January 11, 2003
Happy New Year, friends and supporters of CalUWild
With the 108th Congress sworn in this week, 2003 is off and running. Because the Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House, it will be a busy time for all who care about protecting wilderness and public lands.
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA11), who could hardly be more anti-environmental, was picked to be Chairman of the House Resources Committee. This is not good news. One Washington insider reacted: Compared to [Mr. Pombo], Jim Hansen looks like a statesman. Mr. Pombo has talked about revamping the Endangered Species Act, the Antiquities Act, and other similar adventures. But it remains to be seen how his appointment will play out, since his selection passed over senior members of the committee, some of whom are more moderate than he. Mr. Pombo was sixth out of seven in seniority, so internal committee politics may cramp his ability to push a radically anti-environmental agenda.
However, we can’t count on that. Public pressure”letters, phone calls, faxes and e-mails”will be the most important tool we have against any attempts to roll back environmental laws.
To that end, we will soon send out How and to Whom: The CalUWild Guide to Effective Advocacy, which will include updated contact information for the 108th Congress.
This week, the Administration issued its long-awaited new rule on rights-of-way and RS 2477, with a potentially huge impact on wilderness and public lands. See Item 1 for details.
Finally, we can expect to see an energy bill introduced that will include opening up the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. The Democrats threatened in the last Congress to filibuster any such provision, and we hope they will do so again, if necessary. But we can also expect other bad provisions regarding exploration in the Intermountain West, tax breaks and subsidies for oil and gas producers, and little in the way of conservation, support for renewable sources of energy, or protection for people who own the surface rights in leased areas.
Not all the news is grim, however.
The week before Christmas, President Bush signed the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002 into law, permanently protecting almost 57,000 acres of wild lands in Monterey and San Benito counties: 37,110 additional acres in the Ventana Wilderness; 17,055 more in the Silver Peak Wilderness; and 2,715 in Pinnacles National Monument.
Also in mid-December, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a preliminary injunction against implementation of the National Forest Roadless Rule, effectively reinstating it. The court said in its opinion:
“Given the importance of roadless lands as a resource and the ease with which they may be irretrievably damaged, and the amount of forest land already crossed by roads that facilitate active management of vast acreages, a near total ban on further road construction in the remaining and precious roadless areas within our national forests is not the drastic measure that the plaintiffs make it out to be.”
Finally, California representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA08) was elected House Minority Leader. Rep. Pelosi is generally strong on the environment. It is not clear, however, whether she will use her position to be a visible advocate for specific legislation, e.g., cosponsoring America’s Redrock Wilderness Act, but she will definitely be receptive to our efforts on issues and work behind the scenes to move things along.
On the administrative front, thank you to everyone who sent in contributions last year. Member support in 2002 increased quite a bit over 2001. But our needs are ongoing, so if you haven’t contributed in a while, please consider making a contribution sometime soon. Dues are not tax deductible, because they are sometimes used for direct advocacy, but tax-deductible contributions can be made payable to the Resource Renewal Institute. Either way, they should be mailed to:
CalUWild
P.O. Box 210474
San Francisco, CA 94121-0474
Thank you also to all who returned their membership survey, sent out at the end of November. We will discuss some of the comments received when we send out the Advocacy Guide. A large majority included supportive comments regarding CalUWild’s work. I’m happy to say we seem to be on the right track. If you have not responded, please do so. (If you would like another copy sent to you, send an email to info@caluwild.org. The most important information you can give us is the name of your Congressional representative, so we can target information as needed and also determine where we need to work on membership development.
Lastly, thank you for your concern for wilderness in Utah and the West, and more importantly for translating it into action. It does make a difference!
Best wishes,
Mike
IN UTAH, CALIFORNIA, ALASKA & ELSEWHERE
1. New Regulations for Roads in Wilderness, Parks, and Other Public Lands
(ACTION ITEM)
IN UTAH
2. Letters Needed Supporting America’s Redrock Wilderness Act
Deadline: February 19
(ACTION ITEM)
IN CALIFORNIA
3. CalUWild Slide Show in Davis
February 12
IN WYOMING
4. Protest the Snowmobiles in Yellowstone
February 15
IN OREGON
5. Land-Air-Water Conference in Eugene
March 6-9
IN COLORADO
6. Position with the Wilderness Society in Denver
Deadline: January 22
IN MEMORIAM
7. Wayne Owens
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IN UTAH, CALIFORNIA, ALASKA & ELSEWHERE
1. New Rules for Roads in Wilderness,
Parks, and Other Public Lands
(ACTION ITEM)
On January 6, the BLM released its new rule for disclaimers of interest. BLM is saying it may determine rights-of-way, even on lands managed by other agencies: national forests, parks, wildlife refuges, and military installations.
