February 28, 2008
Dear CalUWild Friends –
February is a short month, even with its extra day this year, so we’ll keep the Update short as well.
With 11 months yet to go, the administration is continuing its push to lease as much land in the West for energy exploration as possible. (See Item 1.) The Fish & Wildlife Service delayed plans to list Polar Bears as endangered, and many think this was so as not to interfere with leasing plans in Alaska. FWS has announced that it will remove Gray Wolves from the Endangered Species List, despite well-publicized plans by Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to institute hunting, which would again reduce populations. Even though wildlife is not a wilderness issue per se, wilderness without wildlife can hardly be considered wilderness.
Yet even with the presidential campaign well underway, there is little mention of the environment by any of the candidates. This is unfortunate. Please consider writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper pointing this out. Contact information for many major California newspapers can be found on CalUWild’s website, at the bottom of this page.
Thanks for all of your interest, support, and efforts on behalf of our Western wildlands!
Best wishes,
Mike
IN UTAH
1. Nine Mile Canyon Continues to be Threatened
By Trucks and Energy Exploration
IN CALIFORNIA
2. State to Sue US Forest Service
Over Southern California Forest Planning
Letters Needed
(ACTION ITEM)
IN GENERAL
3. Job Listing: The Wilderness Society in San Francisco
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IN UTAH
1. Nine Mile Canyon Continues to be Threatened
By Trucks and Energy Exploration
The January 25 issue of Science magazine reported that the famed rock art panels of Nine Mile Canyon, near Price, Utah, may be under attack by more than just BLM’s constant approval of oil and gas exploration in the canyon and its surroundings.
Truck traffic on the dirt road through the canyon has increased significantly in the past few years, kicking up dust which coats the rock art on the walls of the canyon. To help control the dust, the Bill Barrett Corporation, the major energy leaseholder in the area, and other companies have been applying magnesium chloride to the dirt road. So now the panels are being coated with the chemical as well.
Constance Silver, a rock art conservator, says that the salt will corrode the rock into which the petroglyphs are carved. According to Science, the BLM is hesitant to accept her findings, despite the fact that studies have shown magnesium chloride to be corrosive. Silver is quoted as saying:”They’re really going to have to do something about the road and clean up those sites.”
BLM has just released a Draft EIS on the latest leasing proposal. We haven’t had time to review it yet, but it has a 90-day comment period, with a deadline of May 1. We’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, you may review the Draft EIS online and comment as well.
Comments may submitted by email to:
UT_Rr_Comments@blm.gov.
The address for submitting comments by U.S. Mail is:
Bureau of Land Management
Price Field Office
Attn: West Tavaputs Plateau Natural Gas Full Field Development Plan DEIS
125 South 600 West
Price, UT 84501
IN CALIFORNIA
2. State to Sue US Forest Service
Over Southern California Forest Planning
Letters Needed
(ACTION ITEM)
California Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman and Attorney General Edmund G.”Jerry” Brown today filed suit in Federal Court over the Forest Service’s management plans for the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests. The dispute arises out of the complicated saga of the Clinton-era Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which the Bush Administration has tried mightily, although so far unsuccessfully, to overturn.
While the Forest Service was preparing management plans for the four forests, it assured the state that it would not allow roads to be built in inventoried roadless areas. Yet when the plans were released, over 500,000 acres (out of 1 million) were subject to road building. The state appealed the plans, but the Forest Service rejected those appeals, despite the prior written assurances.
Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote then-Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns asking him to take steps to see that the Roadless Areas were protected. Johanns asked Schwarzenegger to file a state petition under the new Bush rules (since invalidated), stating in his letter:”Please accept my personal assurance that, if the State submits a petition, the Department and the Forest Service will work diligently, cooperatively, and expeditiously with the State to find lasting protection for these inventoried roadless areas that is acceptable to the State of California.” Despite misgivings as to the petition process’s legality, California filed a petition, asking for protection for inventoried roadless areas. The Forest Service has not satisfactorily addressed the state’s appeals, so at this point the Resources Agency feels it has no further recourse other than going to court.
The complaint filed by the Attorney General as well as relevant letters between the various officials involved may be read on the Resources Agency’s website.
Please write Gov. Schwarzenegger a short letter thanking him for his efforts to protect California’s National Forest Roadless Areas.
Hon. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please send copies to Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman and Attorney General Jerry Brown.
Hon. Mike Chrisman
Secretary
The Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Hon. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Attorney General
State of California
P.O. Box 70550
Oakland, CA 94612
IN GENERAL
3. Job Listing: The Wilderness Society in San Francisco
Position Title: Development and Office Administrator
Location: San Francisco, CA
Reports To: Regional Director and Regional Development Director
Application Deadline: Open until filled, posted February 5, 2008
Start Date: Immediately
General Description:
The Development and Office Administrator is responsible for managing a fast-paced, multi-faceted office and providing administrative support to the 12 person California/Nevada Regional Office of The Wilderness Society. The position provides light support to all regional staff and substantial assistance to the Regional Director and Regional Development Director (with an emphasis on event planning). The Wilderness Society (TWS) is a national non-profit membership organization devoted to the conservation of America’s most pristine wild lands.
The ideal candidate has significant experience in office administration, budget development and oversight, and event planning. Attention to detail, a polished and professional approach, and the ability to work well with a diverse array of people are essential. The Administrator must be able to juggle a wide range of projects, prioritize effectively, anticipate problems, and operate independently with limited oversight. Flexibility, reliability, initiative, a pleasant”can-do” attitude and a commitment to land conservation are musts. Experience with editing and layout is desirable.
Responsibilities:
• Office Management and Technical Support- Ensure daily operations of office run smoothly; manage vendor contracts; maintain office machinery and supplies; serve as a liaison with technical support staff and building management firm
• Administrative Assistance- Answer the phone; prepare, edit, and format written materials, including donor letters; manage large mailings; help with travel arrangements and meeting schedules; maintain files; support administrative needs of regional director and regional development director
• Event Planning and Logistics – Help plan and implement donor and programmatic events
• Financial and Administrative Management- Assist in preparation and oversight of annual budgets; pay monthly bills; and serve as a liaison with TWS headquarters
• Fundraising and Grant Management- Maintain calendar of grant deadlines; help research potential funding sources; assist in preparation of grant materials and donor mailings; maintain donor database and related files
• Information Requests- Be informed generally about TWS program work to provide information to members, donors, partners, and others
• Other Duties – As assigned
Qualifications:
Position requires a professional, friendly, well-organized, highly motivated self-starter who can work quickly and reliably with close attention to detail and minimum supervision.
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Two years experience in office management
• Experience with budget development and bookkeeping
• Experience with event planning
• Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, MS Word, PowerPoint, and desktop publishing programs
• Knowledge of database management helpful
• Excellent communication, research, and writing skills
• Outstanding time management skills
• Initiative and willingness to perform a variety of assignments
• Ability to work effectively and diplomatically under pressure on a wide variety of tasks
• Commitment to land conservation
We offer a very competitive salary and benefits package, including health and dental insurance and a pension plan. The Wilderness Society is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair and equal treatment of its employees and constituents regardless of differences based on culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, or sexual orientation.
Submit résumé, cover letter, writing samples and references to:
The Wilderness Society
Attn: Development and Office Administrator
655 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Fax: 415-398-1632
Email to OfficeAdministrator@tws.org
No phone calls please.