[BCNnet] VERY important bird conservation issue. Endangered species, envi ronmental laws under attack!

Wed, 23 Oct 2002 10:13:54 -0400

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All:

Please allow me to apologize for cross postings.  The article below was
printed in today's Washington Post.

To take action on this and other important conservation issues before the
United States Congress go to Audubon's take action site today!

http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/
<http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/> 

As always if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

kb

washingtonpost.com 
Bird Nests and Bomb Ranges 
Hill Nears Pact to Exempt Pentagon from Law Protecting Species 
By Eric Pianin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 23, 2002; Page A09 
House and Senate negotiators have tentatively agreed to exempt the Defense
Department from an international law designed to protect more than 850
species of migratory birds, in response to Bush administration complaints
that such treaties seriously hamper military training and bombing exercises.
The decision, disclosed yesterday by lawmakers and environmental groups,
could effectively allow the incidental bombing of habitats of hundreds of
thousands of migratory birds, including a number of endangered species, that
fly over 25 million acres of military-controlled land.
The administration earlier this year sought exemptions from numerous
environmental laws dealing with endangered species, marine mammals,
migratory birds, clean air and hazardous waste cleanup. The restrictions,
officials said, were impeding military readiness and training in the wake of
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Critics, including environmental
groups, some governors and state attorneys general, said the administration
was using the terrorist attacks as an excuse to undermine important
environmental protections. 
As a compromise, Senate and House conferees drafted a version of the fiscal
2003 defense authorization bill granting the military an exemption from the
1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which sets forth U.S. obligations under four
treaties to protect birds and guide conservation management with the
governments of Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia. While the exemption would
be permanent, the Defense Department would be given a year to identify ways
to minimize the adverse impact of military training activities on migratory
birds.
Some lawmakers and environmentalists said Congress was bowing to
administration pressure to undermine the nation's oldest conservation law.
"Exempting our military from the MBTA drops a bomb domestically and
internationally as it endangers our wildlife heritage and compromises our
international treaty obligations," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (W.Va.), the
ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, which oversees the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
But the conference report draft says the proposed military exemption is
"entirely consistent with the underlying terms of all treaty obligations of
the United States." 
Raymond F. DuBois, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and
environment, said the exemption was made necessary last April after a
federal judge halted bombing exercises on Farallon de Medinilla, a western
Pacific island where migratory birds were being killed.
"Solely a military training range for the past 26 years, FDM provides vital
training for frontline units involved in Operation Enduring Freedom," DuBois
said. "The provision has no effect on our obligation to assess the
environmental impact of our actions or our obligation under the Endangered
Species Act not to jeopardize endangered species."
Environmental groups including Audubon, the Sierra Club, the American Bird
Conservancy and the Endangered Species Coalition, said in a joint statement:
"Our existing laws already provide for the achievement of military readiness
while maintaining environmental protections."
Senate Armed Services Committee aides cautioned yesterday that lawmakers
were still working on portions of the conference report and the final
version may change. Moreover, congressional leaders have yet to decide
whether to seek final action on the defense authorization bill when Congress
returns for a postelection session.
(c) 2002 The Washington Post Company 

Kristen Berry
Audubon
1150 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036

Office 202-861-2242
Cell    202-549-1032
Fax    202-861-4290

Know what the salmon said when he swam into the concrete?  Dam!

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'>Please
allow me to apologize for cross postings.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span>The article below was printed in today's =
</span></font></b><st1:State><st1:place><b><font
  color=3Dblack face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
  =
font-weight:bold'>Washington</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:State><b=
><font
color=3Dblack face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-weight:bold'> Post.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'>To
take action on this and other important conservation issues before the =
</span></font></b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b><font
  color=3Dblack face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
  font-weight:bold'>United =
States</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b><font
color=3Dblack face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-weight:bold'> Congress <span class=3DGramE>go</span> to Audubon's =
take
action site today!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
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style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
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href=3D"http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/">http://www.capitolconnec=
t.com/audubon/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'>As
always if you have any questions please feel free to contact =
me.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DGramE><b><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;
font-weight:bold'>kb</span></font></b></span><b><font color=3Dblack
face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p>=
</span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black;font-weight:=
bold'>washingtonpost</span></font></b><b><font
color=3D"#cc0000" face=3DHelvetica><span =
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:#CC0000;
font-weight:bold'>.com</span></font></b><font color=3Dblack =
face=3DHelvetica><span
style=3D'font-family:Helvetica;color:black'> </span></font><font =
size=3D3><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3D5 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Bird
Nests and Bomb <span class=3DGramE>Ranges<font size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-weight:normal'> <br>
Hill</span></font></span></span></font></b><font size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> Nears Pact to Exempt Pentagon from Law Protecting Species =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>By =
Eric Pianin<br>
</span></font><st1:State><st1:place>Washington</st1:place></st1:State> =
Post
Staff Writer<br>
Wednesday, <st1:date Month=3D"10" Day=3D"23" Year=3D"2002">October 23, =
2002</st1:date>;
Page A09 <font size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>House and Senate
negotiators have tentatively agreed to exempt the Defense Department =
from an
international law designed to protect more than 850 species of =
migratory birds,
in response to Bush administration complaints that such treaties =
seriously
hamper military training and bombing =
exercises.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>The =
decision,
disclosed yesterday by lawmakers and environmental groups, could =
effectively
allow the incidental bombing of habitats of hundreds of thousands of =
migratory
birds, including a number of endangered <span class=3DGramE>species, =
that</span>
fly over 25 million acres of military-controlled =
land.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

