March 15, 2005
Dear CalUWild friends-
There was good news on the environmental front this week as the key Senate Environment & Public Works Committee did not pass Pres. Bush’s controversial, so-called “Clear Skies” initiative on to the full Senate for a vote. It was a tie vote, with Republican Lincoln Chafee (RI) and Independent Jim Jeffords (VT) voting against the bill. While not dealing with wilderness, it shows that the Congress is willing and able to stand up to the administration’s misleading and harmful proposals. We hope that Congress will continue to stand firmly against opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling as well as protecting other special places around the West.
Many parts (but not all) of the West have received abnormally heavy rainfall this winter, and the wildflower displays are already spectacular, especially in the desert. If you have a chance, get out to see them. I don’t think you will be disappointed!
On the CalUWild administrative front, volunteer Kassi Sutherland has updated the roster of contact information for the California congressional delegation, federal administration officials, and major California newspapers. It will be posted on our website: https://www.caluwild.org/advocacy02.htm in the next day or two. Please bookmark and refer to it when making calls or writing to decisionmakers and editors. Thanks to Kassi and to our faithful webmaster Phillip Loughlin.
Also, a request regarding dues: Dues have always been optional for people receiving the UPDATE via e-mail. In the past we have limited our solicitations to one a year per member, both to save us the cost of mailing and you the aggravation of repeated reminders. However, we are finding that this approach doesn’t allow us to reach our goals.
CalUWild appreciates the generosity of those who do contribute faithfully, and that support keeps us going. But we really need the support of more of our members.
In addition to the direct support that would provide, a high level of participation has the added benefit of helping us attract funding from foundations and other sources. Currently the UPDATE goes out to 695 people. If everyone contributed an average of $20, CalUWild would be in a much better position to reach our collective goals.
So the next time you get a notice from us, please seriously consider sending a check. Or to save us the mailing expense, go to our web site at https://www.caluwild.org/membership02.htm, print out the coupon, and mail it with your contribution. Thank you very much.
Finally, help spread the word about the issues facing wilderness and public lands here in the West. Please pass this UPDATE along to people you know and encourage them to get involved in all of our efforts. We can never have too many wilderness defenders!
Thanks,
Mike
IN UTAH
1. Call-in Day for America’s Redrock Wilderness Bill
Wednesday, March 16
(ACTION ITEM)
IN CALIFORNIA
2. Los Padres National Forest Oil & Gas Exploration
Write to Gov. Schwarzenegger
(ACTION ITEM)
3. California Wild Heritage Campaign
Vote for a Slogan
DEADLINE: March 22
IN ALASKA
4. Arctic Wildlife Refuge Vote
(ACTION ITEM)
IN COLORADO
5. Roan Plateau Comment Deadline
Extended to April 11
(ACTION ITEM)
IN OREGON
6. Biscuit Fire “Salvage” Logging In Old Growth Reserve
(ACTION ITEM)
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IN UTAH
1. Call-in Day for America’s Redrock Wilderness Bill
Wednesday, March 16
(ACTION ITEM)
This week the Utah Wilderness Coalition (UWC) sponsored a Wilderness Week in Washington, DC. Three Californians joined volunteers from around the country to learn about Utah wilderness issues and share their knowledge and enthusiasm for Utah’s wild places with staff on Capitol Hill.
To capitalize on the momentum of their efforts, the UWC is organizing a nationwide call-in day next Wednesday, March 16. The purpose is to garner cosponsors for America’s Redrock Wilderness Act, one of CalUWild’s major legislative focuses.
Because the legislation is not expected to move in Congress, cosponsorship is the one way that legislators can show support for it. And a high number of cosponsors also shows the administration that many citizens support the protection of wilderness values on the ground in Utah.
UWC sent out the following alert:
JOIN THOUSANDS IN A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON MARCH 16TH !
As you read this message, there are vast tracts of land within the Citizens’ Proposal that are in danger of being lost forever due to the current Administration’s incessant energy exploration, off road vehicle abuse, and misguided land use planning. The only fail-safe way to protect these areas is through the passage of America’s Redrock Wilderness Act, soon to be reintroduced in the 109th Congress.
