AMC Conservation Action Network News
August 1999

National Issues:

Land and Water Conservation Fund
Air Quality
Protection of Roadless Areas, National Forests

Regional Issues:

Saddleback Mountain, Maine
Old Growth Forests, Massachusetts
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Trails Plan Champion Lands
Protected in VT and NY
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NATIONAL ISSUES

Land and Water Conservation Fund

Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Russ Holt (D-NJ), Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA) and Tom Campbell (R-CA) led the House of Representatives to a victory for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The House passed an amendment to provide $30 million for the stateside program of LWCF. This is the first time in over a decade that the House has provided this much funding for a program of matching grants to states and local communities for open space and recreation.

An amendment to provide $4 million for the Urban Parks Restoration and Recovery Program (UPARR) passed the House as well. In AMC's region, the NJ, NY, VT, DE, RI and MA delegations voted in favor of these amendments. Representatives Johnson (CT-R), Maloney (CT-D), Bartlett(R-MD) voted against the funding amendment. In PA, only Representatives Greenwood and co-sponsor Hoeffel voted for stateside funding. All of the Virginia delegation, except Virgil Goode (D) voted against the amendment. Representatives Bass (R-NH), Sweeney (R-NY), Allen (ME-R) and Davis (R-VA) weren't present. Now, the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee is prepared to vote on an amendment similar to the one passed by the House, which would provide $30 million for the stateside program. Another amendment to add $4 million to the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program will also be considered.

What you can do:

1. Let your Senators know that now is the time to provide  full funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Urge them to become leaders in promoting and restoring funding for parks. If your Representative voted to provide funding for   the stateside program of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, send a thank you note and urge them to work for full and permanent funding for LWCF.

2. Contact your Representative or Senators directly through our website: http://www.outdoors.org/Conservation. Click on "act now." Or call the Capitol switchboard to reach your Representative's office: 202-224-3121.

Air Quality

James Jeffords, (R-VT) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) introduced a bill aimed at shutting down aging utility plants that had been exempt from meeting standards set by the Clean Air Act, based on an assumption that older, less efficient power plants would over time no longer be economically viable. Instead, increased usage of coal-fired plants generated 16 percent more smog over the past six years. The bill would impose strict new standards on nitrogen oxide that causes smog and sulfur dioxide that causes acid rain. It sets limits on emissions of carbon dioxide, which helps create global warming, and on mercury, which pollutes waterways and has made fish unsafe to eat in 40 states.

What you can do:

Ask your Senators to support the Jeffords-Lieberman bill. You can contact your Senators directly by going to  http://www.outdoors.org/Conservation/ then click on "act now".

Protection of Roadless Areas, National Forests

In a voice vote, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to prevent federal funds from being used to build roads used to provide timber companies access within National Forests. This signals a significant defeat for federal subsidies for logging road construction. Three years ago, the road subsidy program received $100 million. However, one effort to reduce the timber sale program by $23 million was defeated in the House. Senator Bryan (D-NV) is proposing a $33.6 million cut in National Forest logging and road building subsidies. His proposal includes moving $20.6 million into environmental programs run by the U.S. Forest Service and returning the remaining $13 million to the U.S. Treasury for debt reduction.

What you can do:

REGIONAL ISSUES

Saddleback Mountain, Maine

The National Park Service has released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of several alternatives for protecting the Appalachian Trail along Saddleback Mountain in Maine. The EA outlines five alternatives from the most protective to maintaining the status quo. Alternative 1 provides the maximum protection of the saddle bowl, the AT trail corridor and views from the Appalachian Trail. Alternative 2 protects less acreage, but ensures protection of the upper part of the saddle bowl, protects the trail corridor while allowing the ski area to expand approximately nine times larger than its current capacity. While Alternative 1 would ensure maximum protection of the trail corridor and natural features of the mountain, Alternative 2 provides the minimal level of protection that the trail should have. The other alternatives do not provide the minimal protection for the trail.

What you can do:

1. Attend a public meeting: August 3rd, Rangeley Inn, Rangeley. Route 4 at the east end of town, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. August 4th, Bangor City Hall, City Council Chambers, 73 Harlow St., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 4th, Marriott Inn, South Portland, Sable Oak Drive, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

2. Send written comments until August 31, 1999 to the National Park Service, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry Center, Harpers Ferry, W.VA 25425. Send copies of your comments to: Senator Olympia Snowe, 250 Russell Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1902 and Senator Susan Collins, B40 Dirkson Office Building, Washington, DC 20510.

For more information:

Old Growth Forests, MA

Efforts to create legislation to add further protection to old growth forests and mature forest next to old growth are underway in the Massachusetts State House. Almost all of New England has undergone a process of deforestation followed by a gradual restoration of forest habitat over the past three hundred years. For this reason, forest communities that have not been impacted by human action are very rare. These "cathedrals of time" allow glimpses into the past and may also provide information on the impacts of human disturbances on forests. Senate Bill 988 will strengthen protection of these communities through the creation of Old Growth Forest Preserves.

What you can do:

Contact your state senator and send copies to Governor A. Paul Celucci, the State House, Room 360, Boston MA 02133 to support this bill.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Trails Plan

Acting Superintendent J. Robert Kirby has released a draft General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Trails. The plan identifies three alternatives for designation of a park-wide trails system and analyzes how each of these alternatives will affect the park's nationally significant resources.

For more information:

Find the Draft Trails Plan, General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement at http://www.nps.gov/dewa

What you can do:

1. Attend a public meeting to review the trail alternatives, ask questions and comment on the plan. August 10, Pequest Fish Hatchery, Blairstown, NJ, at 7:00 p.m.; August 11, Bushkill Visitor Center, Bushkill, PA, at 10:00 a.m.; or August 12, Best Western Hunts Landing, Matamoras, PA at 7:00 p.m.

2. Send comments by August 24, 1999, to: Superintendent, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 1 River Rd., Bushkill, PA 18324. Comments can be emailed to: dewa_superintendent@nps.gov

Champion Lands Protected in VT and NY

In Vermont, new owners for the Champion lands in the Northeast Kingdom have been identified. An interested buyer has been identified for 85,000 acres of timberland. At the same time, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing to buy the Nulhegan Basin. This land will become part of the Silvio Conte Wildlife Refuge. In NY, the Forestlands Group purchased 110,000 acres, which will be managed for timber production under a conservation easement that prohibits clearcutting and limits timbering to sustainable levels.

For more information:

Concerning the Vermont lands, contact Matteo Burani 802-434-4300 or mburani@nfainfo.org. Concerning the NY lands, contact John Sheehan, 518-432-1770 or bigloon@aol.com.

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Ruth Dinerman