Pictographs, San Rafael Swell, Utah Mike Painter
February 8, 2012
Dear CalUWild Friends—
The Update is a bit late because we’ve been finishing work on CalUWild’s revamped website. The new site has the same emphasis on making useful information easily accessible , but also contains photography and a new section on the homepage for current events and issues. There is also a complete archive of Monthly Updates, though the formatting on older ones isn’t always consistent and internal links referring to individual Updates may still need to be corrected. But we are happy enough with it that we’ve decided to “go live” with it. Please check it out at caluwild.org and let us know what you think. If you have corrections, let us know those, too. There’s a page for submitting your thoughts here.
Many thanks to Michael Kane for his design and technical work on the new site. And many thanks also to Phillip Loughlin, our previous webmaster, for his years of dedication developing and keeping the old site running.
We would also like to thank everyone who made contributions to CalUWild during our membership appeal over the holidays. Your support is much appreciated. If you haven’t contributed yet, it’s never too late. Dues information may be found here. We’re not set up for electronic contributions yet, so please print out the information there and include it with your check.
We can’t continue our work without the strong support of our members. Thanks!
Best wishes,
Mike
IN UTAH
1. Red Rock Champion Rep. Maurice Hinchey to Retire
(ACTION ITEM)
2. Help Protect the Greater Canyonlands Region
(ACTION ITEM)
IN CALIFORNIA
3. Support the Designation of
Fort Ord as a National Monument
(ACTION ITEM)
IN ARIZONA
4. Interior Department Closes Grand Canyon Area
To Further Uranium Mining
(ACTION ITEM)
IN OREGON
5. Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
University of Oregon School of Law
Eugene, March 1-4
IN GENERAL
6. Coming Up:
The 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act
(ACTION ITEM)
7. Job Posting: The Wilderness Society
California Wilderness Campaign Coordinator
IN THE PRESS & ELSEWHERE
8. Links of Interest
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IN UTAH
1. Red Rock Champion Rep. Maurice Hinchey to Retire
(ACTION ITEM)
Last month, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), who took over the sponsorship of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act from Utah’s Rep. Wayne Owens, announced that he would be retiring at the end of this term, his tenth. Rep. Hinchey has been an ardent champion of protection for Utah’s wildlands, and he’s been an outspoken supporter of other conservation issues across America, as well. We will miss his leadership in Congress and wish him well as he steps away from Capitol Hill.
Please take a moment to send Rep. Hinchey a letter or postcard of appreciation.
Hon. Maurice Hinchey
2431 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6335
Fax: 202-226-0774
Correspondence to Congress sent in envelopes is still irradiated and delayed, so it’s better to fax a letter than to mail it. An alternative is to send it to a district office rather than to DC. You can find addresses for Rep. Hinchey’s district offices here. His website only accepts email from constituents.
2. Help Protect the Greater Canyonlands Region
(ACTION ITEM)
CalUWild and other organizations have been developing a campaign to protect the Greater Canyonlands region in southeastern Utah. Originally, the focused was on a petition by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance to the Department of the Interior to close ORV routes and otherwise work to protect the area. The Department turned down the petition and continues to defend the Bush-era resource management plans developed by the Bureau of Land Management.
So now we’re working on a different strategy: Going directly to the White House to ask Pres. Obama to use his executive power to protect the area, whether by designating a national monument or through other means. He has shown that he will use the Antiquities Act to designate a site of historical importance (Ft. Monroe in Virginia), so maybe he will now designate an area that is ecologically (as well as culturally and scenically) significant, while providing additional protections to Canyonlands National Park, which lies at its center.
The Coalition has set up a website, greatercanyonlands.org, hosted on SUWA’s server, with various actions you can take to make your opinions known to the White House. Some use traditional means of advocacy, such as phoning the White House or collecting postcards. Or you can send an automated email. Social media like Facebook and Twitter are becoming increasingly popular, so they are part of the equation now, too. Check the website out!
A final option is to fax your own letter to Pres. Obama, explaining the importance of the Canyonlands landscape to you and asking that he act to protect it.
Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
Webform
It’s not just the politicians in Washington who need to hear from you, though. The governor of Utah is constantly making comments that show his lack of concern, and even disdain, for the federal public lands of Utah. So while you’re at it, remind Gov. Gary Herbert of the importance of tourism to Utah (and why you spend your dollars there) and why you go there.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert
Utah State Capitol Complex
PO Box 142220
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-2220
Though not as effective as a letter, you can send a message to the governor via his webpage or call him at
800-705-2464.
IN CALIFORNIA
3. Support the Designation of
Fort Ord as a National Monument
(ACTION ITEM)
A campaign is gathering steam to have Ft. Ord in Monterey designated a national monument. As mentioned above, Pres. Obama designated Ft. Monroe in Virgina a national monument late last year, his first use of the 1906 Antiquities Act. Ft. Ord in Monterey has a different history and is much larger. It also has natural values that are worth preserving. Because large military bases are often not fully developed, original populations of plants and animals often survive, even when they have been extirpated in the surrounding areas. Ft. Ord is one excellent example.
The fort was founded in 1917 and when the Army left in 1996, it transferred management of about half of Fort Ord to the BLM. About 7,000 acres are still under military jurisdiction while the Army cleans up unexploded ordnance, and the BLM is expected take over management of that portion in 2019.
Last month, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar visited Ft. Ord, along with BLM Director Bob Abbey. They were shown around by Rep. Sam Farr (D-17) and other local officials. Secty. Salazar was impressed with the local community support he found for monument designation and commented that such support is critical in making a decision to designate a new monument. Given the anti-monument sentiment among many in Washington, its military history might soften some of the opposition to a presidential designation. Secty. Salazar recommended letters to Sens. Boxer and Feinstein expressing support.
