June 3, 2002
Dear CalUWild friends —
Summer is just around the corner the most popular time to get out and enjoy our wild areas. But it doesn’t mean that we can neglect our efforts at protecting those areas from overuse and abuse, energy development, and other threats. There are a few items of interest this month.
Just last week alone, CalUWild submitted comments on our members on three issues: snowmobiles in Yellowstone and the Tetons; a proposal to release non-native turkeys for hunting in the Sierra and coast Range of California; and a proposal for more seismic thumping, this time in the newly-designated Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwest Colorado.
Unfortunately, these last two issues came up before we were able to send out an UPDATE. The comment period on the seismic testing, for example, was a measly 30 days nowhere near enough time to get the information out to you after we received it, and have you write comments as well. CalUWild requested a 60-day extension, and if it is granted, we will ask you to submit comments as well.
But it’s not all bleak news. Jane Harman (D-36) is the latest California representative to cosponsor of America’s Redrock Wilderness Act, the Utah bill. That bring the total in the Golden State to 27, a record, and the national total to 162 in the House and 16 in the Senate. We’re on track to setting a new record for cosponsorships in this Congress.
Secondly, a state court in Salt Lake City this morning ruled that the State of Utah must release information on its secret R.S. 2477 (rights-of-way for roads) negotiations with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is concerned that the secret talks are an attempt to undermine last year’s federal court decision setting out the requirements for legitimate routes. Additionally, the Interior Department’s refusal to grant an extension to the recent comment period on R.S. 2477 rules (see April UPDATE) may be an attempt to help push through an agreement between Utah and the Department.
A third piece of good news: Sen. Barbara Boxer has introduced a bill designating more wilderness in California. Details can be found in Item 1.
CalUWild’s membership continues to grow; the UPDATE currently goes out to more than 450 people. Writing letters and making phone calls are the most important things you can do to help protect our public lands. But CalUWild also have financial needs. In the beginning of July we’ll be sending out a dues reminder to the folks we haven’t heard from in a year or more. If you’re a member of that crowd and would like to avoid receiving such a notice (and save CalUWild some printing and postage costs at the same time), please print out and return the form at the end of this UPDATE before June 30.
Dues are voluntary but appreciated. They are NOT, however, tax deductible. Tax deductible contributions may be made payable to Resource Renewal Institute, marked For CalUWild. Thank you in advance for your support.
Finally, one of the next big wilderness issues in our national parks will be the Grand Canyon. Particularly controversial will be whether to include the Colorado River itself in the wilderness designation, since motorized craft would be banned from the river. I will be spending 18 days in June exploring Grand Canyon’s potential wilderness areas from a (non-motorized) raft. Co-coordinator Vicky Hoover will also be traveling, so barring unforeseen circumstances, the next you’ll hear from CalUWild will be in July.
Thanks,
Mike
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IN CALIFORNIA
1. Sen. Barbara Boxer Introduces CA Wilderness Bill
2. California Wild Heritage Campaign Job Announcement
IN GENERAL
3. Wilderness Study Area Termination Act
4. Fee Demo Day of Action
(ACTION ITEM)
IN MEMORIAM
5. Sharon Stafford
IN CALIFORNIA
1. SEN. BARBARA BOXER INTRODUCES CA WILDERNESS BILL
On May 21, Senator Barbara Boxer introduced The California Wild Heritage Act of 2002 “[t]o designate certain public lands as wilderness and certain rivers as wild and scenic rivers in the State of California, to designate Salmon Restoration Areas, to establish the Sacramento River National Conservation Area and Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and for other purposes.”
The bill number is S. 2535 and is the culmination of several years of inventories, which identified areas qualifying for designation under the 1964 Wilderness Act. Sen. Boxer’s bill covers the entire state, but not all the areas that were identified were included in this bill. Those will be the subject of legislative proposals in the future.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is not a cosponsor of the bill at this time, and the Wild Heritage Campaign would like rural citizens and businesses to express their support to Sen. Feinstein.
A companion bill covering Southern California will be introduced in the very near future in the House by Rep. Hilda Solis (D-31). Rep. Solis is in her first term, but she has already established herself as a great friend of wilderness and the environment. She is a cosponsor of America’s Redrock Wilderness Act in Utah. Rep. Mike Thompson, also a Utah cosponsor, will be introducing the parallel bill for Northern California. Rep. Sam Farr has already introduced a bill, H.R. 4750, covering the Big Sur area in his district.
We’ll keep you posted as these pieces of legislation progress.
2. CALIFORNIA WILD HERITAGE CAMPAIGN JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
If you or anyone you know is interested in working for the next few months on the Wild Heritage Campaign, there is an opening for an organizer in the Bay Area. Here’s the announcement from the Sierra Club, one of the organizations coordinating the campaign:
FULL-TIME, GRANT-DEPENDENT, LIMITED DURATION (ENDS 6 MONTHS FROM DATE OF HIRE)
SALARY: $2750+/MONTH, COMMENSURATE WITH SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE PLUS BENEFITS
THIS POSITION IS REPRESENTED BY A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT.
***Sierra Club Job Description***
Job Title: Regional Conservation Organizer (California Wild Heritage Campaign)
Department: Conservation/Oakland, CA
Reports To: Senior Regional Representative
Context: The Regional Conservation Organizer works with regional field staff, chapter/group volunteers, and coalition partners to organize support for grassroots wilderness/wild and scenic rivers campaign; organizes events and skills training; and works to generate turnout for campaign visibility events. Works with appropriate staff to integrate the regional field programs with the goals and objectives of the Sierra Club. Creates demand for action on conservation issues.
