>WILDLines (Wildlife/Wildlands Information and Local Developments) >March 12, 1999 >from GREEN, the GrassRoots Environmental Effectiveness Network >A project of Defenders of Wildlife >(c) GREEN/Defenders of Wildlife 1999 > >NEWS FROM THE STATES: > >PENNSYLVANIA SENATORS OPPOSE FISH PROTECTIONS: >Members of Pennsylvania's Senate Game and Fisheries Committee grilled >the state Fish and Boat Commission for its proposal to increase the >numbers of fish listed under the state endangered species act (Patriot- >News, March 10, 1999). Even though the Commission has sole listing >authority, legislators are putting pressure on the Commission not to >list any additional species. Senator William Slocum stated: " We're >facing a serious problem in this country by being more concerned with >animals than people." Richard Whiteford, a Sierra Club activist and >GREEN district captain, pointed out that the legislature has a mandate >under the state constitution to preserve the environment for all >people. "Nineteen fish have already become extinct in Pennsylvania and >now one third of the current population are at great risk of joining >them." > >NOT EVERYONE CAN BUY A MINE: >The AP has reported that Nicolet Mining spent the most money in >Wisconsin over the past two years lobbying the legislature (March 6, >1999). The company dedicated much of the $1.5 million it spent on >lobbying efforts to fight a mining moratorium bill which makes it >harder to open a mine in the state. A strong grassroots coalition >backed the new law, which requires Nicolet and other mining companies >to show that other mines have been safely operated in North America for >at least ten years. Jim Haney, president of Wisconsin Manufacturers >and Commerce, the state's largest business lobby, said, "I know this >raises cynical eyebrows in the Capitol, but...we really think what >we're lobbying for is in the public interest and is good for >everybody." > >FRIEND TO TIMBER INDUSTRY FIRED: >In a move hailed by conservation groups, the Idaho Fish and Game >Commission fired director Steve Mealey on March 5 (Post Register, March >6). According to the Idaho Conservation League, Mealey was more an >advocate for industry and development than for fish and wildlife. "He >never earned anyone's support from the conservation community because >we heard biologists in the department were constantly pressured to tone >down protection of fish and wildlife," said John McCarthy, conservation >director for the Idaho Conservation League. Mealey was involved in an >attempt to create an Endangered Species Office within the governor's >office, removing control of the department from the Fish and Game >Commission. (Note: See Legislative Updates, H.B. 307, for the status >of this bill.) Mealey has said that he will sue to get his job back. > >STATE TRUST LAND LEASING CHALLENGED: >A coalition of conservation groups, hunters and parents filed suit on >March 1, 1999 in New Mexico district court, challenging the state's >grazing lease system (Santa Fe New Mexican, March 2, 1999). The suit >charges that the New Mexico State Land Office is violating the state >constitution by mismanaging trust lands. Currently, grazing fees on >state school trust lands are less than half the rate charged to lease >private lands. The suit contends that the Land Office employs policies >that do not allow competitive bidding, insulate ranchers from market >forces and keep grazing leases at artificially low prices. John >Horning, with Forest Guardians, one of the plaintiffs, said, "The >ranching industry has been given a monopoly to state school trust land >that provides them with dirt-cheap grazing leases at the expense of our >public schools...We're interested in removing livestock and restoring >grasslands." > >LEGISLATIVE ALERTS > >NEW BILLS: > o Minnesota S.F. 1431 (Wiener) >Provides matching funds from the general fund for private contributions >to the nongame wildlife account. > o Minnesota S.F. 1543 (Laidig)/ H.F. 1415 (Finseth) >Allows killing of gray wolves to protect humans, livestock, guard >animals and dogs. (Note: H.F. 1415 was amended in the House >Agriculture Committee on March 10 to require public hunting and >trapping seasons of gray wolves and limiting the number of wolves in >the state, effectively gutting the wolf management plan proposed by the >Dept. of Natural Resources.) > o Missouri H.B. 908 (McBride) >Establishes a forest conservation lands program providing a tax >incentive to landowners. > o New Hampshire S.B. 213 (Wheeler) >Changes the name of the Fish and Game Dept. to the Wildlife Dept. >(Note: the bill does not change the name of the Fish and Game >Commission). > o New York A.B. 5668 (Tokasz) >Protects old-growth forest in Allegany State Park by prohibiting >commercial logging, construction of new roads, fencing and use of >herbicides. > o Oregon S.B. 653 (Fisher) >Makes the presence at a timber harvesting operation a crime if a person >"approaches or remains within one-quarter mile from the perimeter" of >the operation. > >UPDATES: > o Alaska H.J.R. 3 (Bunde) >Proposes to amend the state constitution to require a super-majority on >initiatives relating to natural resources. >Passed House Committee on Resources March 4, 1999; sent to House >Committee on Judiciary. > o Arizona S.B. 1308 (Freestone) >Increases trust lands that may be classified for conservation purposes >for the Arizona Preserve Initiative. >Passed Senate March 3, 1999; sent to House Committee on Natural >Resources, House Committee on Rules. > o Colorado S.B. 111 (Hillman) >Prohibits the release of "destructive rodent pests" such as prairie >dogs into a county without the prior approval of the county commission. >Passed House March 8, 1999 > o Hawaii S.B. 33 (Levin) >Establishes a funding source for endangered species through the sale of >conservation license plates. >Passed Senate Committees on Labor and Environment; Transportation; >Intergovernmental Affairs; Ways and Means. > o Idaho H.B. 307 (Committee on Ways and Means) >Creates an Office of Threatened and Endangered Species in the office of >the governor; requires Fish and Game Commission to comply with recovery >plans and projects developed by the new office. >Passed House Committee on Resources and Conservation March 8, 1999. > o New Mexico S.B. 252 (Lyons) >Provides that the jaguar be protected in the state, but only upon >federal delisting. >Passed Senate March 3, 1999; passed House Committee on Energy and >Natural Resources March 4, 1999. > o Wyoming H.B. 150 (Philp) >Provides the governor's office with funding to monitor and challenge >federal natural resource policies. >Passed House Feb. 9, 1999; passed Senate March 3, 1999; signed by >governor March 4, 1999. > >OTHER NEWS YOU CAN USE > >COURT DECISIONS: > o A California district court has ruled a park program that has 11 > separate grazing leases is not subject to environmental review > under the state's Environmental Quality Act. The Southwest Center > for Biological Diversity and the Alameda Creek Alliance filed suit > in 1998 over the grazing practices, which destroy habitat for > wildlife, pollute streams and alter their course. The groups have > 60 days to appeal the ruling. > > o A Montana district judge has refused to require an environmental > group to post a bond to cover potential losses from the delay of a > timber sale. The Montana Department of Natural Resources claimed > that Friends of the Wild Swan, which challenged an old-growth > timber sale, had to post the bond under a 1997 state law requiring > bonds when court orders or injunctions "damage the school trust." > The state plans to appeal the decision. > >UPCOMING CONFERENCES: > o Conservation Planning: From Sites to Systems >October 12-16, 1999; Tucson, Arizona >Hosted by The Wildlands Project, the conference will cover riparian >restoration, research and monitoring and natural area interpretation >and use. For more information, contact The Wildlands Project at (520) >884-0875 or visit their website at http://www.twp.org. > >SPECIES LISTINGS: > o The California Fish and Game Commission has listed the Sierra > Nevada bighorn sheep as an endangered species using its emergency > listing authority. The species is presently listed as threatened > under the state act, and has been petitioned for listing as an > endangered species under the federal ESA. The population > currently stands at about 100 individuals. > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