It would also be a good idea to write Secty. Salazar and thank him for his advocacy on behalf of Ft. Ord.
Hon. Ken Salazar
Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3100
Email: feedback [at] ios [dot] doi [dot] gov
Webform
DC contact information for Sens. Boxer and Feinstein:
Hon. Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3553
Webform
Other contact information for Sen. Boxer may be found here.
Hon. Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3841
Webform
Other contact information for Sen. Feinstein may be found here.
For more information about Ft. Ord, visit the BLM’s website.
IN ARIZONA
4. Interior Department Closes Grand Canyon Area
To Further Uranium Mining
(ACTION ITEM)
Last month, in a move opposed by the mining industry and Republicans in Congress, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar instituted a 20-year ban on new mining claims for uranium on about 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon. Existing claims will be honored.
President George Bush had opened the area to claims, but in 2009, Secty. Salazar instituted a two-year withdrawal that he then extended by six months. In making his decision, Mr. Salazar cited the importance of the landscape to visitors from around America and the world, its sacredness to many Indian tribes, and the fact that the Colorado River provides drinking water for 26 million residents of the Southwest.
Reaction from Congress was predictable. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, was quoted in the Washington Post as saying: “When families travel to see the Grand Canyon, they have a right to expect that the only glow they will see will come from the sun setting over the rim of this natural wonder, and not from the radioactive contamination that comes from uranium mining.” On the other hand, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said the ban was a “devastating blow to job creation in northern Arizona.”
It’s estimated that the ban might cost 465 jobs and maybe $16.6 million in annual tax revenue. The economy of northern Arizona is becoming increasingly tourist-based (estimated at $687 million annually), so pollution or other problems from uranium mining would likely have a major impact on that industry in addition to the environment.
Please send Secty. Salazar thanks for his protection of the Grand Canyon.
Hon. Ken Salazar
Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3100
Email: feedback [at] ios [dot] doi [dot] gov
Webform
IN OREGON
5. Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
University of Oregon School of Law
Eugene, March 1-4
The 30th Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference will be held early next month at the law school of the University of Oregon in Eugene. The conference this year is titled “New Frontier: The Political Crossroads of Our Environmental Future.”
PIELC is one of the largest gatherings of environmental activists, academics, and citizens anywhere, with panels and speeches on almost any topic imaginable. It’s also organized by the environmental law students (volunteering their time), and they do a fantastic job! Click here for the conference homepage and here for a tentative schedule (scroll down the page).
IN GENERAL
6. Coming Up:
The 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act
(ACTION ITEM)
On September 3, 1964, Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law. It was and continues to be a landmark piece of legislation, emulated in states and in countries around the world. In two years, we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of this historic event. CalUWild is part of a national committee comprised of representatives from the federal land agencies and other nonprofit groups.
One of our most important goals is to get wilderness enthusiasts and supporters involved in planning events at the local level, to both celebrate wilderness and to spread the message about it. Among the ideas that have come forward already are hikes, photo and other art exhibitions, slideshows, and outreach to other types of groups, particularly in underserved communities.
If you would like to be part of the celebration by organizing an activity or if you have an idea that you think the committee should consider, send me an email.
Thanks!
7. Job Posting: The Wilderness Society
California Wilderness Campaign
The Wilderness Society in San Francisco is looking for someone to coordinate the California Wilderness Campaign, of which TWS, Sierra Club, California Wilderness Coalition, and CalUWild (among others) are members. Here’s a link to the job listing. The position is open until filled.
Submit resume, cover letter, writing samples and references to cawilderness [at] tws [dot] org with “California Wilderness Coordinator” in the subject line.
IN THE PRESS & ELSEWHERE
8. Links of Interest
There is a lot to read this month … If a link is expired, please check the archives for the publication or send me an email, and I’ll see what I can do to get you the article.
Followup in the press on the Alton coal mine proposal in Utah, discussed in CalUWild’s December 2011 Update.
The Salt Lake Tribune: Park Service, wildlife biologists against Alton mine expansion
The Los Angeles Times: Proposed Utah mine expansion reflects politics of coal
=-=-=
California Rep. Dan Lungren (R-3), someone not known for his pro-conservation views, ignited a controversy when he called for an investigation into how San Francisco is using its water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park and how much it’s paying for that right.
2 news articles from the Bay Citizen:
Congressman: San Francisco’s Water Practices Are Illegal
Congressman Wants to Raise Hetch Hetchy Rent a Thousandfold
The San Francisco Chronicle ran pro & con op-ed pieces on the topic in its Sunday Insight section
on January 22:
Dan Lungren: Hetch Hetchy should be restored to natural state
Jim Wunderman: Hetch Hetchy an invaluable source of water, power
=-=-=
The Los Angeles Times looks at conflicts over solar energy development in the desert:
Sacrificing the desert to save the Earth
=-=-=
The New York Times on the continuing travels of California’s lone wolf
=-=-=
From National Parks Traveler:
Sale of Plastic Water Bottles Banned At Grand Canyon National Park
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High Country News looks at the conflict over rebuilding a fire lookout in a designated wilderness area
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The National Archives has digitized a portion of the Documerica Project, undertaken by the newly-created Environmental Protection Agency in 1971 – 1977, where photographers took pictures of environmental problems around the country. Click here for the homepage. It’s an interesting record of the state of our environment around the time of the first Earth Day. The Archives website is discussed in this New York Times Green Blog post.