America’s Redrock Wilderness Act would provide permanent protection to over 9 million acres of pristine public land in Utah. In the face of the worst environmental administration this country has ever seen, your voice in support of Utah wilderness is more vital than ever. Now at the onset of the 109th Congress, we have a new opportunity to educate our lawmakers as to the importance of protecting our wild redrock heritage in Utah.
This March 16, we are calling on you to participate in a National Day of Action.
On this day, people from all over the country will call their Senators and Representative asking them to help us protect America’s Redrock Wilderness.
We need you to call in order to make this National Call-in Day a success!
Please call your Representative and Senators on Wednesday, the 16th and ask them to cosponsor America’s Redrock Wilderness Act in the 109th Congress. Together, with your phone calls, we can hold the administration at bay and ensure that America’s redrock splendor will be protected for all generations.
By the end of the last Congress, 162 Members of the House and 15 Senators had signed on to this bipartisan piece of legislation. Please urge your friends and colleagues to call or write to their representative s and senators to ensure that we gather similar support in this Congress, and forever protect Utah’s wildlands.
For more information please contact Angela Harper, UWC, at 801-486-2872 or Sean Saville, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, at 202-266-0472. Thanks so much for your support!
There are several ways you can get in touch with your member of Congress:
* Call your Representative and Senator’s office directly. Contact information for both California senators and all representatives is located on CalUWild’s web site at: www.caluwild.org/advocacy02.htm
* Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to the office.
* For those of you not in California, to find out your Representative’s direct line go to: www.house.gov
* For your Senators’ direct lines go to: www.senate.gov
IN CALIFORNIA
2. Los Padres National Forest
Oil & Gas Exploration
Write to Gov. Schwarzenegger
(ACTION ITEM)
For the last several years, CalUWild has been working with a coalition of organizations to stop oil and gas leasing in Los Padres National Forest, especially in areas proposed for wilderness designation and where populations of the endangered California Condor are being restored. The Forest Service has been working on a leasing plan, but so far it has not released it.
Following close on the heels of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s endorsement of the North Coast Wild Heritage Act, we hope he will come out in opposition to the proposals for leasing in Los Padres. Your calls and letters persuaded him on the North Coast bill. Now let’s see if we can do the same to protect Los Padres.
The following talking points are adapted from an alert sent out by The San Francisco office of The Wilderness Society:
* Thank you for your support of the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act which provides permanent protection to numerous roadless areas in northern California. Please similarly work to defend vulnerable roadless areas in southern California.
* Numerous local leaders oppose new oil and gas development in the Los Padres National Forest.
* Over 70% of the lands that the US Forest Service is most seriously considering for development are within designated roadless areas – which means they are some of the most pristine forest lands remaining in California.
* The Los Padres National Forest is home to over 1,500 types of plants and animals and twenty endangered species, including the California condor.
* The forest is a critical source of clean drinking water for central coast communities and a favorite destination for hunters, anglers, and hikers who enjoy its natural beauty.
* The Forest Service estimates that the oil under the Los Padres is limited, at most, to a 10-day supply for the nation. Unfortunately the infrastructure needed to withdraw and transport it would be substantial and would cause air and water pollution, substantial noise, fire hazards, and habitat destruction.
* You have indicated to the Forest Service that you support the protection of California’s roadless areas. This proposed development presents the first challenge to this part of California’s natural heritage.
You can reach the governor at:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
E-mail (least preferable): governor@governor.ca.gov
3. California Wild Heritage Campaign
Vote for a Slogan
DEADLINE: March 22
The California Wild Heritage Campaign is developing new materials and is looking for a slogan to put on stickers, buttons, and other items. The Campaign recently collected ideas and is now asking for input from interested wilderness activists around the state. So please pick you favorite from the list below.
* California: Red Wild and Blue
* Renew your spirit in California’s Wilderness
* California Wilderness — Naturally Wild
* Wilderness — No artificial ingredients needed
* Wild California — Let it be
* Keep California Wild
Send your choice to Tina Andolina (tina@calwild.org) by March 22.
IN ALASKA
4. Arctic Wildlife Refuge Vote
(ACTION ITEM)
Despite the fact that most major oil companies have stated that they are not interested in drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Bush administration continues its efforts to open up the coastal plain to oil & gas exploration. Those in favor of drilling are trying to include the revenues from development in the Federal Budget Resolution, which is not subject to the same procedural rules as normal legislation (i.e., no filibuster allowed).