Scope: The Regional Conservation Organizer plans, organizes and implements the education and mobilization efforts of the Sierra Club on its wilderness and wild river protection efforts in various locations in the greater SF Bay area. Regularly works outside of the office and without direct supervision to communicate with officials, the media and the public. Works with professional staff in editing, writing, researching, and coordinating
functions.
Job Activities:
1. Works with others to devise and recommend a regional plan and strategy coordinated with the statewide wilderness/wild rivers campaign.
2. Organizes and coordinates grassroots involvement in Wilderness/Wild Rivers visibility/organizing activities.
3. Travels to targeted media markets to educate and raise awareness of Wilderness/Wild Rivers issues. Coordinates public education field organizing in assigned media market.
4. Works with appropriate regional staff and volunteer entities to plan and implement visibility events, community outreach events and to generate telephone calls and letters to the editor in target media market.
5. Travels to organize and coordinate training events, field meetings, visibility events, or other large events and conferences.
6. Works independently or with staff to carry out Sierra Club campaign priorities. Provides information, research, and other assistance to Sierra Club leaders, coalition partners, the public and others about the campaigns and priority issues.
7. Works with staff to identify, recruit and organize volunteers both in Sierra Club and other groups for the Wild Heritage Campaign.
8. Performs administrative and clerical duties as assigned by supervisor.
9. Performs miscellaneous duties as directed.
Standard Overtime:
This position requires periodic overtime to meet project deadlines and/or special events. Overtime related to known deadlines or events can be planned in advance. Overtime will usually not exceed 10 hours a week.
Knowledge & Skills:
— 1-2 years experience working with volunteers in the environmental movement, political campaigns, or other, similar organizations to plan and implement grassroots campaigns.
— Current basic knowledge of environmental issues affecting the assigned region.
— Current contacts with environmental coalition partners in same key media market, or comparable background.
— Excellent writing and editing skills. Demonstrated skills in writing and production of newsletters. Good verbal communication skills.
— Strong organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in action-oriented office.
— Ability to work independently, cooperatively and effectively with public, staff and volunteers.
— Able to travel as needed.
— Proficient computer skills; knowledge and experience with word processing (WordPerfect or MS Word), database and communications software.
If interested, please email/fax/mail a cover letter and resume to:
Barbara Boyle
Sierra Club
barbara.boyle@sierraclub.org
916-557-9669 – FAX
1414 K Street, #500
Sacramento, CA 95814
Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce.
IN GENERAL
3. WILDERNESS STUDY AREA TERMINATION ACT
Wilderness opponents in the House of Representatives have introduced a bill limiting the time an area could be a Wilderness Study Area (WSA), i.e., an area not designated as wilderness but managed as if it were.
The bill H.R. 4620, has the extremely misleading title of “America’s Wilderness Protection Act.” It was introduced by Rep. C. L “Butch” Otter (R-ID) and wilderness opponents Rep. Jim Hansen (R-UT), Richard Pombo (R-CA11), George Radanovich (R-CA19), and Joel Hefley (R-CO) are cosponsors.
The bill would limit to 10 years the time that an area could be a WSA, and it states further that such an area “shall not be studied again regarding wilderness designation.” This, of course, plays right into the hands of ardent wilderness opponents, because by delaying any legislation introduced in Congress, they can effectively kill any wilderness proposal.
The Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation & Public Lands of the House Resources Committee is holding a hearing on the bill on Thursday. The California members of the subcommittee are:
George Radanovich (R-19)
Elton Gallegly (R-23)
Hilda L. Solis (D-31)
Rep. Radanovich is a cosponsor and will vote in favor of it. Rep. Solis will in all likelihood vote against it. Rep. Gallegly’s vote is anyone’s guess.
We’ll keep you posted as the bill progresses.
4. FEE DEMO DAY OF ACTION
On June 15th there is a day of national protest against the fee demonstration program. Fee demo forces the public to pay for activities, such as hiking, on public lands that have traditionally been free. The program was created after severe budget cuts for the land management agencies, as am outgrowth of the “government must pay for itself” attitude of the 1980s.
Many people fear that the fee demonstration program is a first step in the commercialization of our public lands, both directly and by focusing planning efforts on activities most able to generate profits. Pure wilderness of course, does not create a lot of profit for agencies, since “improvements” are minimal, if they exist at all.
This June 15 will be the 4th annual Day of Action against the fee demo program. The purpose of the event is to raise public awareness about the issue; much of the general public has little if any knowledge of the issue. But past protests and your letters have been effective in diminishing support in Congress.
There will be protests around California in:
San Francisco: Union Square
Los Angeles: Clear Creek Information Station
San Diego: Cleveland National Forest
Santa Barbara: Oso Recreation Area
Ojai: Libbey Park
San Juan Capistrano: Ortega Hwy
Yosemite Valley
Big Bear: Holcomb Valley Freedom Ride
You can find the details for all of the above online at:
http://www.wildwilderness.org/docs/2002doa.htm
To organize or take part in an action in your area, contact Michael Zierhut for more information.
zierhutm@ojai.net or 805-640-1864
One reminder: It is not enough to protest fee demo, but rather every letter on the subject should include support for full funding of the land management agencies to do the job they are set up by law to do.
IN MEMORIAM
5. SHARON STAFFORD
CalUWild’s webmaster Sharon Stafford passed away in May, much to the sorrow of her family, friends, and colleagues. Sharon was an enthusiastic friend of wilderness and had backpacked for more than 30 years. As webmaster she jumped right in last year, volunteering her server to host the site, and her time to develop and keep it updated. Sharon was also a member of the Sierra Club Bay Chapter Wilderness Subcommittee.
I will miss working with her very much, but look forward to continuing the work that she so ably began for us. Our condolences to her husband Graham and her family.
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