Senate Introduces Strong Endangered Species Bill

[wafcdc at americanlands.org]

From: "wafcdc at americanlands.org" <wafcdc at americanlands.org>
Subject: Senate Introduces Strong Endangered Species Bill   

LANDSCOPE: News and Views from American Lands - October 13, 2000

Senate Introduces Strong Endangered Species Bill  

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a strong Endangered Species Act
Reauthorization bill (S. 3156) last week.  Some of the most important goals
in the bill include: to recover and eventually delist the nation's 1,233
species now considered endangered or threatened; set scientific standards
for private development permits; encourage comprehensive regional habitat
plans that enure species recovery; set recovery plan deadlines and
biological standards to ensure species recovery; establish stronger checks
and balances on taxpayer-funded agencies and projects; increase
opportunities for citizen involvement in local endangered species issues. 

. . .This bill sets a positive tone for next year's debate on the
reauthorization of one of the nation's most important environmental laws.  A
companion bill in the House (H.R. 960) has more than 100 bipartisan
cosponsors.  For more information contact Heather Weiner, Earthjustice Legal
Defense Fund, mailto:hweiner at earthjustice.org; phone: 202-667-4500.     
 
Canadian Companies Go Old Growth Free: Sixteen Canadian companies, including
Bell Canada, Kinkos Printing, Roots and the Citizens Bank of Canada, have
agreed to stop buying lumber and pulp forest products from endangered
forests in British Columbia, Russia, and Brazil.  The agreement was achieved
though the "Markets Initiative" program as a form of market pressure to stop
the forest industry from logging the last of the 20 percent old growth
forests remaining in the world.  For more information contact Don Huff,
Environmental Economics International at 416-972-7404; http://www.oldgrowth
free.com.  

Timber Sale in Pacific Fisher Habitat Blocked: Citing inadequate analysis of
effects on sensitive California wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service regional
Forester reversed the decision to salvage 2.5 million board feet of fire
damaged trees from the Plumas National Forest in the northern Sierra Nevada.
The National Forest Protection Alliance, Forest Conservation Council, and
Scott Schroder filed an appeal of the Lookout, Pigeon, and Chrome Fire
salvage decision.  The appellants raised the potential impacts on the
California spotted owl, Pacific fisher, pallid bat, and mountain yellow
frog.  The regional forester agreed with the appellant's that the original
Environmental Assessment did not provide information and analysis to support
adequate viability determinations.  For more information contact Brian Bird,
Forest Conservation Council,  mailto:bmbird at worldnet.att.net, phone:
561-347-0949.

Senate Passes Bill Protecting Nevada's Black Rock Desert: On October 6, the
U.S. Senate passed a bill (S 2273) protecting about 1.2 million acres in
northwest Nevada.  The bill now heads to the House.  The bill would protect
800,000 acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management as a
Conservation area and would designate eleven wilderness areas, some of which
overlap the conservation area, to protect an additional 400,000 acres.  The
wilderness areas have been studied for 20 years without allowing new roads
or mining, and the legislation would make that status permanent.  The bill
would also prohibit most mining, geothermal activities and new roads across
the land.  Grazing, hunting and recreational activities could continue on
existing roads and trails.  For more information contact Anne Martin,
American Lands, mailto:annem at americanlands.org; phone: 775-786-7658.


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Steve Holmer
Campaign Coordinator

American Lands 
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