Roads cause many well-known problems on the landscape: erosion and loss of water quality, wildlife habitat fragmentation, destruction of archaeological resources, and the spread of invasive weeds. Additionally, the presence of a road generally disqualifies an area for wilderness designation. Thus there is potential for severe consequences across the West.
This rule change is part of the ongoing saga of the Mining Law of 1866 and its provision titled Revised Statute 2477. RS 2477, passed when the U.S. was still trying to open up and settle the West, states: The right-of-way for the construction of highways over public lands, not reserved for public uses, is hereby granted.
RS 2477 was repealed in 1976, but existing rights were grandfathered in. Wilderness opponents have seized upon this loophole to claim routes all across the West, hoping to defeat wilderness designation and exert control of federal lands. In Utah, counties have bulldozed roads into proposed wilderness areas. They have also tried to force the Park Service to open sensitive areas in Canyonlands National Park to vehicle travel. In California, San Bernardino County is claiming 2,567 miles of routes in Mojave National Preserve; more than one quarter of these miles are in designated wilderness areas. Inyo County plans to assert claims in Death Valley National Park. Even Los Angeles County is looking into asserting claims.
Last February, the Administration proposed a new rule, allowing the federal government to disclaim any interest it had in property, including rights-of-way. The new rule removes the 12 year statue of limitations for states, enlarges the definition of states to include cities and counties, and enlarges the pool of potential applicants for a disclaimer from present owner of record to any entity claiming title. BLM received about 18,000 comments in response; most were form letters opposed to the rule change.
In spite of this opposition, BLM released the new rule with little change, although it did promise not to issue a disclaimer if another agency had a valid objection.
BLM has consistently denied that the rule change will have a major impact on RS 2477 claims, yet counties did submit comments regarding such claims. For example, San Bernardino County was concerned that paying the costs of processing applications might create a financial burden for it because of the number of claims the county might potentially file. As we saw above, there are many. For a map, see:
http://www.calwild.org/photos/content/rs2477/rs2477map.jpg
The rule change received widespread coverage in the press, and editorial reaction has been almost uniformly negative. For a sample, see:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E417%257E1076663,00.html
http://www.sltrib.com/2002/Dec/12252002/utah/14371.asp
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/102348_roads01.shtml
CalUWild is working with a coalition of organizations including The Wilderness Society, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Earthjustice, California Wilderness Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club to fight the new rule and minimize its impacts, both in California and across the West.
The California Wilderness Coalition and other organizations will be undertaking extensive surveys of claimed routes throughout California and will be needing volunteers to help. It’s a great way to get out to see the wild areas of the state and help out on a cutting-edge issue at the same time. Contact Amanda Dranginis at CWC for more information:
530-758-0380
amanda@calwild.org
We’ll see where this all leads. However, citizens concerned about the potential impacts of the rule change should write to their elected representatives in Washington letting them know their views.
For more information on RS 2477, visit:
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
California Wilderness Coalition
Stop RS 2477 Campaign
IN UTAH
2. Letters Needed Supporting America’s Redrock Wilderness Act
Deadline: February 19
(ACTION ITEM)
Every year, the Utah Wilderness Coalition brings friends of Utah wilderness from around the country to Washington, DC to learn about the issues facing Utah and then to meet with Congressional offices, educating them in turn. With this being the start of the 108th Congress, the UWC will be visiting all offices in the House and Senate. Three CalUWild representatives will take part this year, February 22-26.
One of the best types of handout material to give a congressional office is letters from constituents. If you would like to have a letter in support of America’s Redrock Wilderness Act delivered to your representatives, we would be happy to do so.
The important thing to do is let your representative and senator know why you support wilderness protection in Utah and ask him or her to do the same by cosponsoring (again, if applicable) America’s Redrock Wilderness Act when it is introduced by Rep. Maurice Hinchey and Sen. Dick Durbin this year.
Send your letters to:
CalUWild
P.O. Box 210474
San Francisco, CA 94121-0474
Letters need to arrive before February 19.
