AMC Conservation Action Network News
May 2000

1. LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND: On-going funding: Efforts are needed to ensure that the House of Representatives votes on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA, H.R. 701) in May. This historic piece of open space and park legislation promises to re-invigorate the LWCF through annual allocations of $900 million, split between federal and state funding programs. CARA will provide long awaited funds for other associated park or open space programs, such as the Urban Parks Recreation and Recovery Program and Forest Legacy. Although this bill has strong bi-partisan support--over 80 percent of the House signed on as co-sponsors--the leadership has not brought the bill to a vote. 

When Congress returns to work on May 2, Representatives need to hear their constituents calling for a vote on CARA and supporting flexible funding mechanisms that allow for the protection of lands of national significance. Flexible funding is a vital component to regional protection efforts, such as the Northern Forest, the Highlands, and the Great Lakes.

* WHAT YOU CAN DO: Urge your Representative to contact the House leadership to ensure that CARA is brought to the House floor for a vote this month! Urge support for the flexible funding, which allows for the protection of nationally significant lands, such the Northern Forest or the Highlands. Reach your Representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.

2. LWCF APPROPRIATIONS for 2001: The House Interior Appropriations Committee is developing the federal budget for 2001. Initial reports indicate that funding levels for the LWCF are lower than last year's appropriation of $600 million and far lower than President Clinton proposed in his Lands Legacy Initiative. While it is important to ensure permanent funding of $900 million annually for the LWCF, it is equally important that Representatives hear from citizens concerned about parks and open space for fiscal year 2001.

* WHAT YOU CAN DO: Contact your Representative via our Website at http://www.capweb.net/outdoors/lwcf/lwcf.cfm, and look for the gray box, "Write a letter today." Urge your Representative to support CARA and to ensure that there is full funding for the LWCF in next year's budget. You can also call your Representative at the district office from April 15 to May 2.

3. AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN THE WORKS: The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Clinton-Gore Administration's regional clean air approach to control harmful levels of air pollution. The ruling frees the Environmental Protection Agency to institute rules regulating interstate ozone transport by 2003. If the Court grants EPA's full request, the District of Columbia and 19 states will need to submit plans for smog reduction by this September, while retaining the flexibility to decide how to achieve the required reductions. Many states will target large coal-fired power plants that have been unregulated. Requiring these plants to install air pollution controls by May 1, 2003, provides cost-effective pollution reduction to meet the state's goals. Emissions from these power plants threaten public health locally and in communities hundreds of miles away. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) threaten the human respiratory system and can aggravate asthma, particularly in children. NOx reduces lung capacity and makes crops more susceptible to disease and pests. Reductions in these emissions would help prevent acid rain, contaminated water bodies, and regional haze.

* WHAT YOU CAN DO: Learn more and download a copy of the original NOx rule. Go to: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/fr_notices/nxsip.pdf

4. SETTING LIMITS TO ACHIEVE CLEAN WATER: The Environmental Protection Agency received support for the total maximum daily load (TMDL) pollution program. This program requires states to develop plans over the next 15 years to address non-point source pollution water quality problems through determinations of the greatest amount of pollution that a water body can receive without violating water quality standards set by the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act stipulates that states must list all waters that do not meet water quality standards and to develop TMDLs for impaired waters. Once the TMDLs are established including point sources (such as sewage treatment, industrial discharges, etc.) and non-point sources (such as pollutants carried by rainfall from roads, agricultural lands, and forests) plus a Margin of Safety error, the quantity is then distributed to all sources of pollution. Support came from Senator Smith (R-NH), the new chair of the Senate Resources Committee who had previously been critical of the EPA's program, because he feared that it transferred power for regulation away from states to the EPA. In addition, the U.S. District Court ruled that EPA officials were within their rights to oversee the setting of non-point pollution limits. This is the first time a federal judge has upheld the authority of EPA and the states to determine which water bodies are polluted by runoff, and to set maximum pollution levels accordingly. * WHAT YOU CAN DO: Get more information by visiting the EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/tmdl.htm

5. COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED FOR WMNF PLANNING: The U.S, Forest Service filed its Notice of Intent on March 9 which officially began the 60-day comment period on the White Mountain National Forest planning process. The Service has just extended the comment period until May 23. This process will eventually determine how the White Mountains will be managed for the next decade and beyond. With growing development pressures throughout the Northeast, the White Mountains are gaining regional importance as an ecological reserve in addition to providing significant backcountry recreation opportunities. Central issues in the planning process include taking the last tracts of uninterrupted forest out of timber management and determining whether to open a portion of the forest to summer off-road vehicle use. Comments must be received by the May 23 deadline to be part of the official record.

--Tell the U.S, Forest Service what you value most about the White Mountains using an online letter: http://www.outdoors.org/Conservation/forest-form.html or write your own.

--Use the postcard found in the April issue of AMC Outdoors magazine to talk about backcountry recreation pressures and/or the need for roadless areas.

--On May 3, join other AMC members for a special meeting with the Forest Service, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cabot Auditorium, 5 Joy St., Boston. To register email conservation@amcinfo.org.

--Find out more information from the Forest Service Supervisor's Office at 603-528-8721, and request a copy of the Notice of Intent or download it: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/white.

6. CREATING WILDLIFE REFUGE COULD SAVE WETLANDS IN N.J.: Efforts are underway to protect the 7,000-acre Hackensack Meadowlands in New Jersey by creating a new National Wildlife Refuge. This enormous wetland has already experienced massive commercial and residential development. Most recently, there is a proposal for a megamall that would further diminish the wetlands by at least 465 acres. However, there is increasing grassroots support for protecting what remains of the wetlands through a wildlife refuge designation as well as support from Senators Lautenberg, Torricelli, Moynihan and Schumer. For the first time, funds for acquisition and for habitat restoration have been included in President Clinton's Lands Legacy Initiative.

* WHAT YOU CAN DO: Write to Governor Christie Todd Whitman telling her that you support the wildlife refuge and permanent protection of the Hackensack Meadowlands and oppose the building of a megamall on that site. You can write to the N.J. Governor or email her: christie@nj.gov. And, you can find out more information by emailing meadowlandsnwr@aol.com.

7. HIKE FOR THE HIGHLANDS ON MAY 20: AMC, the Sierra Club, and the N.Y.-N.J. Trail Conference will gather to hike and explore the Pequannock Watershed in the N.J. Highlands. These pristine watershed lands, owned by the city of Newark, are home to hundreds of bears and diverse ecosystems. Participants will learn about the natural history and wildlife of the Highlands through a variety of presentations and hikes exploring the area. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Echo Lake Environmental Center, which is easily accessible off Route. 23 from Route. 80. All are welcome. 

* WHAT YOU CAN DO: Join us for the hike by registering, or getting more information. Contact Tom Gilbert at 609-818-1776 or email him at tgilbert@igc.org.

8. RIVER CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP SCHOOL SLATED FOR JUNE 16-18: Learn what it takes to be an activist and solve other current problems in river conservation and advocacy at AMC's River Conservation Leadership School. Watershed science, advocacy, and river conservation leadership training are central to this innovative program which combines classroom discussion, role-playing, and in the water learning. Participants need a strong desire to see rivers protected, and experience with a river conservation activity. RCLS will be held from June 16 at 6 p.m. to June 18 at 1 p.m. at the Pocono Environmental Education Center in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania. Limited to 20. Fee (instruction, lodging, and all meals): AMC members $115; non-members $125.

* WHAT YOU CAN DO: Find out more information, get on our mailing list, and register with Peter Donahue, River Conservation Advocate at 617-523-0655 ext. 314, or pdonahue@amcinfo.org.