AUDUBON ADVISORY
Audubon’s Twice-Monthly Update From
Washington, D.C.
IN THIS ISSUE:
·
Audubon’s
New TAKE ACTION Center
·
Congress
Approves FY03 Budget
·
Comment
Period on NPRA
·
Issue Links
·
Great
Backyard Bird Count
CHECK OUT OUR NEW TAKE
ACTION CENTER
You wanted an easier way to communicate with your lawmakers and
government agencies on issues impacting birds, wildlife and our shared
environment. You wanted the ability to instantly identify where your lawmakers
are positioned on conservation issues. You wanted to send Letters-to-the-Editor
of your local newspapers on these issues, and you wanted to keep track of it
all. Well, you asked for it, and we’re delivering! These services and more are
all available to you via our upgraded TAKE ACTION website.
Check it out today by clicking onto this link, http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/.
As our TAKE ACTION Center is designed with you in mind, please keep those
suggestions coming! Many thanks for your
on-going support!
CONGRESS APPROVES BUDGET
FOR FY03
Now
Getting Started on FY04
The
U.S. Congress finally approved the federal government’s budget for Fiscal Year
2003 – a year that began October 1, 2002 and ends September 30, 2003.
And as reported in the last issue of the Audubon Advisory, Congress
agreed to prevent court challenges and public input on a soon-to-be released
wilderness plan for the Tongass National Forest – America’s great temperate
rainforest, as well allow for increased logging on other federal lands. They
failed to reverse recent actions by the Administration that roll-back provisions
of the Clean Air Act, and agreed to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on
destructive and unnecessary water projects that will destroy more than 200,000
acres of prime wetlands to appease a tiny number of special interests. And at
the last minute, a handful of politically powerful Senators and Representatives
added another provision to the bill that opens the door to “pre- leasing”
activity with regard to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. An analysis of the language relevant to the Arctic shows that
it would not authorize any new exploration or other physical activity in the
Arctic Refuge, but would allow quicker action on the ground if the Congress
authorizes drilling. The
good news is it could have been worse! Due
to an outpouring of opposition by Audubon, conservation organizations across the
country and the media, additional anti-environment proposals were removed at the
last minute! The bill does
include funding for a number of other bird, wildlife and other conservation
programs, including approval for a critical, lynchpin project necessary for the
Everglades restoration program to move forward; an increase in funding for
America’s National Wildlife Refuges, and funding for the Neo-tropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act.
Again,
while some of the backroom, underhanded efforts set a less-than-positive course
for maintaining existing environmental protections, we’re not giving up any
time soon! Fortunately, neither are
those Members of Congress who believe in restoring and protecting our natural
legacy, securing adequate funding for vital natural resource protection
programs, and preserving key natural resource protections.
And these efforts are underway, as Congress begins the budget process
for Fiscal Year 2004.
On
February 3rd, the Bush Administration released its budget proposal
for Fiscal Year 2004, initiating the process in which the U.S. Congress
determines how to fund the federal government from October 1, 2003, through
September 30, 2004. Submitted every year at this time, this enormous bill lays
out the President’s funding allotments for every federal government agency and
the programs and services coordinated by those agencies, such as taxes, social
security, and the U.S. Mail. It also includes funding requests for the
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the U.S. Department of the Interior – the government
agency responsible for the bulk of our national conservation programs,
specifically our National
Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Endangered Species and migratory bird
conservation programs. The Administration’s proposal now moves to Congress,
where the U.S. House and Senate will review the President’s funding requests,
and make their own – and then final – determinations for the country.
So what does the President’s proposal hold for
conservation for next year? Overall,
the needs of birds, wildlife and environmental protection continue to outstrip
the funding levels advocated by the Administration. In this budget proposal,
there are a few rays of conservation sunshine, there are significant holes and
omissions, and a few bad ideas. Our challenge is to work to increase the funding
levels for birds and wildlife with the Congress.
Read our summary of the Administration’s proposal by clicking onto this
link now: http://www.audubon.org/campaign/budget.html
And keep an eye on upcoming issues of the Audubon
Advisory where we’ll provide more information on specific proposals and let
you know what you can to do help!
NEW APPROACH NEEDED FOR
THE PETROLEUM RESERVE
Public
Has Until March 18th To Weigh-In!
The
federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is looking to open another 8.8 million
acres of the National Petroleum Reserve –Alaska (the “Reserve”) to oil
exploration and development, and public has until March 18th to let
BLM know what they think about it!