In the last Congress, the cosponsors (with OLD district numbers) from California were:
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D)
Xavier Becerra (D-30)
Howard Berman (D-26)
Lois Capps (D-22)
Susan Davis (D-49)
Anna Eshoo (D-14)
Sam Farr (D-17)
Bob Filner (D-50)
Jane Harman (D-36)
Mike Honda (D-15)
Barbara Lee (D-09)
Zoe Lofgren (D-16)
Robert Matsui (D-05)
Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-37)
George Miller (D-07)
Grace Napolitano (D-34)
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-33)
Loretta Sanchez (D-46)
Adam Schiff (D-27)
Brad Sherman (D-24)
Hilda Solis (D-31)
Pete Stark (D-13)
Ellen Tauscher (D-10)
Mike Thompson (D-01)
Maxine Waters (D-35)
Diane Watson (D-32)
Henry Waxman (D-29)
Lynn Woolsey (D-06)
This Congress we would like to add (NEW district numbers):
Sen Dianne Feinstein (D)
Joe Baca (D-43)
Dennis Cardoza (D-18)
Cal Dooley (D-20)
Tom Lantos (D-12)
Nancy Pelosi (D-08)
Linda Sanchez (D-39)
Of course, we would be glad to have some Republican members of California’s delegation on the list. Unfortunately, almost all of them are anti-wilderness so the chances aren’t too great. But it’s still important for people to let them know their thoughts on issues.
IN CALIFORNIA
3. CalUWild Slide Show in Davis
February 12
CalUWild coordinator Mike Painter will present a slide show the evening of February 12, featuring Utah as a prime example of the broader citizens wilderness movement growing across the West. Please join us at:
Yolo County Library
Davis Branch, Blanchard Room.
315 E. 14th St. in Davis
The program will run from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. and will be co-hosted by Yolano Group Sierra Club.
Admission is free.
Mark your calendars. Hope to see you there!
IN WYOMING
4. Protest the Snowmobiles in Yellowstone
February 15
The Winter Wildlands Alliance is organizing a protest against the increasing presence of snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park. In another example of rolling back rules, the Administration has decided not to ban snowmobiles from the park, despite overwhelming public sentiment to do just that.
If you’ve always wanted to visit the park in Winter, and at the same time public support wilderness and our parks, this is the way to do it.
The Winter Wildlands Alliance has reserved a block of rooms at two motels in West Yellowstone for the President’s Day weekend, but reservations need to be made immediately–by January 14. (Sorry for the short notice, but we only got the information a couple of days ago.)
For more information, and to register, visit the Winter Wildlands Alliance at http://www.winterwildlands.org/.
or contact Steve Miller at:
208-344-2968.
IN OREGON
5. Land-Air-Water Conference in Eugene
March 6-9
Every March, activists, lawyers, and students from around the world converge on Eugene, OR for the annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, reputedly the largest such gathering in the world. It’s a great way to get up to date on every imaginable environmental issue and to meet the folks working directly on the issues.
CalUWild will be setting up an information table along with Oregonians for Utah Wilderness, as we have in previous years.
Their website isn’t functional yet, but a detailed agenda and registration information will be posted at:
http://www.pielc.org/
IN COLORADO
6. Position with the Wilderness Society in Denver
Deadline: January 22
The Wilderness Society Four Corners office has a Program Assistant position available for someone interested in working on protection and management of National Monuments and other BLM lands on the Colorado Plateau. The position is located in Denver and will involve traveling at least monthly travel to Southern Utah.
The application deadline is January 22, with an immediate starting date.
If you’re interested in a job description, send an email requesting one to : info@caluwild.org
IN MEMORIAM
7. Wayne Owens
Former Utah Congressman Wayne Owens died in Israel on December 18. Rep. Owens was the original author of America’s Redrock Wilderness Act.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972, where he served on the Judiciary Committee that voted to impeach Richard Nixon. Rep. Owens ran for the Senate in 1974, losing to Jake Garn, and later ran unsuccessfully for Utah’s governorship in 1984. In 1986 he was elected again to the House, where he served until 1992, when he again ran for a Senate seat, losing to Bob Bennett.
Rep. Owens helped found the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation and after leaving Congress, served as the organization’s president.
All friends of Utah wilderness and advocates for peace in the Middle East will miss him greatly.