A vote is expected next week, so it is imperative that citizens call their senators and representatives and ask them to oppose including drilling revenues in this year’s budget. See Item 1, above, for information on contacting Congress.
IN COLORADO
5. Roan Plateau Comment Deadline
Extended to April 11
(ACTION ITEM)
In last month’s UPDATE we passed along information regarding oil & gas proposals for Colorado’s wild Roan Plateau. BLM had originally set a deadline of March 4 for comments. No sooner had we sent out the UPDATE than the BLM extended the comment deadline to April 11. So if you didn’t submit comments before March 4, please do so now by April 11.
Full details can be found in the February UPDATE, online at: https://www.caluwild.org/docs/Feb_update.html#7
IN OREGON
6. Biscuit Fire “Salvage” Logging In Old Growth Reserve
(ACTION ITEM)
2002 saw a huge fire that burned through the rugged Kalmiopsis Wilderness and other areas of the Siskiyou National Forest in southwest Oregon. Some of the burn was actually a backfire set by the Forest Service, and now that backburned area is being subjected to salvage logging. Please call the Forest Service Regional Forester, the Forest Supervisor, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and your representative to protest these activities.
The following information is taken from alerts sent out by the Siskiyou Project in Oregon.
Logging has begun in old-growth reserves in the Babyfoot Lake/Fiddler Mountain area and the Berry logging sale. The Forest Service is spending enormous amounts of taxpayer dollars to facilitate the logging of these areas prior to a court case that would test the legality of this extreme logging later in March. Logging is also happening above the National Wild & Scenic Illinois River on the road to Babyfoot Lake, one of the most beloved areas in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
Old-Growth Logging Destroying Habitat
Old-growth reserves were set-aside in the Northwest Forest Plan in order to safeguard habitat for rare plants and animals that depend on older forests to survive. In the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area, fire is a natural part of these forests, and the reserves that burned in the 2002 have begun rejuvenating naturally. The big, old-growth legacy trees created by the fire are a key building-block of this recovery and critical to protect soils and provide wildlife habitat, but the Forest Service is targeting them for logging. Doing so destroys critical habitat for birds and other wildlife, increases the risk of erosion, and puts the region’s fragile salmon and steelhead runs in danger.
Court Challenge to Logging May be Moot
The Siskiyou Project is leading a plaintiff group that has taken the Forest Service to court in order to bring justice back to our Siskiyou forests. However, the first case will not be heard until March 22 and a legal injunction lifted Monday allows for trees to be logged until a decision is rendered. By the time a court could decide that logging old growth in the Siskiyou is illegal, the case could be declared moot because the forests in question will be cut down. Twenty-three people have been were arrested this week in an attempt to delay the logging, and as 72 year-old Joan Norman said as she was being arrested, “We have no laws protecting our forests so we will be the law.”
Logging Roadless Forests
The Forest Service is preparing the Mike’s Gulch logging sale — the first roadless logging project since the popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule was created. Exploiting and abusing flexibility built into the Roadless Rule, the Forest Service is proposing to log thousands of acres of roadless forest across the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area, including parts of the North and South Kalmiopsis Roadless Areas. The South Kalmiopsis, Oregon’s largest unprotected roadless forest at 105,000 acres, would be sawed into by the Mike’s Gulch logging project. The Forest Service is busily preparing other roadless logging sales, and the Siskiyou Project is working hard to expose their plans and stop them before they start. Keep in touch with the Siskiyou Project to stay up to date on this important issue.
Ask elected officials and the Forest Service:
1. To immediately halt the logging of old-growth reserves in the Siskiyou and allow full judicial review.
2. To protect roadless Siskiyou forests by preventing the auction of roadless logging sales such as the Mike’s Gulch logging project.
Contact:
Ms. Linda Goodman
Regional Forester (Oregon & Washington)
Phone: 503-808-2200
Mr. Scott Conroy
Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor
Phone: 541-858-2210
Please also call Senators Boxer and Feinstein and your representative.
For more information, call the Siskiyou Project at 541- 592-4459 or visit them online at: http://www.siskiyou.org
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