators
1) Senator James Inhofe, Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee 202-224-5167
2) Senator James
Inhofe, at his own Senate Office, 202-228-0380
3) and 4) to your Senators
Here is a quick link to the fax numbers of your
Senators:
http://www.theorator.com/senate.html
Here’s a sample fax:
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Dear Senator Inhofe:
Please remove from the SAFETEA Transportation
Bill, S.1072, all
reference to “invasive species” and
“native plants”, and delete Sec. 166
of Title I, Sub Chapter F,
in its entirety.
Invasive species is major environmental legislation
that needs debating
on its own merits, or lack of them. The issue is poorly
defined as any
species that is nonnative and could cause harm. There are no
restrictions on the bureaucracy making the designation, no takings
protection for private land use. Without careful limits to regulatory
power, the potential for abuse is greater than that of the Endangered
Species Act.
Sincerely,
name, mailing address, email address
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Please
do send the faxes. There are talking points below for writing
your own, but
if you’re shy on time, just go ahead and use this one as
better than
nothing.
Invasive Species is hot and heavy in the Senate. In a week
we’re also sending
information on 2 more bills that need immediate
comment. Sorry about the
barrage, but a little effort now can save big
trouble later!
Best regards,
PS:
Talking
Points:
· Basic Issue:
Implication that everything “nonnative” is “harmful”.
Native poison ivy is more harmful to children than non-native fescue that is
the major component of soccer fields.
· Definition: No universally accepted definition of
“Could Cause Harm” and no required objective review of
such determination. Credible scientists disagree. Already Western counties have
eradicated weeds and been threatened by critical habitat protection under the
Endangered Species Act for the identical plants.
·
Private Land: There is no takings
compensation for restricting plants or animals on private property. Agency
personnel are unrestrained in extending federal restrictions to private
land.
· Forestry:
hybrid trees and GMO’s are nonnative. Regulators can say
they could
cause harm to native ecosystems and proscribe their use on
private forests.
· Clean Water
Act: In some states tall fescue, rye grasses and crownvetch are already
forbidden on public land. How long would it take to restrict their use
for
BMP’s?
·
Sportsmen: pheasants, boar and rainbow trout are nonnative. The
National Park Service already seeks their removal from the Smokies.
· Gardeners: English
ivy and Russian olive are listed as invasive
(harmful) in National Forests
in the South.
· Pets:
German shepherds and French poodles are nonnative and meet the
definition
of invasive in that they could bite.
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