The =
administration
earlier this year sought exemptions from numerous environmental laws =
dealing
with endangered species, marine mammals, migratory birds, clean air and
hazardous waste cleanup. The restrictions, officials said, were =
impeding
military readiness and training in the wake of the =
<st1:date
Month=3D"9" Day=3D"11" Year=3D"2001">Sept.
 11, 2001</st1:date>,
terrorist attacks. Critics, including environmental groups, some =
governors and
state attorneys general, said the administration was using the =
terrorist
attacks as an excuse to undermine important environmental protections. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>As a =
compromise,
Senate and House conferees drafted a version of the fiscal 2003 defense
authorization bill granting the military an exemption from the 1918 =
Migratory
Bird Treaty Act, which sets forth =
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>U.S.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-r=
egion><font
size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> obligations under four =
treaties to
protect birds and guide conservation management with the governments of =
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Canada</span></font></st1:pl=
ace></st1:country-region><font
size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>, =
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Mexico</span></font></st1:place></st1:country=
-region><font
size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>, =
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Japan</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-=
region><font
size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'> and =
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D3><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Russia</span></font></st1:place></st1:country=
-region><font
size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>. While the exemption would =
be permanent,
the Defense Department would be given a year to identify ways to =
minimize the
adverse impact of military training activities on migratory =
birds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Some =
lawmakers and
environmentalists said Congress was bowing to administration pressure =
to
undermine the nation's oldest conservation law. &quot;Exempting our =
military
from the MBTA drops a bomb domestically and internationally as it =
endangers our
wildlife heritage and compromises our international treaty =
obligations,&quot;
said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (<st1:State><st1:place>W.Va.</st1:place></st1:State><f=
ont
size=3D3>), the ranking Democrat on =
the House
Resources Committee, which oversees the Migratory Bird Treaty =
Act.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>But =
the conference
report draft says the proposed military exemption is &quot;entirely =
consistent
with the underlying terms of all treaty obligations of the =
</span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
  size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>United =
States</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font
size=3D3><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>.&quot; =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Raymond F. DuBois,
deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, =
said the
exemption was made necessary last April after a federal judge halted =
bombing
exercises on Farallon de Medinilla, a western Pacific island where =
migratory
birds were being killed.<o:p></o:p>

&quot;Solely a
military training range for the past 26 years, FDM provides vital =
training for
frontline units involved in Operation Enduring Freedom,&quot; DuBois =
said.
&quot;The provision has no effect on our obligation to assess the =
environmental
impact of our actions or our obligation under the Endangered Species =
Act not to
jeopardize endangered species.&quot;<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Environmental
groups including Audubon, the Sierra Club, the American Bird =
Conservancy and
the Endangered Species Coalition, said in a joint statement: &quot;Our =
existing
laws already provide for the achievement of military readiness while
maintaining environmental =
protections.&quot;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Senate Armed
Services Committee aides cautioned yesterday that lawmakers were still =
working
on portions of the conference report and the final version may change. =
Moreover,
congressional leaders have yet to decide whether to seek final action =
on the
defense authorization bill when Congress returns for a postelection =
session.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&copy; 2002 =
The
Washington Post Company <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Kristen Berry</span></font></b></strong><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Audubon</span></font></b></strong><span =
style=3D'mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:Street><st1:address><strong><b><font
  size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
  mso-no-proof:yes'>1150 Connecticut =
Avenue</span></font></b></strong></st1:address></st1:Street><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:place><st1:City><strong><b><font
  size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
  =
mso-no-proof:yes'>Washington</span></font></b></strong></st1:City><stron=
g><b><font
 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-family:AvantGarde;mso-no-proof:yes'>, =
</span></font></b></strong><st1:State><strong><b><font
  face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-family:AvantGarde;mso-no-proof:yes'>DC</span></font></b></=
strong></st1:State><strong><b><font
 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-family:AvantGarde;mso-no-proof:yes'> =
</span></font></b></strong><st1:PostalCode><strong><b><font
  face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-family:AvantGarde;mso-no-proof:yes'>20036</span></font></b=
></strong></st1:PostalCode></st1:place><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></fo=
nt></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Office 202-861-2242</span></font></b></strong><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Cell&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
202-549-1032</span></font></b></strong><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Fax&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; =
202-861-4290</span></font></b></strong><span
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></fo=
nt></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><strong><b><font
size=3D2 face=3DAvantGarde><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:AvantGarde;
mso-no-proof:yes'>Know what the salmon said when he swam into the
concrete?&nbsp; Dam!</span></font></b></strong><span =
style=3D'mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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