Originally established in 1923
as a secure source of oil for the U.S. Navy, President Gerald Ford moved
authority of the Reserve from the Navy to the BLM in 1976 to allow for oil
exploration, but production and development were prohibited until authorized by
Congress. In 1980, Congress gave that authorization and allowed BLM to lease
portions of the reserve for development purposes.
To date, leases have been granted to nearly a dozen oil companies on more
than 1.3 million acres, and operational drilling is expected to begin shortly.
The BLM is now looking to lease another 8.8 million acres in the
Northwest portion of the Reserve.
Unlike
our fight to keep drilling out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the
decision to drill or not drill in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska is not a
practical option – it’s open for business.
Audubon does not oppose additional oil leasing in the reserve's
8.8-million-acre Northwest Planning Area, so
long as the area's special places and values are protected and all oil and gas
activities are carried out with high environmental standards.
Lands
within the area have some high oil and gas potential, but also have tremendous
wildlife and wilderness values – specifically
for threatened species, such as the spectacled and Steller's eider, and
migratory birds that travel to many destinations, such as red-throated loons,
northern pintails, long-tailed ducks, pectoral sandpipers, and peregrine
falcons. Thus, key parts of the reserve should be protected from oil and gas
exploration and development that would harm their habitats and further
jeopardize these species!
Based
on an 18-month study led by senior scientist, Dr. John Schoen, Audubon has
identified some of the special areas requiring protection are and presented them
to BLM in what is called the "Wildlife Habitat Alternative."
The key places are:
·
Kasegaluk Lagoon,
hugely important for marine mammals, such as polar bears and beluga whales, and
a whole array of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds, including
nesting common eiders and staging brant;
·
Peard Bay,
with nesting spectacled eiders and greater white-fronted geese;
·
the lower Meade
River-Dease Inlet area, with nesting yellow-billed loons and brant, as well
as polar bears denning onshore;
·
the Colville
River Special Area, an important high-density nesting area for birds of
prey; and
·
southern Ikpikpuk
River, a nesting area for peregrine falcons.
Audubon
and our partners in conservation are coordinating comments urging the BLM to
protect specific areas within the 8.8 million acres by designating them as
"special areas" with carefully
chosen “no drill zones,” and to carry out all other development with high
environmental standards. And you
can help! Click onto this
link now to send a letter to BLM before March 18, 2003: http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/summary.asp?subject=181&flow=2
And encourage your family and
friends to do so as well. Remember, the more comments the BLM receives on this
issue, the better chance there is they will protect these critical habitats and
therefore the species that depend on these areas for survival!
Here’s a look at other issues currently pending that you can act on now!
Click onto the links provided for more information.
PROTECT THE ARCTIC: Congressional Insiders claim
we can expect the first vote on this issue to happen in the coming weeks.
Keep communicating with your lawmakers urging them to oppose efforts to
open the Refuge to drilling – that’s the only way we’ll win!
Click onto our special site for more information and to send your letter
today! http://www.protectthearctic.com
CLEAN WATER COMMENTS NEEDED: The
public – that means you! – has
until March 3, 2003 to encourage the EPA to reinstate Clean Water Act
protections for all America’s waters! Click here for more information and to
send your comment today: http://www.audubon.org/campaign/cleanwater.html
POPULATION:
Help encourage your lawmakers to make the connection between population
and the environment! Click onto the
link now to learn more about this issue and what you can do to help!
http://www.audubonpopulation.org
ENTER THE GREAT BACKYARD
BIRD COUNT!
If you have at least 15
minutes, a window and access to computer this weekend, you can help protect
America’s birds and habitat by participating in the Sixth Annual Great
Backyard Bird Count, brought to you by Audubon and the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology!
All
across America, our birds face survival challenges from loss of habitat to
introduced predators, to diseases like the West Nile Virus.
This may be affecting the birds that visit your backyard each and every
year. Help us find out!
Between February 14-17th, keep an eye on your backyard or
birdfeeder for 15 minutes or more. Then count and identify the birds you see,
and report back to Audubon via the Internet.
No experience necessary -- all ages and skill levels are welcome and
encouraged to participate – and it’s free!
To enter this year’s Count, view tips on identifying birds in your
area, and much, much more, log onto our special website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc
Audubon Advisory
1150
Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite
600
Washington,
DC 20036
1-800-659-2622
audubonaction@audubon.org