Liberty
Matters News Service
January 29, 2004
Senator Introduces ESA Reform Bill
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR),
whose state has been ravaged by the unscrupulous use of the Endangered Species
Act, has introduced the Sound Science for Endangered Species Planning Act, (S.
2009). The bill will require that "greater weight be given to scientific or
commercial data that is empirical or has been field tested or peer-reviewed
before making decisions under the ESA." Over the past several years, there has
been increasing evidence that environmental decisions by federal agencies have
relied on sloppy science or science snatched out of thin air altogether. The
issue was brought to light when a retired Forest Service biologist publicly
criticized the agency for planting lynx hair in a national forest and claiming
the hair samples were proof lynx were present in the area. In announcing his
bill, Sen. Smith said; "Decisions based on bad science can take a tremendous
toll on people who make their living from the land [nor] does the environment
benefit from flawed policies. Preventing these mistakes is something everyone
can support." Peer review should be made mandatory.
Smith Introduces ESA Peer Review
Legislation
Yellowstone Snowmobile Case Back in Court
The
state of Wyoming and snowmobile manufacturers are back in court asking for an
injunction to block a last-minute decision by a Washington D. C. judge to limit
use of machines in Yellowstone National Park. December 16, 2003, the day before
the snowmobile season was to start, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered
a phase-out of snowmobiles this winter and a complete ban by next winter. "I
don't see any reason why a judge 2,000 miles from here ought to be deciding
things that affect the people of Wyoming," said U. S. District Judge Clarence
Brimmer. Judge Sullivan's decision tossed out the 2001 settlement between the
Bush administration and the state and snowmobile groups that reduced the number
of snowmobiles in the park, but did not totally ban them. Wyoming Attorney
General Pat Crank said the Washington judge's decision has caused financial
hardship for business people dependent upon snowmobilers and has interfered
with the state's sovereignty. Crank asked Judge Brimmer to either reinstate the
National Park Service plan to allow the operation of cleaner machines, an
option favored by the U.S. Department of Justice, or return to unlimited access
enjoyed before the Clinton-era ban.
WY Judge Rails at
Counterpart in Yellowstone Case
Citigroup Falls to Green Extortion
Citigroup,
the World's largest financial company, has succumbed to the extortion tactics
of the Rainforest Action Network. Citigroup has announced it would acquiesce to
the demands of the green group and cease its practice of financing logging
operations in tropical rainforests. When the group met with Chairman Sanford
Weill last April, he politely told them, Citigroup's business was not the green
group's business; "this isn't our issue and you've got the wrong folks," he
said. After Weill's rebuff, the group began a smear campaign urging people to
cut up their CitiCards and enlisted the help of Democrat Party strategist Susan
Sarandon, along with Ali MacGraw and foreign policy expert Edward Asner to
demonize the company. The Rainforest people subsequently sent letters to ten
other banks requesting they fall into line. Ilyse Hogue, director of the
group's global finance campaign praised the actions of FleetBoston Financial
Corporation for arranging the sale of 147,000 acres of endangered rainforest to
The Nature Conservancy, but said "Citigroup [is] the clear leader among
American investment banks when it comes to environmental policies." Yeah, just
pay the extortion money and anyone can claim they are the
leader.
Citigroup to Deny Financing for
Rainforest Logging
Enviros Want to Lower Missouri River
If environmental groups are
allowed to take over management of the Missouri River, the public will face
significantly increased power rates and the possibility of blackouts, according
to a study commissioned by Nebraska's two largest utilities. Omaha Public Power
District and Nebraska Public Power District depend on Missouri River water to
help generate power and if the river is lowered this summer, officials expect
it will be necessary to buy power from outside sources. The economic impact of
lowering river flows could reach $40,000 per day, or $78 million for the entire
peak summer season. American Rivers spokesman, Chad Smith, acknowledged there
could be adverse effects, but accused the utilities of overstating potential
problems. In an ironic twist of words, Smith said "[I]t is really not
acceptable to have a group like this out there talking about
blackouts…causing harm to children and the elderly. That's just the worst
kind of scare-tactic rhetoric that has no place in an informed public debate on
conservation issues." Too bad they don't practice what they preach.
Utilities Say Lowering MO River Flows
Will Cost
Labor Sec. Chao Warns, NGOs Up To No Good
U.S. Secretary of Labor
Elaine Chao told attendees to the Conservative Political Action Conference in
Arlington, VA., that non-government organizations should "be at the top of
every conservative's watch list." She said that NGOs are working behind the
scenes with multi-lateral organizations and left-wing liberal groups within the
U.S. to influence global public opinion in international law, standards and
practices. Secretary Chao said it is apparent the goal is to undermine U.S.
sovereignty and force the United States to dance to the tune of an
international ruling body, for example, the United Nations. Finally, a top
political official exposes the truth.
Chao Warns of Dangers to U.S.