---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 20:59:40 -0400
From: Roger Featherstone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: ACTION ALERT -- Kempthorne Extinction Bill Filed
ACTION ALERT
KEMPTHORNE "EXTINCTION" BILL INTRODUCED
Today, October 25, 1995, Senator Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) has introduced
an Endangered Species Act (ESA) reauthorization bill (S. 1364) that
would eliminate virtually all of the ESA protections that Americans have
relied upon to conserve their precious inheritance of fish, wildlife and
plant resources. The bill has been mis-named the "Endangered Species
Conservation Act of 1995". In reality, it is just another radical
attempt by extractive industries (and their Senators) to destroy
American environmental law.
The Bill has been introduced with nine original co-sponsors. The co-
sponsors are:
Craig (R-ID)
Thomas (R-WY)
Burns (R-MT)
Warner (R-VA)
Faircloth (R-NC)
Inhofe (R-OK)
McConnell (R-KY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Cochran (R-MS)
Among the many devastating changes proposed in the ESA by this bill are:
1. S. 1364 would eliminate the fundamental goal of the ESA --
recovery -- and require the Secretary to plan for the extinction
of countless threatened and endangered species.
2. Under S. 1364, the ESA would no longer protect the bald eagle, the
grizzly bear, the gray wolf and the numerous other important fish,
wildlife and plant species.
3. S. 1364 would require taxpayers to pay off speculative claims of
developers and other property owners.
4. S. 1364 would overrule the recent Sweet Home Supreme Court
decision and drastically weaken protection of essential habitat on
private lands.
5. The bill would virtually eliminate the Section 7 consultation
requirement, an essential ESA protection that ensures that the
destructive impacts of federal activities are minimized.
6. The draft bill would drastically weaken species protections on
federal lands.
This bill will be portrayed as a moderate bill. However, it is more
radical than the Gorton bill (S. 768). The Senate must know that the
American public will not accept yet another extractive industry
sponsored attempt to destroy the Endangered Species Act. The American
public is convinced that the Gorton bill was radical and stopped it dead
in its tracks. We need to send a clarion call to Congress that we will
do this every time they introduce and/or try to pass a bill that does
not strengthen protection for endangered species.
Call, write and visit your Senator today.
Tell him/her not to co-sponsor S. 1364 or any bill that does not
strengthen protection for endangered species. If your Senator was
unfortunate enough to have already co-sponsored S. 1364, show them the
error of their ways!
The Capital switchboard number is: (202) 224-3121
