November 4 is coming fast. Something for everyone to think about. If you don't like how a particular party does its job, register in that party so you can vote in the primaries and weed out the bad eggs. Then vote for the party you want when the election comes up.
THis will cause the opposing party to shift its views to a more environmentally focused view, if that is your goal. Just a thought! Malcolm McCallum On Tue, October 9, 2007 10:56 pm, Regina Baucom wrote: > Dear Ecologgers: > > The practice of mountain-top removal for stripmining and coal production > is > about to be made much simpler for coal companies. This is because the Bush > Administration, through the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is seeking a > revision to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 -- this > rule would repeal a regulation which protects streams from coal mining > activities by weakening the mandate that a 100-foot buffer zone be built > around them. > > Should this ruling go through, it will both ease environmental protections > and expand mountaintop removal coal mining specifically in areas rich in > headwaters; the OSM itself states that it "continues to believe > prohibiting > all surface activities in the stream buffer zone would not be a viable > alternative because it would significantly affect coal recovery in areas > with extensive water resources in a way not required by the SMCRA." > > The effects of mountain-top removal on aquatic life through the dumping of > mountain 'overfill' or 'spoil' into streams cannot be understated, nor can > the effects of complete removal of entire forest ecosystems along with > topsoil and bedrock. As ecologists, we understand, or are attempting to > elucidate, ecosystem dynamics, plant and animal community assemblies, > population biology, etc, and as such can provide an informed opinion on > the > effects of the *complete removal* of mountaintops. Please do so. > > Currently, there is a public comment period open until NOVEMBER 24th > through > the OSM (http://www.osmre.gov/) on this ruling. You can also send a letter > to your congressperson about this issue, and in support of the Clean Water > Protection Act, HR 2169 through the following website: > http://www.ilovemountains.org/action/sbz > > > Sincerely, > > Regina S Baucom > > > > -- > Regina S. Baucom > Postdoctoral Research Fellow > Bennetzen Lab > Dept of Genetics > Davison Life Sciences > University of Georgia > Athens, GA 30602 > http://gbaucom.myweb.uga.edu > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor of Biology Editor Herpetological Conservation and Biology http://www.herpconbio.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
